Need encouragement..not sure I'm feeling it ..

[Sofabunny]

So..this is how it is at the moment, did first week 8 run after work. At first I felt like I wasn't going to do first five minutes let alone 28. why is this? I have completed all the other runs..slower than a sedated slug but still done them. Based my way through to 28 minutes helped by tonight's sound track ( The Boss, Stranglers, Neil Young. REM, SexPistols, Undertones, Tom Petty..apologies to anyone not half a century old). But I'm not enjoying it...more a feeling of I've bloody started this and I'm going to finish it if it kills me vibe with me at the moment. Have others felt like this??😕😕😕😕

[Toomsy]

Sometimes we all get this feeling . Like you’ve hit a brick wall . Try changing when you run . I run better and feel better when I run in the day or first thing .

[Sofabunny in reply to Toomsy]

I do feel better runnng early mornings but don't think I have can manage running before work.🌄

[daz1874 Graduate]

You've done so well to get to this stage so keep the motivation up to keep going. I'm due to to do my first run of week 8 tomorrow and still pinching myself I've got so far 👍

[Ang33333 Graduate]

I'm sure everyone has had that feeling! Good music choices!

[Trance-Runner]

Yes, music is key. As my name suggests, I get some deep progressive trance on my headphones and get locked in the zone. It's beautiful, I can of feel like I'm one with the world. Running is a mind game. Try losing yourself in great music. Good luck, you've done so well to get this far.

[Newcs in reply to Trance-Runner]

I totally agree, music gets me through it. Any recommendations Trance-Runner?

[Sofabunny in reply to Trance-Runner]

No..can't go for trance..I'd just fall over 😊

[Hidden in reply to Trance-Runner]

I love that! I’m the same - i’ve been listening to house music mainly but wouldn’t mind some suggestions if u have any.

[Katiepops Graduate]

Ill bet everyone feels that way sometimes. I’ve spent the last 2 runs making excuses about why I don’t want to run before going out the door. With Laura on my arm, that’s never going to happen and off I go! Stick with it, look what you’ve achieved so far and smile!

Great playlist btw!

[Jay66UK Graduate]

What brought you to running in the first place? Part of the reason to carry on ,any be in there.

You are so close to the end, try to endure it. You’ll probably regret it if you don’t.

[Razouski]

It sounds like you Mojo has gone a.w.o.l. That's happened to me on several occasions and others too in the forum. Why not put mojo in the search box to take a look at previous posts, it'll reassure you to see that it happens to many of us, but after persevering it generally comes back, or you find it lurking somewhere. It may even be that it's been kidnapped by the dreaded gremlins. Hope you find your mojo again soon.

[Razouski in reply to Razouski]

p.s. love the suggestions on your playlist - I may need to borrow some.

[Karenlouise66]

I feel exactly the same. I've just done r3 week 8 and don't seem to get any further than about 3.6 km. But I'm going to repeat week 8 again all 3 runs until I feel comfortable to move on. Like everyone else has said think how far you've come. A few weeks ago running for 2 mins felt painful but look now. You like me may be slow but be positive at least ure doing something and ure not still on the couch !

[Agelesslass]

I know what you mean, I’m on week 8 now, I’m thinking why am I doing this at 64, but then I look at what I’ve done, lost weight, stopped drinking wine through stress at work and now feel fitter, so Sofabunny it’s worth it, we must carry on united as C25K achievers, be brave.

[Sofabunny in reply to Agelesslass]

I've cut out the wine..I was getting too used to a relaxing glass whilst cooking tea, then a second one whilst eating. Like you it's an unwind after work thing..I started this partly because, at 57, I started thinking about what things I want to be doing after retirement..which I would really like to do at 60..maybe..? I decided there was no use putting off improving my health till then!

[Agelesslass in reply to Sofabunny]

Me too, that is I’m thinking of my health, just retired from nursing and thought, right that’s it, time for me now, slimmer, fitter me. Carry on Sofabunny, you’re doing fine.

