I'm new here

[Sarahbobs]

Looking for advice on the best way to get motivated and started

[RunningGeek Graduate]

Hi. Welcome to the forum which is a fab place for support and advice. Getting started is the hardest part & yet sounds so simple; put your running shoes on & get out of the door. In reality it's harder than that as the gremlins set to work. BUT you have made the first move by posting on here so you have the strength to ignore the gremlins & get going Good luck and happy running

[Sarahbobs in reply to RunningGeek]

Thank you its great to know that there is support out there, without being judged

[RunningGeek Graduate in reply to Sarahbobs]

No judgement, just 100% support. As I said it's fantastic You'll soon be addicted like the rest of us

[jamsammich Graduate]

Take it 1 run at a time, or even just 1 walk and listen to the podcast just to see what its about first, get used to your route etc before you start and you'll feel less nervous.

This forum was a God send to me when I started so you've already got a head start in support from others

[SlowWorm2016 Graduate]

Hello Sarahbobs . Good luck on your running journey. Try to allocate some time to do your runs and put it on your calendar. Then let Laura keep you company as you trot along. She'll keep you motivated and your progress week by week should keep you enthusiastic.

Plus there's loads of advice and support on this forum, so do stop by as and when.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Welcome and a big well done in making the decision to start. This running lark changes lives so be prepared!

To get motivated, try reading some posts here. There are some amazing stories which should have you itching to get out for your first run. The best piece of advice is to run very very slowly. Slow, slow and slower still is the way to go.

Take your rest days, stretch after every run and post here often for encouragement and just because we're nosey (well, maybe that's just me 😊) and tell us how you're getting on.

Good luck, enjoy the ride and welcome to a fabulous awesome community 🤗😊⭐️🤗😊⭐️

[Irish-John Graduate]

The first few runs will be the hardest, you will tell yourself you can't do it. But believe me you can. Read a lot of posts where I and a lot of us started from and you will see the only thing that could have stopped us were our own misshapen ideas.

I kept going in the early days by not wanting to be an even more decrepit fat bollicks in years to come than I am now One day I looked at some older people and realised if I did not do something starting now, it would be too late when I would wish I had.

I was also curious to see just how far in the programme I would get. I have asthma, deformed footbones, way overweight, never ran in my life, smoked twenty plus ciggies a day for almost forty of my 56 years....no way was I going to graduate, but surely I would get SOME benefit

Well, I started June 1st and listened to people here. I just ran my second 5K this morning. My main difficulty was trying to keep my running pants up because it is now too big around my waist.

I have enjoyed every run on some level since the second week and my depression, low self esteem, poor body image and general sense of boredom has all but gone.

I have a BLAST out there

I sincerely hope you stay and run with us, read as many posts as you can and as well as seeing what motivates us you will see that we have a lot of fun sharing our experience, strengths and enthusiasm here.

Best wishes to you ☺

[poppypug Graduate]

Hi Sarah

Welcome to the madness ! You have made one of the best decisions you will ever make , this programme is a life changer !

Have a read of the Home page , that should give you some tips and you can download the podcasts

nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

Theres lots of fantastic stories on this forum from folks who haven't ran since school ( me included ) who have gone through the programme and have discovered a love of running.

If we can do it, so can you !

I would say once you start the programme by putting on your runners and getting out of the door, you will be hooked. Running is very addictive - be warned !

Oh and please post regularly of your progress. We all love a good natter on here about running , it will help in keeping you focused and motivated.

Good Luck ! xxx

[McFitty Graduate]

Hi Sarahbobs , so glad you posted. That's the first step towards getting motivated.

The next step is to download the podcasts (if you haven't already), plug in and off you go! All of us started from this point, not sure how it would work, if we would manage it, were we too big? too heavy? too weak? too unfit? The wonderful thing is this programme works. Like a dream. It's gradual and builds you up over the weeks to run further and for longer than you could have imagined. And the best part? This forum. There are many of us who would say we'd never have made it through without the support on here. The support and advice is epic! So check in often. No question is too silly. No one will judge you. And everyone will celebrate with you. This is the best place to hang out, the forum full of fitties, fatties and friendlies. A huge welcome to you and good luck on your journey

[NeverSayNoToJeffing Graduate]

We've all been in your shoes, I promise you.get on the programme and seek help and support when you need it - it will be here for you.🐢👣🏃

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Hello Sarahbobs. You may find it useful to plan, allows you less opportunity to put it off😃

Plan what you will wear, plan your route, get the podcast, get out there. You can do this, just decide when you are going to do run 1 and stick with your PLAN! Good luck, you can do it if we have 👍🏼

[Hidden]

Whatever your motive for starting C25K, Health wake up call , need to lose weight or just to increase fitness and wellbeing it's definitely worth doing. My motivation was partly a wake up call with high blood pressure and potentially becoming diabetic.

For past 12 years if not more weight was about 13 stone. I decided to lose weight partly by increasing my cycling and giving up drinking. I didn't drink heavily just at special occasions and weddings etc. I never felt well after even if it was one drink. I thought why bother to drink at all ! Anyway it worked in helping to shift some weight. I am not advocating or preaching abstinence from drink. It just worked for me. After some progress I started C25K I think in April.

I was 11 stone 6lb then and over the 9 weeks lost 10lbs. I'm now hovering around 10stone 9 lbs. My BMI to be top end of normal is 10stone 2 lbs. I may get to that but am not worried because I feel so fit and healthy. I was sceptical when starting but surprised myself and now regularly run 5K and gradually increasing to 6K.

As others have said first few weeks may be hardest (they were for me) but in time your legs ache less and it gets easier. As others have said you are not in a race only with yourself and your own goals. If need be repeat a week to help build up if need be. It's the great sense of achieving something that you thought maybe impossible which is great. I also like the flattering comments on how well I look etc. Also have a healthy future with out medication.

Hope to hear how you get on.

[tortoisegirl Graduate]

Hello Sarahbobs! My only advice is not to worry about how fast you are running. S-l-o-w is good! The programme really works. I could barely run for a minute when I started, and this morning I ran for 25 minutes, which is the most I have run in my life! Good luck, and go for it!