New to this xx

[Sallyb2621]

I'm just on my second run in week 2.. please does it get easier and what do folks do to make running a little more fun??

My problem is I find it dull 🙈🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Hidden]

Do you listen to music?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Are you on dreadmill?

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So okay here are some of the things that we do, not all at the same time obvs....

Listen to music or podcasts or audiobooks.

I can't recall who it is that looks out for car number plates and makes up motivational mantras to match the letters. I look for people and places on mine. Others have milestones, others use the zombie running app, others make up new lyrics to songs Razouski , others like Oldfloss go on wonderful rambles where she focuses on nature and her surroundings. It's quite hard to come up with your own recipe, but there are a few to try.

In fact the program doesn't get easier, you are ramping up time and distance every time you go out. But the good thing is you do get fitter and you will look back and giggle at panicking on your early runs.

I have graduated, and one of the things that inspired me most was posting each run on here, I don't do that anymore but have started my own running blog, because I found by writing about my runs it encouraged me to go out again.

Later on we mix up routes, but early days a lot of us stick to the same route just to get some recognisable milestones.

Try some and see what you think, oh and another thing do you like your coach? I adored Mr Smooth Michael Johnson, others swear that Laura is the lady for them. The coach can make a difference too.

Hope you find it a little less boring...

[Hidden]

Run somewhere interesting is my solution. Was just the same as you at the start, running round the park. Then I tried the woods. Totally different. Winding paths, you can't see very far ahead, birdsong, squirrels, ducklings and geese. Not sure how I am going to cope with dark winter evenings but now I have started to enjoy it I won't give up. The enjoying it didn't really kick in till after I graduated.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Not necessarily...but... you get stronger with every single run...

Dull??? Are you inside or outside???

[RebeccaSK Graduate]

Easier, no - different, yes. For me, at the start, my biggest problem was that I couldn't breathe. The breathing got easier around week 3 or 4 but then my legs started to feel the longer distances I was running. Then my gremlins kicked in (don't tell IannodaTruffe I mentioned gremlins, he swears they don't exist but the voices in my head tell me they do ) and it became more of a mental battle. I mix my runs up hugely - am limited to where I can run in my village so I do different parkruns and sometimes drive to other towns to run - for me, it eases the boredom. Your heart absolutely has to be in it to be able to continue running or you may struggle to keep going - and there's nothing wrong with that. Running isn't for everyone and maybe another form of exercise suits you better. My advice would be to stick at it for a few more weeks if you can - as it becomes more of a habit it becomes less of a chore AND as you start to do more running and less walking it's easier to feel proud of yourself and to get the buzz that makes you want to do it again and again and again. I've just had two weeks off - I'm dreading my next run on Saturday but at the same time, I can't wait! Good luck and if you're finding it a struggle at any stage, post on here. I would never have graduated if it weren't for the support on this forum!

[LotteMG]

I listen to music and run through fields. I'm recently getting back into running, but when I used to run at university I hated road running 😰 I find nice scenery and a combo of uphill/downhill with an upbeat playlist really works for me! Granted I end up trying to dance and run, but before I know it the times up! Use the accomplishment of ticking off each week as a motivator to keep going! 👊🏼

[misswobble Graduate]

I dance and run too, usually when not on a training run 😃 Kenny logins footloose is a good one 👍

[Debbie698]

Running outdoors is much more interesting if you can rather than in a gym- it's amazing the 'sights' you see!!! Also pop some really vibrant music on - that helps😬😬

[JogDog]

I know what you mean about dull! I can't stand the idea of treadmill or gym and I find if I'm running on a road that is straight I am bored! I'm only on wk 4 run 2 but I try and vary my route, check out the scenery - even the stars on the early morning. I also )and I wish in some ways I didn't ) think about work stuff... how I will deal with things. Then I realise that I'm running and hasn't realised....

[Irish-John Graduate]

It becomes more fulfilling before it gets 'easier'

At a certain point you realise that - despite it being 'hard' - you are getting the kick of your life out of racking up those distances/times

Making it more interesting? - well, it really is all a kind of mind game. I started off just focusing on the clock and trying not to believe that my lungs were going to blow out my nose.

