Strugglung

[Beth-monkey]

So I’m a few weeks post grad. Sometimes I find it fairly easy running 4K, sometimes I struggle with 3. I’m wondering if evening running is not for me. Or maybe running just isn’t meant for me 😔

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Sometimes it is a struggle, but always at the end you should feel a sense of satisfaction for doing it anyway. It will get easier but there will still be days when you think "do I really want to carry on"? For me it's always... of course I do!

Maybe its just gremlins creeping in?

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Yes I think so

I love it when I achieve something good

Tonight was too hot for me I think

I run best around 12 degrees

But when I look at runtracker it was my fastest run to date!

[Gran4z Graduate in reply to Beth-monkey]

So well done - be kind to yourself, remember you are amazing!

[Jay66UK Graduate]

So you are regularly running up to 3 or 4k. Rewind to Week 1. Running not meant for you? Please!

Evening running is hard for me - my body gets tired by the end of the day in a way I’m just not first thing. And the weather lately means it is much hotter much later.

Go easy on yourself. Perhaps slow down - just slowly run 30 mins rather than going for a certain distance?

Once the heat eases - or once you can do morning runs again - you’ll find that next gear up and travel more distance. But don’t sweat it. Just enjoy the run x

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Thank you, when I looked I saw it was my fastest run so far so maybe that was the issue

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Beth-monkey]

Blimey! You see we are all getting better and your speed is clearly creeping up. In this heat it’s a double whammy.

Well done for the speed. Wishing you a happy evening!

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

That’s great advice. I’m going to have a share in it cos I’m struggling too -and yet , today two ladies out walking held open a gate for me and said as I puffed past impersonating a tomato in 18 degree heat “wow. Respect to you lady”. I nearly keeled over in shock!! 😂

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

That’s excellent. That random people will say that shows you what a great thing you are doing. Well done!

[Crittermad Graduate]

What would your week 1 self say to you? I bet you’d find it hard to believe you could run 3k non stop! You can run, you are running - you aren’t on the couch! Don’t be so hard on yourself - everyone has runs that for some reason are harder than others, don’t let it put you off your stride (pardon the pun!)

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to Crittermad]

Thank you, you’re right

Having a grumpy day I think!!

[Abicon Graduate]

It’s good to see this. I’ve just come back from my first post grad evening run. Usually I run in the morning and it’s definitely better for me. Cooler and I’m less physically tired. So I only managed 3k in 27 mins and was pooped! But all the comments here are a good reminder. I’m sitting in a pink puddle feeling pleased with myself that I got out and tried. I’m thinking of week 1 and I know I’ll be out again over the weekend for another go. And you will

Too I’m sure.

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to Abicon]

Was good to see this too! I just needed a kick up the bum!!

3k 27 mins was me too

[Lorijay Graduate]

Don't you dear give up Beth, you are doing great and have worked so hard. Just one of those days that us humans suffer Who cares the distance you are out there doing it and you can do this.

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to Lorijay]

Very true! Thank you x

[Bridget007 Graduate]

I’m just the same sometimes it seems ok and sometimes it seems such hard work. A few months ago we were wondering how we were ever going to run for 5 whole minutes! Now we wonder why running for 30 minutes sometimes feels tough!What are we like 🙄🤣😂

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

So very true! I just thought it might get gradually easier!!

[Bridget007 Graduate in reply to Beth-monkey]

Fingers crossed 🤞 it will one day 😬

[AnnieW55 in reply to Beth-monkey]

But as you get fitter you push a bit harder - human nature 😄. So you consciously have to think about doing an easy run for it to be easy. Going longer or faster won't feel easy.

[Beestonbabe Graduate]

I too am a couple of weeks post grad, and run with my hubby and due to his job we only manage 1 morning run and 2 evening runs per week. This evening was hard but did the 30 mins, morning runs definitely suit me better! Keep on keeping on 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

[Fifie in reply to Beestonbabe]

Only! Don’t do yourself a disservice: you regularly run 3 times a week!

[Beestonbabe Graduate in reply to Fifie]

Hi, when I said only I was meaning that we can only do one of our runs on a morning! I really am pleased that we are doing 3 runs per week, honest 😃😃

[Fifie in reply to Beestonbabe]

I’ll let you off.

As an aside, are you a Leeds or Nottingham Beeston babe?

[Beestonbabe Graduate in reply to Fifie]

A Leeds one.

[Fifie in reply to Beestonbabe]

Lived in Beeston for 6 years: got married and had my first baby whilst living there. Lots of happy memories. 😄

[Beestonbabe Graduate in reply to Fifie]

It's definitely a small world 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Bridget007 Graduate in reply to Beestonbabe]

Well done! I’m definitely a morning run too 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Hidden]

Hi Beth,

I went through a postgrad period feeling much the same. I don’t know if this helps, but the first step for me was achieving 5k, which I actually managed after a month or so I think, but it was hard.

When I really felt I was struggling, after a break due to illness, bad weather, injury or something, I went back to a run I thought I could probably do, which was W5R3. I did it with no problem. Next run I did W6R3. Again no problem. To finish that phase I did a week 9 run, and yes, I proved to myself I still had it, and my mojo was back.

After that, I did the C25K+ podcasts, and became comfortable running half an hour. Then I started doing more 5ks, and got comfortable with that. My mojo is still intact I think, and I credit a lot of that to the lovely folk on this forum, but also doing that W5R3 repeat, and finding it easy.

Good luck, I just know you’ll get there.

[Beth-monkey Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Brilliant advice, I’ll try that on my next run.

Funnily enough wk5 run3 was the run that got me past the 28 min runs by tricking my mind!

[Hidden in reply to Beth-monkey]

W5R3 was certainly a turning point for me, it was the point I thought: you know what, I think I can do this. Since coming back to it, I can honestly say I haven’t looked back.

I’m also finding that for me, Bridge to 10k has been great, because suddenly I have a structure to follow, and it’s working! I’m not saying jump right into that, but take it from me, a complete non-athlete and couch dweller, if you’ve completed C25K you’ll manage this.

I’m genuinely excited to follow your progress

[Penelopesimmons Graduate]

You are doing so well! Your fastest run to date? What an achievement!! Well done 👍

[Pippayoungart Graduate]

Evening running and in the heat - both of those would be difficult for me. Think you need to put it down as one of 'those' runs and try to make the circumstances more conducive next time. Well done on PB though!