Had some technical hitches then got locked out ( only found this out after writing a really long post and wasn’t able to post it and lost it 😂) and could only view so haven’t posted in a while.
Well have been continuing to run 3 times a week since graduation but have found it tough getting out there at times took the advice from here and reduced to twice over Xmas. Decided to join a beginners running club as l thought it would be good to run with others and help me overcome the dreaded hill allergy l have acquired 😂 and be more enjoyable.
Went for my first session on Tuesday ......
Didn’t enjoy it at all was very nervous only about 20 beginners there but it just wasn’t for me and having never had an injury since starting in September l felt a sudden Ping in my L calf and had to abort after 35 mins 😏😝😢
I returned to my car and just sobbed was so so disappointed. Calf feeling much better now just tight so doing some gentle exercises and will rest till Sunday and see how it is and maybe go for a slow gentle short run.
Haven’t decided what to do about the beginners club but don’t think l shall return. They were all at least 20+ years younger and just took off and I felt quite demoralised, don’t like quitting but l have felt so much better about myself and my confidence had increase l don’t want to undo my hard work.
Any of you had experiences like this any words of wisdom would be appreciated. ❤️ have a good day and happy running. X
Written by
Wantorun2013
Graduate
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Don’t cry about Running! It’s supposed to make you happy ! It’s your running and you can do it however you wish 🙂👍
Just go out for a run without a plan, just a run, and see how you get on. Enjoy running for,running’s sake, for a bit, and as you do, you can make some decisions about how to progress, or the direction you want to take with your running
It’s about making your life better not,filling it with angst 🙂👍🏃♀️
Running makes me very happy 😃 and had been a great mood leveller but the timing wasn’t great. l normally run early morning before work so running early evening was new my son was returning to uni the next day having been home for the holidays 😥 then picking up an injury just tipped me 😂😂 hey ho l lived to fight another day x
Don't feel demoralised. Think how far you have come. We are fabulous! I don't think I would do running club, especially if they were all young. Keep running, keep enjoying it.
I'm so sorry you felt this way! Sending virtual hugs your way.
A good running group will have a front and back pacer to make sure no one gets left behind - like a wolf pack!
I think the advice about running for its own sake is very wise. I did this the other day -went for a 20minute run because I want to do my graduation run on Friday in a different area - and it took all the pressure off me: I expected nothing of myself so didnt stress. Im sure not all running clubs are like the one you tried, you just hit a bunch of competitive people too immature to put themswlves in your place and include you. Are there any others you can try.? Or do park runs. We dont have a park anywhere within reach for me, but everyone says they are lovely and people are kind and non judgemental and of mixed ages and abilities. Dont let this experience put you off. Youve done so well and come so far xxx
Edit: dont underestimate how much your son going back to university may have affected your mood. I howled like a baby for three days when my daughter left home, and she’d only moved a few streets away.
I have done a park run l did it as my first post graduation run it was tough but l enjoyed it unfortunately my nearest is a 60ml round trip. I was made to feel very welcome and everyone was lovely. I am going to try and go to some more when the weather improves longer days etc. I was using the 8 week course to improve and gain skills. I may well give it another go next week see how l feel. X
Chin up WTR, don’t get demoralised. The plan was always about your fitness and wellbeing. Just run for the enjoyment of it , if you don’t enjoy running with the club, then don’t do it, simples 😊
I was fortunate to find a group called ‘Silver Joggers’..... the clue is in the name...and they jog at my ideal easy pace.
I looked at my local running club website, who are supposed to be open to all abilities but decided against it when I saw the result times of their previous runs....they could’ve had dinner waiting for me to finish 😱🤣
Hey I felt the same way about parkrun because of all those very fast people who lapped me, it was utterly depressing. But very recently I read Vassos Alexander's running book Don't Stop Me Now and in it the founder of parkrun said the people he is most happy about are those who come in at the end and that he is not that interested in the 15 minutes 5k runners at all, because the slower back runners invariably are fighting a bigger battle.
And that has changed my mind about park run, the semi-pro types who love doing 5k in 15 minutes, invariably are champion and great club runners. We however are champion C25Kers, with a bit of life under our belts.
Those speedy 'beginners' have 20 fewer years of life to carry around (that makes them lighter and fitter in my view!), so do you feel happy to ask the group leader to structure the pacing to involve you and not leave you languishing? Or maybe look for another group, groups are like trainers, some fit you and some don't and maybe this one isn't for you.
Either way we run for our own reasons and if you prefer your own company then that's right for you.
I hope your injury de-pings and you can have a much happier run next time.
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Afternoon all, wk4 run two done and dusted this morning !!!
Consolidation 6 - beautiful morning 
Graduated this morning but... 
Early morning intervals
