New to running

[LolaMac81]

Hi, all. I've just started week 2 of C25k and so far so good. I'll admit, I tend to HATE running but I've tried the gym thing and I don't stick at it so I figured I'd give this ago as there's no waste of money each month when I eventually give up and I really need to start thinking about my weight after personal traumas which have made me take comfort in food! 😬

I've roped my 8 year old son into doing it with me, well, not really... the little bundle of energy is willingly coming along and so he's motivating me at the mo. Not sure how long he'll still want to be involved!

I'm hoping we can stick it through the full program and I can come out the other side as some one who actually enjoys running 3 times a week 😂

Fingers crossed!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Hi Lola & son.

Now that you’ve found this super supportive place and a free(ish) way of getting and keeping fit, why would you ever quit? You can do this... so can he. My 12 year old is on it and I see under 10s running faster than me every week at parkrun. Running is great for mental health, people here are off the depression meds because they do this... so we take that comfort eating and we replace it with something more effective. The real plus is, when you’re a runner you can take that “bad for you” guilty pleasure of a snack and use it as fuel for a run. How cool is that?

You’ve taken the biggest step, now it’s just lots of little steps to the end of the programme.

[LolaMac81 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Wow! Thank you! Genuinely... That's a really motivating way of looking at things! I'll make sure I check back at this if or when I feel disheartened and like quitting ... Thank you 👌

Btw, I feel like this sounds like sarcasm but it really isn't!

I love my son coming with me. I don't love as much the fact that he doesn't even work up a sweat 😂 it's nice for us to have time together, just the two of us as that doesn't happen often enough since his sister came along. Now, if that's not reason enough to carry on then I don't know what is!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to LolaMac81]

You got it... 30 minutes a day 3 days a week, just you and him. If he doesn’t run every time he can hold the app and coach you. Make him, and yourself, proud of supermum. If ever you can’t see the positive, post here, we’ve all been there!

[LolaMac81 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That's a great idea... I'll try that if he says he doesn't want to do it as he's keen on keeping me motivated at the minute!

[telford_mike Graduate]

Hi Lola, well done for finishing week 1, it was the most difficult week of the programme for me, so you’re doing great. Good luck with week 2,and as the others have said, keep coming back here to report your progress - encouragement is guaranteed! 😀👍🏃‍♀️👏

[LolaMac81 Graduate in reply to telford_mike]

Thank you! Already feeling like this forum is pretty supportive... glad I found it!

[Elmz]

I also hated running (and still do sometimes). I’m still overweight and don’t look anything like your average ‘runner’. But I can still do it Just think one run at a time and you’ll get there. It really does get better and when it clicks it is great, for me it was about week 6 that I really relaxed into it. I found the longer periods of running more enjoyable because I was less focused on the time and more about putting one foot in front of the other. Good luck!

[LolaMac81 Graduate in reply to Elmz]

That's just it, at the mo I am conscious about how long from each section is left, I'm hoping that passes! I can't imagine being able to run for 30 minutes at any point in my life but we'll see!

[Elmz in reply to LolaMac81]

The first few weeks are tough because you’re just counting down the seconds before you can walk. But it does get easier to focus on breathing and just plodding on. Running for half an hour was never something I believed I could do, ever. Turns out my body always could, with patience and practice, just my brain that was in the way!! Good luck 🙂

[LolaMac81 Graduate in reply to Elmz]

Our brains have a lot to answer for 😉😁

[Elmz in reply to LolaMac81]

Indeed!!