Feeling defeated.

Feeling so sorry for myself I could cry, can't believe it was only the other week that I ran my first parkrun and I've not been for a run since. Had a crazy week at work and cut my calories too much which left me feeling shaky and in no state for a run. Was hoping for a fresh start at half term but the curse of the teacher holiday cold strikes again! I'm full of cold and feel well and truly miserable. I've got my Race for Life on Tuesday, everything I've been training for and I'm scared I'm going to blow it as I haven't kept my runs up. My husband keeps pointing out that I don't have to run it all and there's no pressure but that's not how I wanted to approach this race. I wanted to do it properly, as a "proper runner".

[Bundoodle Graduate]

Hold on there Flower! You are a proper runner! Proper runners are humans the same as everybody else. They have bad weeks, they get their diets wrong (you should see me trying to run the day after a pizza binge!), they get colds that lay them low (BTW, Teacher = Hero, Teacher + Proper Runner = SuperHero) and life sometimes gets in the way. You don't have to run the whole of a Race for Life you just have to turn up and have fun. I know it will be disappointing not to run the race you planned but there will be many, many more runs that you will demolish 👍 Be kind to yourself, enjoy the occasion and look forwards to the future. Pep talk over and sending you big hugs and happy vibes 😃

[Slowstart Graduate]

Listen to your husband, he loves you and wants what's best for you, and is being very wise. At the moment you are seeing a walk/run as a major set back, it's not lots of "proper runners" approach runs this way, it's part of the training process. And you are a proper runner! If your well enough, getting out at all will be a major victory. So what if this run isn't what you envisaged, the next will be even sweeter because of this. Each run is a lesson and you need to learn to go with the flow. Unless you intended to do this one run then give up, it's a small stumble in a long road.

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Slowstart]

But what is a "proper" runner??? I do a lot of my running using run/walk -- at ratios very similar to C25K W1D1 - remember , we ran for 60 seconds and walked for 90 seconds - something like that anyway.

But since those days 3 years ago for me, I have now logged 2,200 klms on my running log. Have completed 63 parkruns ( PB of 29 minutes 12 seconds) , 2x 10k "races" at around 1hour 10 minutes each and one half marathon at 2 hours 36. I am currently training for another HM in July which I will run using 1 minute/30 second run/walk ratio.

I certainly don't and can't keep up with most at my local running club - but I nearly always come in about half way at my local parkrun - with a LOT of much younger people behind me I turn 70 in November.

You have nothing to be disappointed about -- even though your circumstances are indeed disappointing. Do your Race for Life - I guarantee you will be way ahead of many many others!!!! But that is not a good reason to be doing Race for Life anyway!!

[Slowstart Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Yes Bazza1234 , you are a perfect example of how run/walks work, and your achievements back up how effective this training process is. There are lots of posts and lots of training programmes which repeatedly use this method and achieve brilliant results. I think when people first graduate, because the focus during C25K has been on running for 30 minutes they feel this is the golden answer and if they can't do it every run they have failed!

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Slowstart]

BTW - I do try to run all of my parkruns non-stop - mainly because that is what is done. Very few people where I live have ever heard of either C25K or Galloway run/walking - they all think you "just run until you drop! "

[AnnieW55]

What Bundoodle says 😀

Also there will be many other opportunities to "race" if you keep running. Use this one to enjoy the experience.

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate]

Hi, I've just crawled out of bed with a cold and there is no chance of me doing my planned run today. It happens!

I am also the veteran of a recent 10km trail race which I walked bits of as my training had gone completely out the window for a whole host of reasons. But, I still say I did the 10km and I completed the 10km even if I didn't run all of it. (And my time wasn't too bad either!) I even enjoyed it. (Well most of it!)

I did Race for Life last year with the intent of running every single step but in places the course was very crowded with narrow paths up hills and everyone around me walked so I had to walk too. Enjoy your Race for Life and don't put added pressure on yourself. You are a runner!

[LinaLamont Graduate]

Hi, so I was in a very similar position to you last week! I didn't have a cold, but I had been pretty run down, consumed with anxiety every time I did a practice run, and to top it off I started my period the day before my Race for Life, and that always leaves me feeling faint, bloated, in pain etc. - so not ideal at all. I was so determined to run the 5k all the way through and I dreaded not being able to do it!

In the event I did walk for about 90 seconds after about 2.5k and then for a few more times. I can't remember exactly but I don't think it was more than 5 minutes in total. I finished the course at 36m 10s. And I was really happy with that! Here's why:

- There were so many people running, it was crowded and I was finding it hard to maintain a steady pace even when I was running.

- The atmosphere is very non-competitive. The focus of Race for Life is to raise money and awareness. When you get there, there will be a warmup and speeches from people affected by cancer and/or from Cancer Research UK. This really brought home the reality of why I was running, why I had signed up for the race in the first place. In a way, it reduced the pressure I'd put on myself to run the entire thing.

- Going on from that, you have surely raised some money for CRUK, so make that your biggest accomplishment! Because it is!

- Also, the majority of ladies there walk the entire course. SO MANY runners did a mixture of running and walking. The only people I saw running the entire thing were the keen beans who do it in like 20mins. Frankly, no one else cares if you run or walk! It is such a supportive atmosphere!

- Despite this, I did frustrated with myself for walking a couple of times during the race. The most important thing is to be KIND to yourself because you are operating under less-than-ideal conditions - if you're physically run down - and yet you are still doing this incredible thing for charity. Tell yourself it's OK that you aren't running the best you can, and congratulate yourself for doing anything at all.

- There are going to be other 5k runs, other Races for Life, you are going to bounce back from this blip and you have so many running opportunities ahead of you. Try not to fixate too much on this particular race as the be all and end all of running.

- Come back and read this whole thread just before you set off so that you can remember it during the race as encouragement.

- Also, you are a teacher, and as Bundoodle said, a Superhero! All of the teachers I know work so hard, you are continuing to work hard during your break! I hope you can still enjoy your half term and relax.

Hope this helps xxx

[Eatcakeandrun in reply to LinaLamont]

You have said it all!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Absolutely agree with everything that's been said, just go out and have a good time. And you might surprise yourself. Sometimes a break from running is just what you need. Your legs will be fresh and you'll be eager for it. That combined with the excitement of the event - I expect you'll have no issues. Eat a good breakfast though - feeling shaky and running don't mix.

And most importantly have fun.

[ancientrunner Graduate]

There's a lot of good stuff been said there. These are early days and you have ups and downs - in a couple of years you will think of this as a little blip and be pleased you did it anyway. Good Luck - hope the cold gets better soon.

[Hidden]

Overwhelmed by all of your comments, I love you all so much right now! Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom and kindness. I'm hoping to complete my second Parkrun this Saturday as a warm up to Tuesday and then I'll just have to see how it goes. I've had a very reflective day all in all and feeling a lot less like the queen of the pity party. Thank you all. Xxxxx

[Als_mum Graduate]

Wise words from everyone else, so just to say don't worry and be kind to yourself. As someone affected by cancer, frankly anyone who gets themselves round a Race for Life in any way at all gets a big, if virtual, hug from me. x

[Anaverageman Graduate]

"the other week.. I ran my first parkrun" in your own words.. you ARE a runner!!