Week 8 - I think it’s the mind that’s the problem not the legs!

[Middleagedmummy]

Finished run 1 of week 8!

Two years ago I ran a 10K as part of a I need to do something with my life and then promptly gave up running so I’m back doing C25K again!

Didn’t believe I could do the 28 minutes and nearly gave up at 1 min, 2 min, 3 min etc (you get the picture) but I kept giving myself a stern talking to and before I knew it I was at 25 mins with only 3 to go.

I think it’s my head rather than my legs that are the problem but don’t know how to get my head in the right place!

I’m also still a bit slow (just over 5mph) so need to speed up as well but guess that’ll come if I can get my head in the right place.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Welcome. Great run.

The voices in the head are very good at getting us sat back on that couch huh? There’s no real trick to beating that... but proving each of the lies they speak wrong certainly helps... maybe it’s even an inspiration to do this. The voices say you can’t... just do it. They say you’re too slow... give them a little burst of speed.

As for speed... running 30 minutes gives huge health benefits... running 5k doesn’t. If we could run 5k in 15 minutes we’d have to run 10k to get those benefits. You will only ever compete with one person in any run you do, any race you enter and and challenge you take on. For some 5mph is fast, for some it’s not... and for others it’s just perfect. For you, right now having got this far, you’re in that last group. Run this comfortably... then after graduation you can either just run... or you can have a go at pace... or you can run longer and further. It doesn’t matter what you choose as long as you love it.

Great job so far... enjoy closing this out.

[Granspeed Graduate]

Well 5 mph sounds speedy enough to me, at the same stage and doing about 6K an hour! Just don’t kick up the mud as you float past. 😄 Maybe don’t worry about pace and just look to what you can enjoy for now - new music? Audible books? Podcast? The scenery? Something will trigger the right feeling, and then ... you’ll be done! Good luck with it. 👏🏼

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to Granspeed]

I found podcast today did the trick. Before I’d be saying ‘I’ll carry on till the end of the next track’ when listening to music. 30 mins seemed forever. Today I didn’t even notice the time. I turned round because I ran out of pavement. Lucky really as I ran 32 mins 😂

[Granspeed Graduate in reply to Shelley2310]

👏🏼🎉👍

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You need a distraction from your running and you need to forget about speed.

Podcasts, I imagine, would take your mind somewhere else, if music doesn't do it for you.

Your pace needs to be one at which you can speak aloud, clear ungasping sentences as you run..........no faster, no slower.