Week 7 Run 1

[NJA95]

Well I never thought I'd be able to run for 25 minutes, and today I did it for the second time! I also ran up a hill for the first time which was excruciating but well worth the feeling of satisfaction at the end. My question this time around is for advice on the mental block that says you can't finish, even when you know you physically can. Any tips other than changing route?

[ToniCR Graduate]

No advice but I do have the same mental block, even though I have managed to finish every run, although some just barely. A little gremlin telling me it's too hard and I won't be able to do it, and I should just stop now. I have an argument with my brain for the first half of each run. By the time I get to the halfway mark, my breathing is steadier, my legs aren't burning anymore and I know I can do the rest. Need to tell that gremlin to get lost!

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Whenever this happens to me, I slow down and have a word with myself! I ask myself why I think I cannot finish - legs hurt? No. Breathing hard? No. Then shush! Just carry on. If I am finding it gruelling, I just slow down, and find a tree/lamp post in the distance and tell myself “I’ll just run to that”, and then when I reach that point, I do it all over again! I even chant to myself “come on, Sadie, come on Sadie, you can do this, you are doing this!” Mad? Maybe. But it works. 😀

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

I found it useful to know from my other physical activities that the mind tends to give up when only 40% has been given.

I tried to think of my body and I as a team. I put the right things in and I wanted full effort back. When I felt tired or sore I just told myself "we can do this" "we are doing this". Eventually the gremlins get silenced.

I had to use the same tactic yesterday on a 50km cycle ride. I could have swapped twice on the route to the short or medium options but I pushed on.

You're doing great. It is so much more a mental acheivement. Believe in yourself and your abilities and you can do anything! 👍💪😁

[Hidden]

Good music and gritted teeth!

[msanni]

I had that 'you won't finish' thought during the last 5 mins of W6R3 but not today's W7R1. I did, though, spend last night telling myself that I could finish (I was asleep but my dreams were lucid and quite useful!) I ran around the patk in the opposite direction so as not to compare my end points for Tuesday and today, and reminded myself that I finished on Tuesday in spite of my brain trying to trip me up.

I think that if you're nourished, hydrated, not sickening and following the programme at a pace that suits, it's likely to get easier to run for a particular time or distance. I am sort of anticipating a little mind resistance for W8R1 but not before.

Good luck and enjoy 😊