Third time lucky?

[LaurieJ1]

Hi all, Great to be back on here!

In short I am now on week 8 run 1 again having graduated twice before over the last 5 years.

My problem is that I really “enjoy” the journey from couch to 5k using the app with the inspirational Laura. My big issue is moving on from there. I guess I need to work out how to make the running a habit? I also can’t profess that I really enjoy the running also..

I start off missing the Laura app and begin to lose interest. Any thoughts before I complete the programme on how I keep it going.

I get the health benefits as I feel much better mentally and physically hence I really would welcome thoughts to keep it going.

Thanks all

[Mrs_McColl Graduate]

Hi, first of all well done you! 2 time graduate... you have the motivation for sure. I would definitely use the fact you feel better when running as your incentive to keep going, I am currently about to start week 9 to become a first time graduate, I don't always want to go for a run or enjoy all of them but I am always glad I did afterwards. I set myself little challenges to keep me motivated, for example I set myself markers where at the bend of the canal I know when Michael Johnson says you have done 10 mins I think I want to be further round the bend when he says it or when he says that I speed up a min I count how many people I see on my run etc... I am also going to do the 10k app which is similar just to always have that voice in my ear, good luck you can do it!

[LaurieJ1 Graduate in reply to Mrs_McColl]

Thanks for the ideas. I’ll give them a go for sure. Prefer Laura to Michael Johnson though 😁

[Mrs_McColl Graduate in reply to LaurieJ1]

😂😂 I change them every couple of weeks to keep it fresh to my ears Haha

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Well done for perseverance! I’ve really embraced the Japanese slow jogging technique - m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...(Not working as expected?) And this has made the running itself pleasurable, not just the phew it’s over and exercise is good side. I put on a podcast and get lost in the run & an interesting subject. I’ve been adding time to one run, so now have one 50 minute one and I’m loving it - a very slow long run and an engrossing interview. Maybe something like that would work?

[LaurieJ1 Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

Thanks for this idea. Seems really counter-intuitive but really interesting? Dumb question perhaps but can you feel the benefit of this approach - are you fitter I guess?

Thanks again!

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to LaurieJ1]

I’m certainly fitter than I was! Could I be ‘fitter’ now with more pace? A bit, but at a risk. I’m 53, hadn’t run since school and was unfit, so getting fit without injury is a key aim. I feel great, I feel strong. And I’m loving that long run. Been sort of musing today about making every one that I can a long one - 50 to 110 mins, because they’ll be so many where I can only fit in a 30, felt like a good goal. And I love the actual running, and in a busy life it’s great to have an exercise that’s really enjoyable in the moment. So yes!! But I plan to report back over the next few months and see if enough changes keep happening at this speed, or not!

[ReturnRunner]

Hi Laurie. I find graduating onto other apps really keeps me going. If you’re geeky then Runkeeper is good for analysing your run. Zombie Run is good for entertaining you as you try to outrun zombies. Other apps focus on increasing your speed or distance in a similar way to c25k. I’m returning to running after a knee op and I’m really looking forward to getting up to 5k so that I can start to try to improve my speed, then distance. Hope you manage to keep going!