I'm hoping it's not just me. A lot of my life has been spent telling myself that i'm not good enough: fat, ugly, stupid, weird... Some of it has some basis in truth; some of it is not, but this doesn't stop me telling myself things.
So far, this running lark has pushed these messages to the back, but today they were back telling me that I couldn't do it, that I would fail at this. It was a real struggle: I felt pathetic that I couldn't get any kind of pace up and that I struggled around, red-faced and slow.
Does anybody else have this kind of negative self-talk? How do you stop it happening whilst running? what do you tell yourself?
On the plus side, I did just manage the 25 minutes today, but it was a struggle.
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trogdelight
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You are on the high ridge with the summit just before you.Slow and steady within your happy pace and all these lovely continuous runs remaining to your podium.
Tell yourself this, vulnerability is the most accurate measurement of courage, it takes courage to be here asking for the help you need, courage is contagious, and you are courageous and worthy and you are making a success of this gift to yourself.
No fear only enjoyment and belief in you and the programme.
You can do this.💫🏃♀️💫
The forum I am sure will give you many more practical and interesting distraction techniques.I just think about my running form and what I am learning.Boring I know,but it entertains me.🙈😂😂
If you wish and when you have time google Brene Brown doing the Ted lectures and other short videos and stuff. You may enjoy some of her findings.Amazing Woman, Texan phycologist researcher.You name it she has the answers.Interesting also.🤔👏👏
If you have run 25 minutes you have everything to be proud of . You have come so far over 7 weeks. Jo Wiley says that you should repeat a mantra “I love running “ to get rid of those negative thoughts. So remember you are fantastic and have achieved an amazing feat. Keep going trogdelight - only 2 weeks to go and then you can build at your own pace. 😄🏃♀️☀️🏃♂️
Most have negative thoughts, some so much that they're a big hinderance through life, I know.. and in running as well it's these thoughts which can make or break us, we tend to call them the gremlins, they are little pesky liars! and mean nothing! I know it can be hard, but as long as you feel OK physically, try and ignore them and push on through. The warm weather doesn't help and if you're a little dehydrated as well that won't help..
I divert my thoughts to more positive issue's like how good running is for me, how I'm breathing, footstrike, running posture,where I will stop on the run with a landmark, but as I get there I carry on and say, I lied! thus telling the gremlin a little white lie.. they aren't worth a light, so ignore..😊
Yes - all my life. Myself now but my family when I was younger - that's another story & not for a running forum! Bless you. I always try to think to myself - what would you say to a friend if they were saying these things about themselves ? and then I say those things to myself. Also if they creep in while I am running - which is rare as running really helps squash those demons! Then I start chanting (in my head) yes you can, yes you can.... You've done so well & come so far. You can do this. Anyway - I am chairwoman of the short fat ugly club so I'm afraid that post is taken! 😉. Good luck & keep us updated on your progress.
You’re definitely not alone on this one. Those negative voices are ever present.
But you can tell them that you know you can do it because you are doing it already. When you started out you ran for one minute without stopping. And six weeks later you can run for 25 mins. Pretty impressive increase isn’t it and compared to that adding 5 mins more over the next three weeks is not much really is it 😀
Oh and on a practical point what do you listen to whilst running? If using the app why not try spoken word podcasts instead of music. I find following speech keeps my mind occupied more than music so the gremlins forget I’m running.
part of the trouble was that I managed to close the App by mistake so had silence for a long time and had to just time myself for the rest of the run. Luckily it had just said that I had run 12 and a half mins so I knew how much longer it was.
25mins! That’s amazing! well done you - and proves you can do it, your brain doesn’t know what it’s talking about!
Tell it to shut up 😜 (I’ve got 20mins up next and can’t believe it could be remotely possible).
I don’t know if we tell our selves these things so that if we do fail - we were right- but your past performance suggests you are wrong and you will be able to do it, as you have the previous weeks (albeit that some weeks feel harder than others).
Perhaps focus on the proof that those thoughts are wrong - where you have come from
I hear you trogdelight ! I've spent most of my life comparing myself to others. I can make myself feel like crap in a heartbeat, and admit that there have been countless times when it's been easier to wallow and avoid - which is why I don't feel I've achieved very much in life! That mindset had to stop and I have forced myself to continue with this programme, even though it's been tough mentally& physically at times. I'm 50 next month and had to prove to myself that I could and would get to the end of this 9 weeks. I have 2 runs to go! And only 1 life ❤ You can do this. Thats what you tell yourself. That's all you need to know 🤗
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