W1R1 done!

[missmiff]

I am so pleased to get started. I just hope I can persevere as I get discouraged easily. I am trying to focus on running for enjoyment not for speed or style!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done on getting started. I am sure you will not regret it.

Most people, myself included, started with some health based motivation, only to realise that running is a wonderful, empowering thing that can take a far more prominent place in your life than you ever believed. From your perspective you may have to adjust what you consider fun to be.......it will be hard work at times, but absolutely no less enjoyable for that.

I am now much more aligned with your reasoning and running provides a satisfaction and pleasure that cannot be obtained by any other form of exercise. Landscapes take on a different aspect when you run through them. The raised heart rate elevates the senses and the feeling of being at one with your world is priceless.

Good luck.

[nikkiwabit Graduate]

Hardest run done! It gets quite addictive. If you feel discourage, post here and you will get support.

[misswobble Graduate]

Oh well you've come to the right place

Be a sticker, not a quitter! You do this programme very slowly, very carefully, slowly progressing through the sessions. No hurry. The slowness is the key

Good luck.🙂

[RebeccaSK Graduate]

Well done! You've done the hardest bit - once you've done your first run it gets easier - kind of! I too struggle with getting discouraged easily. At the beginning of the programme my biggest problem was being able to breathe and physically carrying on. At some point, whilst that didn't go away, my biggest adversary became my mind and my gremlins. I would be running and my legs would be fine, my breathing under control but my mind would tell me to stop, it would ask me what I was trying to prove and why I was doing this when it was so difficult. I have no answers for you other than to not beat yourself up when the gremlins take over and you can no longer ignore them. The last few weeks of the programme were very, very tough for me. I didn't enjoy them at all. I desperately wanted to complete the programme and I knew I could - that was the most frustrating thing - but my mind kept playing tricks on me. I had several "practice runs" in Week 9 where I was almost physically crying because I was so angry with myself for stopping and walking. Everyone on here shared my struggle and gave me incredibly encouragement. If you haven't "met" Oldfloss or IannodaTruffe , both forum legends, yet, you will. Listen to what they say. They're always right! I run repeating Oldfloss's mantra "slow and steady". Oldfloss told me that once I'd graduated, I could start running for fun - if I want to stop after a mile then I can. Guess what? Since graduation I've started to enjoy my running so, so, much more. Don't put yourself under too much pressure and when you're struggling, post on here. Good luck - you can do this!

[missmiff in reply to RebeccaSK]

Thank you so much for your honest and encouraging reply. I know my biggest battle will be with the negative voices in my head so I am going to focus on the 'slow and steady' mantra to get me through. I feel really supported by everyone already and am already looking forward to my next run!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to RebeccaSK]

Thank you for this reply... it moved me to tears

I just had the all clear from the Physio to start to ,run, again..but literally,... to start again, almost from the beginning. So.. watch this space... slow and steady is about to take on a whole new meaning! x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done indeed.. Speed, style, who needs them.. not yet anyway.

You stick to that positive running for enjoyment..you will persevere, there is such great support on here and we all need that whatever stage we are on to keep us going, sometimes Keep posting!