Starting back

[MrsH0409]

Hi all, not posted on here before but a proper lurker and read regularly. As your a supportive lot I have taken a deep breath and decided to look for some help and advice.

I started the plan last October after having a baby and completed it just after Christmas as the snow and bad weather meant some weeks I didn’t get 3 runs in.

Well after aiming for a 7k in April which I completed I lost the ‘bug’ for running. Signed up for the race for life in June for some motivation but that didn’t help but I did manage to drag myself round it in a respectable time.

Well since June my trainers have gathered alit is dust and I my running mojo has vanished. Where I used to love going, now I can’t face the thought of it. However, the time has come to force myself back out to see if I can find it again as I’m just getting more and more lazy.

My questions are -

Has anyone else been the same situation and managed to overcome it?

Where should I start with the plan? Week 1 and just start again it somewhere in the middle?

Thank you

[Hidden]

Been there done that ... mojo went on holiday for a while ..

Try starting with wk1 and see how it feels you can always jump forward if it feels easy i found starting again great for building confidence back up as you know what to expect and also very reassuring to have laura's voice in your ears again.

[telford_mike Graduate]

Hi Mrs H, and welcome! Up to you really, but the easiest thing to do is pick a week and give it a try. If it's too difficult you can just pick an earlier one. Why not try week 3 - 2 repetitions of 1-and-a-half minutes of running, 1-and-a-half minutes of walking, 3 minutes of running and 3 minutes of walking. You did race for life in June so I reckon you could have a shot at that. Good luck!

[telford_mike Graduate]

Haha - just noticed Rob and I posted simultaneously and we both recommended different things. Rob's suggestion is perfectly valid too - starting from week 1 means you don’t have to guess how fit you might still be 😀

[Goforitmama Graduate]

Both telford_mike and Slow_Rob have good advice. No harm in starting over again from the start, but if you think that you have maintained some level of fitness then you could give yourself a jump start. The main thing is to get back out there. Enjoy your “sanity time” when you are out by yourself, as a mum I love my running time / sanity time. 😎 good luck!

[Ang62 Graduate]

Wk1 is a good place to start. The last thing you want is an injury. Just my personal opinion tho’ and not based on any evidence 😊

[MrsH0409]

Thank you all for your replies and advice. After being practically kicked out the house by my husband I started at W3R1 and LOVED it again. It was just about right for my confidence as it was only the 2nd 3 min run I started to struggle so going to pick it up from here and if I have to repeat the week a few times then so be it. I am just on a high from getting back out there and I already can't wait for tomorrow when I will get to go again.

[Notanaturalrunner Graduate]

I just wanted to say that I’m on the programme second time too. First time I completed on an Achilles injury which took a few weeks to recover and then I simply fell out of the habit. 😔

This time I started really well but over the school holidays and with my mother in law currently moving house I haven’t managed to keep 3 runs a week up but am now at W8R3.

What I’m trying to say is that life just takes over sometimes. Once my boys are back to school next week I’m hoping to get my routine back again and start consolidating my runs but I’m aiming to get the confidence up to do a Parkrun in a months time.

I think considering what’s been going on in your life over the past 12 months you’ve done brilliantly but maybe if you’re no longer excited by the thought of running why don’t you try a different challenge to keep you interested or combine running on a treadmill with the gym. Or join a running club so that you can combine the running with the support network and social side of a club.

Good luck 😉