Convincing myself to keep going

[Gmogs]

On week 2 run 2!

Finding it hard to stay committed. Busy week & feeling tired. Very Nearly talked myself out of it. Reminding myself I’m brain tired not physically tired & to get out there and start the run.

[Jogunlikely Graduate]

Well done for beating the gremlins 😈🔨👍👍👍

[Gmogs in reply to Jogunlikely]

Haha I like that you called it the gremlins!

[SpanishShuffle Graduate]

Well done for not letting the gremlins talk you out of it.

It does take a lot of effort some days but you feel better when you have done it than you would if had not 😉

We have all been there. Stay strong 💪

[Gmogs in reply to SpanishShuffle]

Thanks, you’re 100% right. I felt good after. I would have beaten myself up if I’d not gone.

[SpanishShuffle Graduate in reply to Gmogs]

As you can see we all get those gremlins from time to time. 😉

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

You’ll always feel better if you do it. One of the great side effects of c25k for me has been the removal of the nagging self criticism - the benefits are so great if you can get out there! Well done you 👏👏💪💪

[Gmogs in reply to DiscoRunner]

Thank you, I feel like I can do the next run now 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Go you.. the brain will thank you for giving the body the run Gremlins hide under your running shoes as does motivation... they run for cover when you put them on!

[WalkingWithLabradors Graduate]

I’m an early morning runner Gmogs. It tends to be cooler and fresher air. To motivate myself I put my running kit right outside my bedroom door the night before. I know I’d make an excuse and crawl back into bed otherwise.

Keep changing your route as that keeps the interest up. I’ve learnt there’s a lot of neighbourhood places I’d never been before. 😳😁

[Gmogs in reply to WalkingWithLabradors]

Took your advice and tried a different path Along the reservoir! Week 2 completed 😀

[WalkingWithLabradors Graduate in reply to Gmogs]

I did the same this morning Gmogs. I got 😏 about running the same route as twice previously so I changed half way through and veered off to where my heart took me. 👍🏻

[Pianism Graduate]

I remember very well that I used to do something similar in my early weeks. For me it's turned out that all the habit-forming theory is dead on... 13 weeks into running and I don't even question whether I'm going to go out or jot. It's just a part of my routine now so the only thing I think about is where I'm going to go.

[AlasdairW Graduate]

I use the word ‘ONLY’.

I used to view it as a chore: ‘it’s 25 minutes’.

Now I view it as: ‘it’s ONLY 25 minutes’.

I found that helped a lot.

In the middle of runs I set myself mini goals. You are in week 2 so the running pieces are pretty short and make up nice small goals in their own. As the running gets longer I break it down into smaller chunks. Instead of thinking of running for 25 minutes I start with the first 5, then, just another 5, then 2.5 at which point ‘that’s half way - everything else is getting me closer to home’ and then it’s back to breaking down into small chunks.

Hope these strategies help.

Happy trails.