Running alone/with people - mental effort

Morning all, I'm due for Week 6 Day 2 tonight and all is well. Part of my ability to stick to this has been a Saturday meet up (run by the council) with a group of 6/7 others and we do the first day of each week together.

Now then, when I did my 20 minute run, I went on my own (husband and dog in front for moral support) and I felt I really needed the space of running solo to be able to concentrate and put the mental effort in.

This Saturday we're due to do Week 7 Day 1 together, and I'm not sure it's going to work. I know this is a barrier I probably just need to forget but just wondering if anyone has any tips on keeping that needed concentration when in a group?

For context I am the slowest of them and always at the back, which I am fine with but am quite overweight so find it a bit tougher than the rest

Thanks!

[Keep-it-ticking Graduate]

Good morning, firstly well done for getting this far,I have found that listening music always helped me and another tactic was looking for markers such as lamppost or tree in the distance, concentrating on aiming for that then when reached look for another if that makes sense. Its like achieving little segments and quickly moving on. Don't ever bother comparing yourself to other runners but remember how far you've come and that still lapping people who are sat on the couch.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done you

Just carry on your way.... you are doing fine... take it as slow and steady as you like...let yourself relax at the tail end of the group..look around focus on the journey you have made so far and how awesome you are...

Maybe think of yourself as their whipper-in... keeping an eye on them, but doing it your way... You will keep going long after they stop,...built for distance, not speed...

I remember what I see and I ramble...I make up rhymes and put running words to songs... I have so much fun I often forget I am running

You are doing amazingly...just focus on that... x

[Hidden]

The Mentors view is complete the programme solo.For me thats what I will do.

I participate every Friday in a Woodland Workout group that everyone is encouraged to take at their own pace.Very enjoyable and refreshing.

On this programme I need to focus.I think you are saying and thinking the same.🤔

Good luck with your journey.

[misswobble Graduate]

They will not leave you, someone will drop back to see you're ok. They ofte take it in turns to just quietly fall away from the main pack and run up behind you to check you're ok. They might not say anything if they sense you don't want to talk. Not everyone does, and there's no pressure.

I would say just go with it. Leave all your worries and reservations at home, and go for it. I did the same thing, and you build it up in your head into something it's not. I ran with our local council group while still early on with C25k but it was winter and dark nights so I thought safety in numbers would mean I could keep running. They were all very good runners but they were lovely and well used to running with newbies like me. The jog leader was brilliant. You might get pushed a teeny bit maybe but they will know how you're doing and wont' push you. They ran with me towards my house with the proviso we could run further and then head back if I felt I couldn't carry on. So I felt supported from the off. We ran in any weather, including wet snowy rain and it got me used to that as well. I got acclimitised really quick

Good luck. Let us know how it goes!

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Well done for getting to this point. Can you discuss with them beforehand and tell them that it's fine for them to be a little ahead of you? (sorry, if that's what you would prefer - I wasn't quite clear if that's what you wanted, the ability to run slightly on your own to focus on the run.) That way you are with them, but you are still able to maintain your own headspace without having to chat with them, worry about what they are doing etc.

I hope it goes well. Happy running!