Am I slacking?

[LookNannyruns]

Since graduation in November I have been doggedly determined to run 3 times a week with a few parkruns thrown in. BUT just lately I have found it hard to even run twice a week and have devleloped a fear that I will gradually lose what i have built up and become an ‘I used to run’ sort of person. Tell me please other graduates, is this common? Have I just burned out my initial enthusiasm? Will it come back?

On the other hand - I went off to parkrun on Sat to find it was cancelled ( proms in the park or some such thing) so I did the course by myself, and to vary it I ran one circuit the usual way then did it in reverse just to see how it felt running down the hill we usually start with. Several other people had obviously turned up too and were clearly puzzled to see me looming towards them on my second lap but I tell you what it was great to be first albeit first out of one runner 😁

Maybe my mojo is just having a summer holiday?

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

A couple of runs a week are enough to maintain you. Maybe you need a structured plan again? There’s a lot to choose from depending on what you want to do.

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks for your reply. You are probably right about restructuring again, I’ll have a ponder and look at some of the plans - maybe do some parkrun Tourism. 🙂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

How about setting some short, medium and long term targets, as I suggest in the guide to post C25K running healthunlocked.com/couchto5... This may help you create a structure to your running, whether you use a formal training plan or not.

[ArthurJG Graduate]

Is it OK when you do run? If you were suddenly going noticeably slower on a regular basis and/or taking longer than before to recover after a run, that might be a clue that you need a short break. But you don’t mention anything like that in your post so it may indeed be just a question of needing a structure to work to.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Depends why you're running less. Running should serve you rather than you serving it.

Much as I loved doing C25K, it is the fear of ever having to start the programme again that keeps me running 'enough'!

Having not been interested in 'events' or medals, I did find signing up for a virtual event medal helped I felt things were dropping away uncomfortably. And coming on here is always motivating!

[Deals1 Graduate]

Hi, how can I sign up for virtual events? thanks. I graduated the other week and have done one run since (loaded with cold ) and hoping to get back out this week.

[theoldfellow]

I think there is a terrible big hole in the current program. The C25K just stops at graduation, there needs at minimum to be a 'maintainer' programme supported by an app ( as far as I am concerned it must be one without musac.)

We have been encouraged to get to 3 x 30 minutes running and supported all the way, but then it's up to us to plan how to progress. Okay, some want to go fast, some longer, but many just want to keep 'this' healthy - and there isn't anything structured except the wonderful support of people here.

IannodaTruffe has done a great thing with his articles. But I too miss a structure, and I have not found anything yet to replace the week 9 from the app.

I find the same thing with other NHS initiatives - they get you well again, but do very little to keep you well (and for the NHS a healthy population is an affordable population!).