Newbie that is scared to fail

[Sidneyspud]

My biggest barrier to becoming a runner is the voice in my head that tells me it’s unachievable. I know that I can’t be alone in this; how do you deal with it?

I’ve tried to be a runner in the past, managed a couple of 10Ks but I’m super slow and it was damned hard. I want to enjoy running, make it part of my life. My dream would be to run 5k comfortably, managing the local park run each week. Heart says “yes”, head says “don’t be ridiculous!”.

Therefore after 9months of lurking on this forum, 6weeks of procrastination, this morning I began (again) with W1 R1 and it was ok. My theory is that being accountable may balance the demon in my head and encourage me to continue.

Would anyone like to be a virtual running buddy with me?

Yours,

Em

[SANDI_runs Graduate]

We are all your virtual running buddies on here, just keep posting your highs and your lows and you will get all the support you need to get you through this physical and mental challenge x

[Sidneyspud in reply to SANDI_runs]

Thank you Sandi, appreciate it. X

[Mellowyello Graduate]

I completed W1,R1 this morning too. It was ok. Nothing dreadful happened, so now I don’t know why I worried so much. I’ve never been a runner, so this was my first time, but it won’t be my last! I hope to be at Parkrun by the end of October!

[Sidneyspud in reply to Mellowyello]

Wow, that’s great, well done. Fab aim to get to parkrun in Oct, inspiring.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Hi Em,

The only failure is failing to try. Get yourself to that start line. Start your warmup and walk, listen to the voice in your head, then tell it that it doesn’t know, yes you can, yes you will. At the end of that warmup, relax and go. Nice and slow. You can do this. The voice is a liar, and doesn’t know what being a runner takes. You have to kick that voices ass. Voice is called Doubt... I posted a letter to doubt from the Nike coach a couple of days ago. Have a read, we’ve all had plenty of input from our doubts.

[Sidneyspud in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Crikey, those words hit home and made me cry! Thank you for taking the time to care. Will have a read.

[Oldlady57]

Your off the starting blocks Em, so very well done. Lots of support & valuable info on this forum. I completed W4R3 this morning, it was tough but the second half much better. For some unknown reason l envisaged a tug of war team pulling me up a steady incline. It worked for me & l completed my run nearly 5 min quicker!! The best advice l was given was to jog at a snails pace, nice & steady. The only person who you need to impress is yourself. You can do this👍🏻

[Sidneyspud in reply to Oldlady57]

Thanks, definitely got the message about slow and steady! Well done on your efforts, 5 mins quicker is huge! Are you running on real inclines or virtual? Luckily it’s pancake flat where I am.

[Hidden in reply to Oldlady57]

I love the tug-of-war thing. It's what I use all the time even when walking, just to get up steep hills. 👍

[MrsT0707 Graduate]

We all have gremlins in our heads telling us we can’t but the best thing to can do is get out there and prove them wrong! You’ve done it before so you absolutely can do it again. We are all virtual running buddies here and we all want to see (well read about) you beating those voices in your head. Go for it, you can’t fail unless you give up 💪

[Sidneyspud in reply to MrsT0707]

Thank you. Reassuring to know they are something we’re all up against.

[Oldlady57]

I can't avoid the inclines where l live. I see them as challenges to be conquered. PMA is the way to go even when our brains are saying otherwise lol just tell those gremlins to naff off 🤣

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Hello and welcome!😀

Most of us doubt ourselves, you are not alone! I found it very helpful not to look ahead, (because it was too scary and off putting). I just thought about the run that I was up to one at a time all the way through. I also planned which days I would run and had my kit all together ready to grab and go. I never allowed myself to think “Will I run?“ - I just dashed out of the door before my brain could tell me reasons not to. 😂- unless I was ill.

Keep posting so we can cheer you on! 😃

[Sidneyspud in reply to Elfe5]

Thanks Elfe5, will do and that’s a great piece of advice - live the moment, not the mountain.

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to Sidneyspud]

Great quote - I’ll carry that one with me. 😃

[Taffinator Graduate]

Life is a marathon not a sprint, lots of little steps lead to a great distance, the voices in your head can be tamed, I did it, 2 stone overweight and closer to 50 than 40, yet I started W8 yesterday, everyone on here will support you and encourage, don’t be afraid to shout “help” cos we’ll all come running!

When the voices start in my head my mantra kicks in “No defeat, No surrender!”

[Sidneyspud in reply to Taffinator]

Thank you Taffinator. I’m very aware that I have just tipped over into the “nearer 50” category, which on one hand is an incentive to nail this finally but the demons say “well if you’ve not managed it yet, why would you now?” Congrats for being within spitting distance of graduation!

[MandiV]

All of us are!! Keep posting the gremlins away ‘!!

[Sidneyspud in reply to MandiV]

Thanks MandiV, I shall.

[misswobble Graduate]

Just go nice and slowly, be a bit Zen and you’ll be fine. We want to have fun and not struggle. So keep slow and it will all fall into place

Parkrun is lovely. Yet more fun 👍😃🏃‍♂️

[Sidneyspud in reply to misswobble]

Yep, I hear you! Humbled by the support on here, thank you so much.

[misswobble Graduate]

You’re welcome. We love to run so want everyone else to enjoy it too

😃👍🏃‍♂️