[HiggyM Graduate]

I work part-time so one of my three runs has to be on a day I've worked and that run is by far the hardest each week! I can't bring myself to get up at the crack of dawn on a work day (it's bad enough getting up for work!) to go for a run but thinking I might have to as the runs are much longer now. If you find the secret to running after a hard day at work, let me know?!!! Good luck with the remainder, you're nearly there ☺

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

In the early weeks you get the satisfaction of little victories each time you complete an interval. In the latter weeks that only comes on completion of the entire run.

I would not normally encourage clock watching, but if you congratulate yourself after each five or ten minute segment, it might lift your spirits.

The continuous runs are tough, but you are near graduation, when you can consolidate and run purely for pleasure, instead of pushing further week on week.

I remember finding W8 a real slog, but it created results and unless the reason that you started C25K has evaporated, then I urge you to push through the tough runs to reach the sunlit uplands on the other side.

You can do it.

[Sofabunny in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks..that has helped..I've got to push on through last few weeks and then start to enjoy the rewards..🎖️🎖️

[Notjustjanice Graduate]

That’s the next run for me Sofabunny and like you I have not really got to the stage of “I love running now, never thought I would enjoy running” I keep hoping but I doubt it’s going to happen. Saying that probably like you I will do this C25K to the end. I did it for the challenge and will complete it, good luck fo4 your last 5 runs, now that does sounds good.

[Kimyeo Graduate]

Know exactly where you’re at Sofabunny, I just did R3 wk8 last night, wanted to stop all the way to half way, after half way I see it as ‘downhill’ even though it’s flat as a billiard table where I live and run! Cambs area. Different days different feelings, in one of the 25min runs I ran for 32, just because it felt right. Pace doesn’t matter, I asked the same thing, I will need to run 50 mins to do 5k! Nobody ‘runs’ slower than me, nobody.. but I still feel great... after not during. Agree with you music is the key, without that I’m done. I’m over the half century, 62, and similar taste by the sound of it, I get the chance to indulge in what I and I alone like without annoying the missus or anyone else. Get a few weird looks playing air guitar and drums whilst ambling along, must look like I’m having a fit!! Pity there isn’t a way to share playlists, link to Spotify or something, I’m up to about 60 songs on shuffle. (Shuffle very apt!)

So stick that music on, shuffle forward, keep grinding away repeating ‘I will not stop, I will not.... you will succeed and reap the benefits

[WordsworthFhang]

I really struggled last night with w7r1, the second continuous 25 minute run. Sometimes that happens. Could be: not quite rested enough, too hot, wrong food eaten at wrong times in the 24 hours leading up to it... There are plenty of reasons, but none should put you off keeping up trying.

One thing I learned from giving up smoking over 20 years ago - if you have a little glitch, don't think you've failed or can't do it, recognise it as a bad day and keep going after your goal. You've come this far, so I've no doubt you can do it!

Best of luck with the next run!

Oh, great running play list, by the way

[Julessmith73]

Same stage-run 1 week 8 I wouldn’t of completed if I’d been running alone but was with my friend who kept me going!

I was running thinking.....I’d rather be riding a bike but I’m determined to finish the 9 weeks!

[Mrsjhw Graduate]

Yes! Every time I start a new week (and I am also half a century). However the feeling after a good few repeats when I can do that week with ease is worth more than anything!

[Jennypenny2 in reply to Mrsjhw]

Nice to know I'm not the oldest Runner out there it's nice to know there's other runners. my age out there

[Hidden]

I went out to do W8 R1 earlier and just wasnt enjoying it, i havent quit on any of my previous runs but just stopped at 14 mins in. Dont even know why i stopped i just couldnt be bothered, really hope i get back into it though.

[PaulBrad Graduate]

I'm sure many of us experience this and I think there is more of mental thing going on here rather than physical. I really liked IannodaTruffle response about small victories and think there is a lot to be said for that. For me, one way I found to mentally progress was to look at what I saw my running norm as.

Before I started my norm was ziltch, but after W1 my norm had become 60s, after W2 it was 90s. This really has helped me because when the first 20mins came along I was only running for 4mins extra than the end of W4.

I did W7R1 yesterday and am not at the stage of seeing my norm as 25mins - but i now see it as 20mins - to go from a running norm of ziltch to 20mins in 6 weeks is pretty damn cool! I know I can run for 20mins - I now only have to push myself for 5mins more. By the end of W7 my norm will be 25mins and i only have to run 3mins more in W8 and 2mins more in W9.

