Starting C25K for the second time

[Londonred73]

Hi everyone

I'm just wondering if any of you have restarted c25k? And if you have, what has changed to make you stay with running?

I graduated a while ago. Enjoyed all the positives that running offered ie: mood was better, clothes looser, more energy. But slowly my running tailed off. Usual excuses of childcare issues, lack of time bla bla.

Anyway, I haven't run in months. But I've been feeling all the opposites of the above benefits! So I'm determined to get back running again as I hate feeling like this. I'm actually looking forward to it but I don't really want to have to do it a third time😁!

Can anyone who has restarted, even if it was several times, give me any advice? Or what made you stick with it this time? I think one of my problems was missing the structure of the c25k. I know that has been a problem for others too. And possibly boredom with same route. So that's a consideration.

Many thanks

[Hidden]

So although I didn't run firstly with C25K I am a lapsed runner and C25K gave me the structure to rediscover running.

So what did I do post graduation to keep me going? Here's my recipe - maybe some of it will strike a chord for you...

I continued the 3 times a week running, by setting up three diary reminders to arrive at the same time as the old invitations from Mr Smooth (Michael Johnson)

I got my kit out the night before in full view of the bed, for shaming purposes.

Having had so much support from the forum, I made a mental commitment to stay on here and support others, and I felt I couldn't do that if I wasn't actually running, so to avoid me feeling like a hypocrite, that helped a lot.

Finally I created my running blog, jancanrun.com, just to make a public commitment to my friends and family and myself that I was serious. Every run I write about - running and then writing about it for me is a big help.

I also gave myself a distance target of 10k to be reached before Christmas. I have my own incentive scheme - every time I run I permit myself one music download, and if I meet my weekly km target I get an extra music download.

For the avoidance of 'routine' in my runs, I am lucky enough to run in the countryside where there are lots of lanes for me to use, so I do many varying loops and there are some that are more routine than others, but then I add in a new bit at the beginning of the run, so my timings aren't 'monitorable' otherwise I do get bored.

Hope this helps

[Londonred73 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jan

Thank you so much for your reply. That's given me a lot to think about and things to try and help me rediscover running again.

The blog is a great idea; I think maybe a private diary would work for me. But I have told my husband I am going out tomorrow so somebody knows I'm doing it! And varying my route is a definite. I also like your idea of incentives. Think I will incorporate something similar to yours.

Thanks again. I really appreciate your advice x

[Hidden in reply to Londonred73]

Good luck with the rediscovery, we all find our own recipes for running. I hope you find yours.

[Londonred73 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you