Slowed down...

[Lorna9339]

I just read the most useful piece of advice on here yesterday. It said ' if you're constantly out of breath you're going too fast' (or words to that effect). Sorry I can't remember who said it but thank you! I don't know why this hadn't occurred to me, but since I graduated 3 weeks ago I have had several horrible runs that I haven't enjoyed. I now realise that I've been pushing myself too much so that I am always struggling and out of breath. I had got it into my head that because I have now graduated that I must be constantly improving and every run should be a PB!! I know, setting myself up to fail, or what! So, I went out yesterday for a run and went at a comfortable pace and did not worry about how long it was taking me. I ran just under 5k and felt ok at the end. What a difference! At no point did I feel like I couldn't go on. So for the next while I'm just going to relax and enjoy the runs and hopefully my pace will improve with time 🙂

[Tomas Graduate]

Well done you for realising this in only 3 weeks. For many of us (me definitely included!) it has taken a lot longer to realise (even if it's one of the most frequent advices given on any running forum anywhere).

Amazing difference, isn't it? And by running gently you'll recover quicker, so you'll have more ooomph for the occasional hard run, meaning you'll probably get far more PBs, if that's what you want. It's a win/win

[Lon70 Graduate]

Great. And thank you for reminding me that this is meant to be enjoyable not a competition with some invisible gremlin!

[Hidden]

Yes your right about taking it steady. I got to a point at start of December where I could run at best 43 minutes for 6K+. We all like a challenge and was experimenting with the podcasts for stamina and stepping stones and the extra speed (not vast increase) was making me breathless. With holidays and weather and extra 6lb weight gained (mainly mince pies) and has slowed me down.

But the advice about taking it steady and not setting yourself up for a bad run was right. I said to myself "I want to get myself healthy and fit and run for 30 minutes anything else is a bonus". That has kept me in good stead because even if my recent runs have only been 30 minutes that's fine. I have set up a buffer where I can't use the 'F' word or have anything called a bad run. when compared to me as lethargic couch potato last year it's all good.

I will get my weight back down. It has steadied now and back to 40+ minutes for my stamina will come back. But I don't fret about it. I still like a challenge (No marathons) but perhaps increase my speed and distance a bit. The main thing is for me is that I am happy with my health and well being now and avoided potential future on medication.

I've already achieved and still have a smile on my face after every run. So set your own modest goals and some days you will have great runs. don't worry about what others are doing. Be happy.

Happy new year !

[Lorna9339 in reply to Hidden]

Yes you're right- I also was doing no exercise at all until 3 months ago! So if I'm struggling sometimes I'm still in a better place than I was then!

[CookieM Graduate]

Sounds like a good plan to me!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

I thinks she's got it... I think she's got it.. ( Sounds like a song )

Yes.. it is all about enjoying the running After I graduated, like many of us, I did loads of runs, just for the pleasure and joy of them, with no pressure and no challenge.. then, when ready, decided, where I wanted to go next on my journey.

A year on.. just over, up to 10 K.. but have done it slowly, steadily and always, always in the way I wanted to.. and I have had oh so much fun... as my endless rambling posts testify!

Relax... and really enjoy this journey... a journey.. not a race

[Lorna9339 in reply to Oldfloss]

Yes, I'm just realising that there's no rush - I can progress at my own pace!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

I think it's so common after graduation to always want to push the bar. But if you had a PB every time, you'd be Usain Bolt in no time. Glad to hear you dialed it back and are enjoying it - that's the best for mind and body.

[Sadamski Graduate]

You're not alone, it never occurred to me until about 5 weeks in that I could actually run slower!!

[Flossie22 Graduate]

This is a funny one, isn't it? I started running on a treadmill and felt that it was tough on my breathing at week 5/6. So silly, because I should have reduced the speed! Of course, once I started running outside, I went at my own pace and weirdly enough I don't think it was that much slower, but I didn't have problems with my breathing ever again. Remember that you are running for enjoyment as well as fitness. Don't push yourself too hard and savour every step! Happy running to you. 👏🏻👏🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻😀😀

[Lorna9339 in reply to Flossie22]

Thanks flossie - you're absolutely right! 😀

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Great lesson learned! The key is to enjoy your running so that you stick at it. It's not realistic to expect a new PB ever time you go out.

[Bobalong]

What a brilliant batch of posts about slowing down and enjoying your runs. They say there's no fool like an old fool and you'd think at 70 I'd have more sense but after I completed C25K some 18 months ago I thought my times would get better and better and indeed for a few weeks they did. I got down to 26.34 for 5K but since then I've battled away - my times have gone up and I do get out of breath a lot more. The moral of this story, of course, is listen to your body. It' s just as much about happiness unlocked as health unlocked, so from now on I'll be slowing down and, although my hearing is not what it was I'll be trying to listen to the birds on my park runs and not being engulfed by heavy breathing!!

Your never to old to learn - thanks everyone for helping to get this old codger back on the right road.

Happy running New Year one and all. Bobalong

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