How do you develop a good resistance to giving up ?

[Kahlisi]

I have just completedweek one of the Couch to 5km. I'm currently struggling in resisting the urge to give up when I begin to struggle mentally with learning to run. Any tips on how to overcome this and develop a good mindset for the future.

[telford_mike Graduate]

Whilst running, do a series of checks.

1. Am I breathing?

2. Are my legs working?

3. Can I see where I'm going?

Assuming 'yes' to all 3, keep going!

Another thing you can do is remember why you started. There must have been a reason. Remind yourself why you started and what incentive you gave yourself for doing this. Good luck!

[Kahlisi in reply to telford_mike]

Awesome and thank youfor the good advise . I shall keep this in mind. All the best.

[Dzhn]

Another 1 I found useful was thinking "in a few weeks this will be easier" *disclaimer it may not be easier but the more you do, the better you get so it is sort of easier

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Appreciate the little victories. Maybe one running segment felt a little better. Maybe you recovered a little faster than last time. Maybe the run stunk but you feel a lift in your mood afterwards.

If a run is tough due to the weather, your lack of sleep, the hilly pathway you took, don't dwell on the fact that you might be slow/had to walk/hated every minute. Feel like a hero for stepping up to the challenge and know that some runs will be great, and others will always stink. But it's all exercise in the bank.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Think why you started this... and unless that reason has changed... it still holds

Then.. if you are struggling.. slow down... relax, and take it slowly and steadily!

Lay your stuff out the night before..plan your route.. then get out there and know we will all be waiting for your post

[Dzhn]

Oh and another one I found really effective was thinking that I wanted to get really far into this program before the weather changes so that when its colder or wetter you'd have a vested interest in keeping on going

[Greyandold]

Keep on going, one foot in front of the other. It will get easier I promise you. I have completed the C25K and this Saturday was my proudest moment when I completed the Reading Park Run(5k's) without walking in 36m 51 seconds. Eight months ago I was struggling to run for 5 minutes. Stick at the running, you can do it, believe in the reason why you started running. Good luck!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Love Oldfloss's advice..and imagine yourself writing that post for us on here - telling us you did it!! Believe🙂

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Doubt is your enemy. Relax. Trust in the programme. Look at the week you just did. Yes, it was hard... but it didn’t knock you down... you’re still standing. Yes, the next week will challenge you... but you’re ready for it. You have all you need to do it. You need to go slow. Read the graduation posts that come in all day... virtually all of them refer to this being impossible and almost not doing week one... all of them kicked it’s ass and are still standing at the end of week 9. You’ll be the same... all you have to do is start believing in yourself. You CAN do this... with effort you WILL do this. Tell yourself over and over again that you can, and you will. It’s time to amaze yourself.

[Languid_Lil Graduate]

All good advice - trust in the programme and believe in your newly discovered and possibly surprising ability to do a lot more than you think you can. Don't listen to the siren voices of the Gremlins telling you you can't do it; listen to the hard-won experience of your running buddies on here telling you that you can.

You can definitely do this. Xx

[JBI9553]

No one can make you run if you don’t want to but my own experience as an on/off runner of almost 20 years is that, when you commit to running and stick to running 3 or 4 times a week you feel so much better in so many ways.

Give yourself a gift of 90 minutes a week to run for the 9 weeks it takes to complete C25K and then decide if it really isn’t for you. It’s only 810 minutes you’re ‘giving up’ but they could change the rest of your life forever!

Good luck - Jan.

[Gran4z Graduate]

You have already done it, you can run. Just believe in yourself, and don't let those little demons get the better of you. We're all here for you, to encourage you on. It isn't easy, but so worth doing. Go for it, we'll be here for you every step of the way. 🙂

[oldwheezer69 Graduate]

Look at all the early posts of us graduates.... See how all our posts changed from 'can I do this?' to 'wow, I just ran for 10 minutes' and eventually the excited graduation posts.... Honestly, it's a great programme and it works, you just need to trust it and keep going x

[Taffinator Graduate in reply to oldwheezer69]

That is exactly how my posts have changed.

You can do anything, the gang on here taught me that.

[theoldfellow in reply to Taffinator]

It's joining the Gang wot did it! We run on our own, but we are part of a great team. Everyone, like you, like Kahlisi, like me, who joins us makes us more awesome!

[Taffinator Graduate]

Don’t be afraid to ask for support, we will give it to you in buckets!

Little steps = great distance 👍🏻

[theoldfellow]

You just 'completed' Week 1. Well done! That is a great achievement for anyone coming off the couch. We all struggled through those urges to give up.

This overcoming that urge is one of the things that the first part of the program is about.

The other thing it does is start the process of getting you fit enough to do the rest of the transformation of a Couch Sitter into a Runner. You will be amazed at how quick that goes. Share your adventure with us.

Welcome to being a runner.