How can I enjoy my runs more?

[Janfran]

Hi everyone, I've just joined this forum, as I started Couch to 5K last week. I'm looking for tips to increase the enjoyment I get out of it!

I'm a 71-year-old woman (but luckily for me don't look it or feel it!), in good health, not particularly unfit but not particularly fit either. I've just completed the second run of week 2. I've not had too much trouble doing the runs so far (it is early days though!) But I want to look forward to my runs - and I don't really. I just do it because I've set myself the challenge.

[emilylime Graduate]

Would listening to music or a podcast help- made a massive difference to me.

[Janfran Graduate in reply to emilylime]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think that would help, but I haven't managed to get into my iTunes account on my iPhone, despite all my music being available on my iPad! I'll try to download some podcasts, as I think listening to interesting subject matter would certainly help.

I'm still hoping that one day I'll just wake up, and really want to go running!!

[MikeJones68 Graduate]

Welcome to the forum! This is the right place to be for encouragement and advice. I used to run with music during C25K and found it helped.

I would recommend you follow Hidden on here as she is also a spritely young lady like yourself

[Janfran Graduate in reply to MikeJones68]

Thanks - I'll have to work on getting my music available. I've looked at FlickM3's page - very impressive!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Janfran]

Aren’t you listening to the app? You’d be best listening to that as it tells you what you need to know/what you should be doing

New routes! Mix things up running route wise so you have fresh scenery 🙂

[Janfran Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Yes, I'm listening to the app and following it religiously. I think running different routes is a good idea, and easy where I am in rural Suffolk. I've just worked out one that is exactly the right length though!!

[MikeJones68 Graduate in reply to Janfran]

She's a star

On the music front, I found it helped with the programme, but a few weeks after graduating I ditched the earphones and now enjoy the sounds of my surroundings

[Hidden in reply to Janfran]

That’s very kind 😊now I’m going to have a look at yours 😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to MikeJones68]

Like a mountain goat, me 😂😂😂

[Hidden]

Well first of all, speaking as another 71 year old woman that doesn’t look it , we are still hot 😂

I don’t run with music so can’t advise there. But the first week or so of C25K I was concentrating in actually managing to get round without collapsing, so music and other distractions were far from my mind - though I have to say that sexy voiced Mr Johnson was enough to keep me picking my feet up and hauling my flagging body on to the next run part of each session.

Now that I’m running long and regularly, I find my surroundings enough entertainment. I have beautiful scenery (though I would be just as happy running in city streets), the weather, sky, trees and nature in all her glory. Once you can keep going for hours, you don’t get bored. Having said that, the forcing yourself out of the door never completely goes away, largely because the first couple of kilometres of any run are tough, as your body adjusts to the activity. However, I can promise you that you will never regret a run: it’s just that the looking forward to it bit seems to come in retrospect and takes the form of thinking how you can’t wait to go out and run again.

But then I run for the joy of running; fitness and health are fringe benefits for me.

[Janfran Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the tips. Hot, indeed!! I'm looking forward to reaching the state you've achieved. Well done!

[Hidden in reply to Janfran]

Thank you, you will 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You may well find slowing down and running in pleasant surroundings is beneficial to your enjoyment of your runs.

Enjoy your journey.

[Janfran Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I've just read your guide, and found it really positive and helpful. I already run in pleasant surroundings, luckily, but plan to vary my routes. Part of my problem is getting up early in the morning, which I really don't like doing! Think I'll find some entertaining podcasts to pass the time. Then I'll have something to look forward to - until I find myself wanting to be 'in the zone'!

[Agelesslass]

After a while you will see a difference in your body, you will have firmer limbs and a fitter body in general, this should motivate you and hopefully make you enjoy it more, as your mentality towards it will improve, seratonin uptake will improve and you will look forward to your runs.

[Janfran Graduate in reply to Agelesslass]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm really looking forward to having a fitter body - and hopefully losing a bit of weight around the tum, where I've got a bit more than I'd like!

[Agelesslass in reply to Janfran]

You will lose weight, I’ve lost 20lbs, go for it.

[Flyingred Graduate]

My experience was that it takes a few weeks to get into the programme and for the enjoyment to kick in. So just stick at it. It's immensely satisfying when you surprise yourself that you can actually run the longer intervals. Just keep going, slow is fine and trust the programme. Good luck!

[Janfran Graduate in reply to Flyingred]

More good news! In some ways I'm not looking forward to the longer runs, but your post makes it sound great. I will indeed trust the programme. Thanks for the enthusiasm.

[Silverfox1943 Graduate]

Remember its not the distance but the time at first. Distance and speed will develope in due course. I started on a field but now on path, track and a little on the field which is midway. I'm over75 and onto wk3 r3 next.

[seaspaniel Graduate]

Spotify might help on the music front. I have rediscovered a number of tunes and genres from my past.

For podcasts I have taken to "no such thing as a fish" which are the researchers behind QI TV programme.

I occasional take a problem to solve with me. So far I have managed to sort out a tricky plumbing issue, a mathematical solution to filling up a latte glass and a menu for 6.

However running somewhere new always makes the run fly by.

[Oldman51 Graduate]

I'll probably be flamed for this reply! I really hope you learn to love running. It will make keeping it up so much easier. It didn't happen for me. Like you I found W1 and W2 pretty straightforward, but I found it got harder and distinctly unloveable. I graduated with gritted teeth, and I've found it no better over the month since graduation. I know the response from Mr Truffe and other high-ups will be that I should go away and do something else. The problem is that many of us just don't like exercise and only do it as medicine - and taking medicine is not always pleasant, however you wrap it up.