No intentions

[Zee221b]

Lately, I've been pushing myself to reach certain goals regarding my running, and I think in some ways it has hindered me. When I go running, all I can think about is how I need to reach a certain goal in order to have had a ''successful run''. So today, I decided to just go for a run. No goal, just a casual run, where I could stop whenever I wanted to. I played some chillstep (if you haven't heard of this genre I highly you recommend it for an ethereal musical experience) and just did it. I ran through a nearby park, and it was really dark in some places so I used the flashlight on my phone to light the way. It was a flat run for most of it which was nice, at times I took my headphones off so I could just hear the soft sound of my footsteps. I naturally ended up running in a kind of circuit and I got tired, but because I didn't set myself a strict goal I pushed myself because I wanted to.

I did half an hour in the end which I'm chuffed about but in all honesty, it was the mindset I had that made this run the best I've ever had.

Some runs will be better than others but I have to remember that 3 months ago I couldn't run at all! Life is busy with university and sometimes I make up excuses not to go, but I'm hoping that writing this will remind me how rewarding it is.

Goodnight

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Run like a child!! womensrunning.com/2015/09/j...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Nice article... there’s a men’s running too... but that’s probably all about chasing PBs and acing Strava segments 😂

[Zee221b Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

I love this!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Best run ever... relaxed, no targets, no pressure... you’re right, I’ve been loving those runs too recently... we should do it more, just love that we can.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

A run for pure joy...perfect... well done you! This is what it is all about

[SOULY47 Graduate]

I fully agree, this was one of the reasons I stopped running a few years ago, gave myself too much pressure to run further, faster etc. I still struggle to get out of the door, excuses come easy. Last week I managed a 5k and a 1.6 mile run. My main concern is losing that abilityto run 5k non stop, as it was something I rarely managed a few years ago. My lovely daughter passed on her cough to me at the weekend, so I'm listening to my body and resting until I'm over the worst. I just want to run when i feel like it with no pressure, but it is hard. Well done on your chilled run x

[Runner60]

That sounds like a great run 👍