Graduated a couple of weeks ago. Been carrying on with 30 minute runs which with warm up and cool down is taking me to 40 minutes. I’m getting a bit bored now though and even though I’m fine running for that length of time I’m finding I don’t want to be spending as long a time on it. I have done the whole programme on a treadmill so decided to try running outdoors last week - never again!! I hated it. I thought it would help with boredom but I found it too hard. I couldn’t get my pace right and I found the surface too hard to run on. I much prefer the treadmill so will stick with that.
Anyway my main point of posting was to ask what you thought of my plan to not run for quite so long. How will it affect the fitness levels I now have. I thought I would do maybe a 15 minute run twice during the week and a longer run at the weekend. I thought I would be more likely to stick to it long term with this structure but do you think it will be enough?
Thanks
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Doggiesmum
Graduate
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That’s a tough one to answer. From an athletes point of view your 30 minute run wouldn’t get you as far with just two 15s in your “plan”. Fitness wise it would make some difference, but probably not a lot when looked at from a health point of view. Everybody is different though.
Most of my answers for boredom would be easier to do outside, but you could try looking at how race plans are constructed... some of them include short but faster runs.
I’ve just downloaded the NHS choices podcast on a speed program thanks to another post on here so maybe that is the way to go. Maybe I’m missing the support and encouragement of Michael Johnson!
I would highly recommend giving outside another go... there is so much to see and notice, so much more to respond to. For example, i never realised just quite how many post boxes there are!! So many people want to say "hi" and "good on you". Running in weather makes you appreciate what a gift rain is, notice the dappling of sunshine through trees, feel the wind pushing you up a hill... i could go on...
If your treadmill is at home, could you instead join a gym and go out and share your exercise that way?
If you drop to fifteen mins you will eventually find it harder to do 30 mins unless you run much longer on your longer run to make up for the deficit. But I realise you might be doing loads of other exercise so it is really difficult to assess from a distance... best of luck with whatever you decide!
Are you interested in going for 10k training? I am in a similar position to you but don't feel ready for 10k training or the extra time it would need. Did all my running on the treadmill. I tried to go outside but had a big shock as to how hard I found it! I am aiming to do 1 outside run a week but find I need to start at w3 to have a chance of finishing!!
I am still listening to w9 runs to keep me motivated and I am trying to increase my speed and incline on the treadmill runs. I am not bored yet but I might need to mix it up soon to make sure I keep going.
Running has to fit with you. I would have thought the plan you have in mind would at least keep you running and your fitness levels around where you are now.
Outside running is hard if you are not used to it. There are so many variables: the weather, the fact that you have to propel yourself along and sort out your pace, the weather and, yes the terrain can be hard (this encourages lighter running which is good for the body) and not flat. After doing all the programme on a TM it can take a few runs to get the hang of outside but it is worth the effort of giving it a few more before consigning to the bin. Time of day can make a difference too. I'm an earlyish morning runner and in the recent heat have been going out even earlier, 0500 as I am training for an event and don't want to miss any runs. Try different times of day when you can to see what suits you.
There are so many things you can do to stave off boredom: music, audio books, podcasts, games in your head, writing posts/stories, zombie runs, switching off, looking around you when outside. Whether on the TM or outside there are the c25k+ podcasts (these can also take a few goes before you get the hang of them). There are different kinds of runs to try that c25k+"introduces you to bit you can also do them on your own speedy ones, intervals, stamina building ones. Outside vary your routes, even just doing them the opposite way round or on the other side of the road opens up new vistas.
Thanks. Some useful links there. I think I’m going to try and stick with 3 x 30 minute runs and follow a podcast to vary my speed. See how that goes for a couple of weeks
I think the content is more easily seen on screen: Related topics, Pinned posts, Topics and the search bar. There's lots of info that might give you ideas/suit you. When you're ready there's the Bridge210k forum and the race support forum!
Then there's loads of stuff on line, magazines, books if you get time to read and virtual races. Actually virtual races might be an idea for the, not too distant future, you can treadmill them. Google it but I've used virtualrunneruk.com as have many on here.
I agree that running on a treadmill is boring. I did a mix of both throughout the program.
I did a couple of week 8 runs and the first run of week 9 on the treadmill.
By the time the second run of week 8 came round I was really bored of treadmill running. So I decided to do some interval running instead, so I still did my normal 5 minute walk warm up, then ran at my normal pace for 5 minutes. Then did 30 seconds normal running, 20 seconds faster and then 10 seconds the fastest I could do. Repeat that 4 more times (so a total of 5 minutes) then a 2 minute recovery normal pace run.
It definitely made the time pass much more quickly, and although I was focusing on the time on the treadmill it was for the seconds rather than the overall time.
Plus those intervals are made for the ‘shorter’ runs, ie ones that are like 30 minutes long.
Oh also I run a lot slower (around a minute per km) outside than I do on the treadmill, but that doesn’t bother me ☺️ maybe that’s why you struggled with outside, just going too fast? I’d definitely give it another go though so it mixes it up. Even when I go on the treadmill I use it’s ‘virtual connect’ thing so I can run along a beach or in a forest or something 😂
Thanks. Think that is the way to go - do some interval running, something else to focus on. Still unsure about giving outdoors another go. Will see how I get on with these ideas I’ve got. Thanks
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