I know I may be making this sound a little simplistic (and I have nearly stopped on a number of occasions) but it really has helped my mindset - rather than feeling that I'm going out for a 25min run - I'm going to run my normal run plus 5mins. I'll let you know if this theory is blown out of the water by the end of this week

[Hidden in reply to PaulBrad]

Sounds like a really good way to approach this. Thanks for the idea.

[Valcart Graduate]

Definitely! Try another route or even a good talking book for a distraction instead of music. I've just finished week9r3 and the book kept me going beyond 15 mins running 😚

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Hi Sofabunny, im nowhere near W8, so im not sure how that feels, but youre at W8! Wow! Well done! You have done brilliantly to keep your defiance and keep going! I hope that I too find that feeling when needed in the weeks ahead! It helps us to keep going too! So thank you for the sharing the challenges. May you feel down right defiant, right to the end and beyond! ❤️

[lollytwist Graduate]

Oh I felt that way this morning too Sofabunny! I decided to have the day off and do W8R1 tomorrow instead and have been mad at myself all day.At least you got out there and did it! I can’t believe I’ve come so far and am determined to carry on tomorrow. You are so near the end, just dig deep - the light is just starting to show at the end of the tunnel 😄

[Annetoria]

Yes I felt like this today, but it was very humid and I didn't have a motivating running friend with me. Even if someone can't run with me sometimes they cycle slowly with me, very slowly! 😄 I don't run very quickly either but today I did first week 9 run. We can do it!

[Berksrover Graduate]

When else are you going to listen to that great music? Why should running be any different to anything else you do? Sometimes I feel like going to work, sometimes I don't, sometimes I feel like doing some gardening at the weekend, sometimes I don't, I do agree with others, go back to your original motivation for starting, that works for me, and don't worry about pace / distance, the only criteria that matters is time, hope you decide to stay with it

[Gilly0410 Graduate]

Hi Sofabunny don’t lose heart. I’m another half centurion, I completed C25K last week. Never thought I would. We all have good and bad days. I’ve really struggled with the longer runs, but yesterday morning I went out and had a good one that shocked me. I put on a pod cast, short story for the first time instead of music. I ran my first mile in 7.25 minutes! 😂😂😂😂 morning usual average is between 9.5/10. I was so shocked, I slowed right down, but ended up doing 3.5 miles in 31.5 minutes. So as others have suggested try a story for a change, the distraction was good for me, I’m now looking for more. Keep it up you’ll be so proud of yourself in another week or so 😘

[Sofabunny]

I have never thought of running whilst listening to audio books..I'm a Radio 4 addict so maybe that might work...I'm gonna give it ago ! 📖🗣️

[oldwheezer69 Graduate]

I've just graduated. Hand on heart, have I enjoyed the runs? No, not always. But do I get a real sense of achievement after I've done them? Hell yes! Do I feel fitter, more energised, and healthier? Yes yes yes!!! Hang in there, you are doing so well 😃😃😃

[Jennypenny2]

Keep going you have got this far .what if you changed where you run. I found that help me somewhere different to look at.

[janey28]

Oh i know that feeling so well. I managed -like a comatose snail (I can definitely walk a lot quicker) to complete W7 but have completely lost it for W8 -could not cope and have now gone back to W6 to try and get the stamina/willpower back

[Sofabunny]

Since my post I have gone on to completely messed up R2 w8..I am considering repeating week 7..but in all honesty I was struggling through that..so I can understand why you would go back a few weeks..I think did week 2 twice..I think progress through this programme may not be in a straight line for some of us.. a bit of backtracking is more realistic probably ..I think I'm in a cul-de-sac..😊

[Hidden in reply to Sofabunny]

Ah sorry to hear that. Look how far you got though- i bet u never imagined that in W1? I found W8 R1&2 hard - R3 was (not easy) but easier & i have struggled with W9R1&2. Everything you have done so far has prepared you for this - you really have got this. Imagine everyone cheering you on. You can do it. Good luck whatever you decide & keep us posted.