Then with a bit more confidence I started imagining all those (warning - dinosaur male chauvinist alert! ) chick who turned me down when I asked them out being very sorry they did when they would next see the 'new improved me' and on the days when I was feeling particularly 'hard running' - the faces of my enemies hooked up to IVs and Life support while I ran merrily by, defeating time with my new found fitness.

then I tried music for a while - but it took me almost a year to put together a really satisfactory collection...

The HUGE advantage over 'boredom' came when I realised i could tape BBC Radio shows on a wee dictaphone and listen to plays and documentaries as I ran. I would religiously only start them when I started running and end them when I stopped. Wondering 'what happens next' often got me out the door for the next run far more eagerly than if I was 'just' going for a run

Now I basically listen to a soundtrack of songs I put together that serve a dual purpose - they help me keep my proper pace and they also kind of act like a mile marker, the one race ( so far) I entered I had never seen the route but knowing roughly how far I had run - and more importantly how much was left - by which song was playing really got me around n good spirits

The music plays these days and mostly now I kind of get into my head a bit in a good way. I would not call it 'meditation' but its probably close. I run iwth a countdown kitchen timer as I tend to lose sight of time and distance and when that beeps I often snap out of some old memory or future musings

Basically though, until running becomes 'comfortable' it is a struggle to keep even-minded while feeling all those unused muscles and grappling with all the self doubts that you can ever be a 'real runner'

But - it will all come together as long as you just keep going out the door. The day will come when you are more apt to run TOO far for TOO long than what you are going through now, hard as it might be to understand right now. I was working towards my 10 K when one morning at my starting point it just felt 'right' and even though I had barely built up to 7k that was the morning I did my 10 . I am not recommending doing it that way - I got away with it that time, but am right now only barely off the IC after chancing a 'too far' run over three weeks ago.

So - as you run, focus on exactly what your body is doing for starters. Don't be surprised to find you are unconsciously tensing your ankles or knees etc too much, or even that you are holding your breath or that you are breathing way too shallowly. Find your natural style and pace gradually and then the 'fun' will reveal itself

wishing you many miles n your future

[ejvcruns Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Ooh! I imagine how AWESOME and FIT I'm going to look and I mentally put on every outfit that I've loved but hasn't fit me over the years, and I imagine the new fit me taking my husband out and all kinds of fun things.

I'm only 2 runs away from graduation now so I know I won't get there by the time the programme finishes but I've made my start so I allow myself to dream and plan.

Also -- I run from zombies with an app, which I think is great fun, and I listen to music! And run outside. I do EVERYTHING.

[Razouski]

I started my C25K journey in the gym on a running machine and the first couple of weeks were ok but I did get tired of looking at the seconds ticking by so slowly, and it did get a bit tedious. But I thought I could never cope with running outside. However, one morning I agreed to go out with my daughter, running in the great outdoors, as a mummy/daughter bonding activity (she was 22). I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I then downloaded the podcasts so that I didn't need to time myself. And that was it. I was hooked. I loved Laura (although at times I would shout at her) and loved coming on here to share my progress or ask for advice.

Now I have put together my own playlist of singes I like. I've also downloaded a couple of playlists - Running in the 80s and 90s (I'm 53 so it suits me) and more recently my Rock Running Tracks which I adore. Sometimes I think about what I'm going to tell people about the gremlins I've encountered, and more recently I end up changing the mystics to one of the tracks I've running to to include things I've seen on my way.

Mixing up my route helps too.I have three or four different routes that I run from my doorstep and a couple that require a short drive to the start.

Invented tried listening to a podcast, but it was quite a humorous one and running while belly laughing is quite a challenge.

I hope you find some find something that works for you.

[Gillma Graduate]

I usually listen to Radio 4. If it stops streaming I try to be patient and listen to the wind, sea, birds, my crazy thoughts. Sometimes I chant: 'relax your back, relax your right hip, keep your core on'. The body listens.

I learn trad fiddle tunes for a hobby so sometimes listen to those. If I was studying something or trying to learn lines/song lyrics that would be a good thing to do. Using a headband to keep my earbuds in place was a turning point. Rubbish for hairdo !