3 months since graduating

[ruthless10]

I completed Couch to 5k in September and have continued to run 3 miles 3 times a week. I’m finding it harder and harder to motivate myself: any suggestions?

[mrrun Graduate]

You are doing the same routine which can be quite boring. Change routes, increase distances, do intervals, try 10k program, change/ditch music, run at unusual times to surprise yourself, run alone/join a club, remind yourself why you started in the first place, run slower/faster, take a break then come back, repeat the whole C25K (l did), don’t run on the same days, shake the whole thing up a bit, switch off and simply run.

[ruthless10 in reply to mrrun]

Thanks, I’ll give your ideas a go.

[Montymum Graduate in reply to mrrun]

Brilliant post. I also graduated a while ago and intend to mix things up as suggested. I already changed my music this week from Queen to J S Bach!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've only ever run first thing in the morning so that'll be my next challenge - to run at a different time and maybe try and find a different route. Problem is I have an almost perfect circuit which takes about 35 minutes and includes a mix of track, pavement, a few small inclines (couldn't call them hills) and quite nice scenery. Any alternative would probably involve pavements, road crossing etc but I might try trotting off to the seaside. If it's too much to do a round trip I'll make sure I have my bus pass in my pocket!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Do you have a goal? That could help... you did C25K with a goal and a schedule, so maybe you need to do the same again.

[ruthless10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks, I’d like to do The Race For Life, next year and that is keeping me going

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Have you read the guide to post C25K running? healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[ruthless10 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

No, I’ll have a look at it, thanks.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Change the routes, change the runs and shake it up !!! Short runs...longer runs... see where I get to runs.... the more you do, the better

[ruthless10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks, nice idea.

[Interstellar Graduate]

I graduated in August. My plan is to consolidate over the winter months. So i do 3 runs a week. Weekdays are early morning 30 mins run and on Sundays i go for longer, currently at 7.2k. I track my times on Strava to see changes and progress.

What keeps it interesting is the longer term goal of increasing my distance and building my core strength. I run in different weather conditions and with and without music.

Just keep mixing it up and savouring the small wins along the way.

[ruthless10 in reply to Interstellar]

Thanks, I also use Strava and will run in any weather. At 66 yrs old I’m not sure I want to run further but I like your idea of consolidating over the winter.

[Hidden]

Try parkrun. When I finished C25k about 18 months ago I wanted to run 3 times a week. Haven't managed that especially across the hot summer. Like you I have no wish to do more than 5k/30minutes. But I run every Saturday if at all possible because I love parkrun. I have new friends and I look forward to catching up with their news over a coffee after. And I can track my progress. My goal is to keep my time under 30 minutes. Love it so much I am about to go and run it in the rain.