Where do I find the bug?

[Carolyn55]

I have just got to the end of the second week of the C25K. I have to say I am really pleased to have got this far and feel ready for the next part of the challenge. The question is; when does the running bug bite? About 20 years ago I tried running, I completed 5K runs but didn't enjoy it. I would love to enjoy it and look forward to my next run rather than just feeling I must do it. I know that this time of the year, in the brighter days it will be easier but as it gets darker and colder it will get more difficult to drag myself out. How do I get round that?

[Karina1976]

I am in week 6 and am looking forward to my first run but would also love to know when I will get the bug x

[froggyrunner Graduate in reply to Karina1976]

Same!!!

[Lauracorin]

The bug really bit me this Sunday, which was the first run after graduation. I ran deliberately slowly - it was calm, quiet, pretty effortless. I want to feel like that again.

[Rignold]

What gets you out when its dark and raining horizontally? Discipline. The thing that makes us roll out of bed when the alarm goes off at Oh-Dark-Thirty. It's not motivation. Its not any bug. It's simple self-discipline.

Motivation is brilliant. Sometimes its with us and inspires us to great things. Sometimes it isn't and we just get on and do them anyway, because that's what needs doing.

Seeking motivation to do things works on the false premise that a certain emotional state is required to get a job done. Discipline separates emotional state from getting on with the job at hand. (and, generally, improves the emotional state as a consequence.)

Action precedes motivation.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Rignold]

And the rather unpalatable truth that goes with this is that 'Most people do not change until the pain of changing becomes less than the pain of continuing as they are'.

But why on EARTH did God not make vegetables taste like icecream. I need a LOT more pain lately because he did not! ; (

[Joolez Graduate]

When you have those moments when it feels effortless is what I love. If I don't run consistently it's very easy to let it slip and harder to get out again. So I have to make sure I go out at least 2x per week and 3 is better. And honestly - I prefer running in the cold ... so roll on winter 😁

[Whatsapp Graduate]

I have been running for only a few months now and I imagine I will continue to do so for many years to come, but I have never experienced "the bug".

On Saturday, I did have an overwhelming urge to go out and run, after missing my regular day the day before. I don't normally feel like that, but I knew I would regret it if I didn't and that's what made me do it.

Whether my run is good or bad, I never regret going. Sometimes, but not certainly not every-time I feel amazing after completing; other days, like today I just feel tired and achy.

As Rignold says it's about discipline. I make me do it, because I need to exercise. Perhaps you need to try something else instead?

[Carolyn55]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I suppose I was hoping for different answers, like a magic wand where I would love running. Reality, there will be many days where I will have to just grin and bear it if I want to achieve my goal.

Here goes then, W3R1. I will do this

[Irish-John Graduate]

Its not so much a bug with me as it is now habit - and a habit I enjoy Occasionally I find myself with what is probably 'Runners High' but I think on it as 'Runners Contentment'. Mostly though I just feel good that I am spending those hours of my life doing something besides sitting on the Couch watching TV or fretting over 'There must be more to life than THIS'

I started the programme out of curiosity - how many week could I complete ? I was hoping I would finish W3 and VERY hopeful I might get SO<E of W4 done, but I never imagined (read my earlier posts for explanation why ) I would graduate. So - curiosity was my first motivator, then when I knew I had a shot at graduation my motivation was in anticipating how that would feel, then the motivation of the kick out of being able to say I was a 'Long Distance Runner' - 5 miles being the standard in 'The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner' which I read at a very young age and remembered wishing I could run. Then the 10K and getting that done and dusted so that I was in that Forum with some friends who had moved on. And then - well, half marathon and marathon of course, Getting in ten miles by the end of the year next on my way to th e'Ultimate' - the Marathon...

However, a funny thing has happened. I would still LOVE to run a Marathon for my 60th...but its not THAT important to me anymore. It is no longer the MOTIVATION to go out the door like it was for quite a while to build up to it 'slowly and steadily and surely'"

Because - for me - the whole Running thing changed from 'man don't I feel GOOD about myself' to 'Running and the people I have gotten to know and all who I can talk to on this Forum make me happy - very happy indeed with my day to day life "

So - motivations, the 'bug', the 'returns', who knows what each individual person puts value on for themselves? I spent a long time in a crazy career that most people would never understand why anyone would do it and especially for as long as I did. I think it was for the same reason I run - can't explain it to anyone who doesn't do it for the same reason as I do but it made me feel like I was doing something that gave some kind of meaning to my life and an 'identity' that was comfortable for me to be able to wear.

Running - like the Job - is not always fun or comfortable, but it is a wonderful thing for me to be able to do

Find a sense of Wonder in whatever you do in life and it will be a happy one

Hope all this maundering of mine is of some use to you and certainly hope that there are many happy miles in your future also