Thinking of giving up

[MarybellM]

I’m up to Week 2 Run 2. Next step is Run 3 but I’ve been away for 3 days and have eaten unhealthily throughout. I’m back home and my plan was to get back to healthy living today. However, I’m tired and fed up and the wind is howling outside. I just want to snuggle down and stay warm. I suppose my posting here is a cry for moral support - maybe deep down I don’t want to give up. But it’s very very tempting right now.

[Hidden]

Why did you start this? Are you really about to throw in the towel at the first bump? Put on your running gear and get out the door for your run. Discipline is what you need right now. You will feel brilliant afterwards.

Go, go GO!

[MarybellM in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - I needed to hear that. My will power is pathetic and you’re right, discipline is what I need. Right, I’m getting up and will do chores then run!

[Hidden in reply to MarybellM]

I'd postpone the chores and do the run instead

[Redcello41 Graduate]

You can do it, don't give up! I've had a few runs where I really didn't want to do it because of various reasons like the rain but it is so worth it after! I'm cheering you on all the way, let me know how you get on! 😀

[MarybellM in reply to Redcello41]

Thank you for your reply. I’m so easily swayed by my feelings, but also very easy to start feeling positive again. I’ll post when I get back from my run!

[Tony1978 Graduate]

I am not a runner myself, just got to w3R2, so I haven’t got my beginner badge yet. Maybe that’s why I might know the feeling a lot better than the mighty graduates. Quitting is the easy way, of course you know that, but it won’t make you feel any better. Put yourself together, put those trainers on, twenty minutes later come back home knowing that you are winner material.

[PVH1 Graduate]

Please don't give up! Remember why you started this programme. You will feel amazing once you complete R3 and be ready to take on anything!

Just have faith in yourself...Im with you all the way, you got this!! x

[Islesrunner Graduate]

Think how great FINISHING week 2 will feel 💪🏃‍♀️

I know you can do it.

If it’s challenging, slow down a bit until it’s comfortable ❤️

[MarybellM in reply to Islesrunner]

It’s more the mental challenge than the physical. I get a bit down at times. The good news today is that I’ve decided to do it right now and leave the chores till later! Thanks very much to you and to everyone who has responded. I’m overwhelmed by the positivity. I also need the tough talk approach! I know running helps mental health so I really need this. I’m away to get my running stuff on!

[Cuig1975 in reply to MarybellM]

Was just going to say that the chores will wait and you’ll do them in half the time when you get back as you’ll be full of energy enjoy.....

[Islesrunner Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

(Squeeze) before you get sweaty 😁😘

[WarGamesWiddow Graduate]

I think I could just stop every time I go for my run - but the sheer surprise that I complete them - and seem to get a tiny bit better each time keeps kicking me to see what else I can achieve! 😅

Be kind to yourself - but you’ve got this far - I bet you’ll smash the next run and surprise yourself too! ❤️❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

As the folks say...if your reasons for doing this have changed.. maybe then think about it... BUT..if not.... we have days that feel like this.. and everything seems against the run.

Now, I have just read you're going to run.. so..pick up the shoes.. the gremlins and the motivation hide there... and as soon as you pick them up and head out..the gremlins run for cover and the motivation runs right out that door with you!!

PS

If you don't run.. we will come and get you! x

[Islesrunner Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I’m just a short ferry ride away so I CAN come and find you under those covers and hand you your running shoes 🤣🏃‍♀️

[Granspeed Graduate]

Go, go, go instead! You can do it. Glad to see you leaving the chores; they will wait! I’m right behind IsleRunner, cheering you on. 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️

[Mariabev]

Hi.. I have done my week one again this morning, I’m a bit overweight and needed some excercise, finding it hard, but today feeling much better / positive, I actually enjoyed it a tiny bit this morning, keep going, glad I am re doing wk one, then I will go on to two ! But I know how you are feeling, my fave thing is to bake ! So that gives you an idea of my waist line 😂 x

[MarybellM in reply to Mariabev]

Hi to all of you who have reached out to me today. I especially liked isles runner’s threat to come and pull me out of my doldrums! Well, I did it!!!! It was tough against the wind and I ended up on a rough patch of ground in a vain attempt to get the wind behind me, but I did it, so I am so glad I posted today. Thank you all of you!! I’m seriously considering re-doing Week 2 just to get back into it before going up a level. I assume it’s just a case of scrolling back on the App? Thank you again, running buddies!

[18Windmill Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

So glad you did it. I often find it hard to get out, there are lots of good reasons to put off a run...but you never regret getting out! As for going back a week...you can, but if you finished the runs you are ready to go in. All the best! 👍👍

[Granspeed Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

I think you just tap the run you want to do and it will ask if you want to repeat this run. Well done for getting out there this morning! 👏🏼🎉

[WalkingWithLabradors Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

THAT’S the spirit!! Go girl!!!! 💐

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

Brilliant! Well done Marybell that’s the spirit! You can just go back via the app &do the run again. You could do just one day of w2 again, or the whole week if you like, or if you’ve completed a week you can move on. It’s totally up to you.

[Hidden in reply to MarybellM]

Big, BIG pat on the back for kicking those naughty gremlins into touch and getting out on your run!!

I bet you feel so much better now, don’t you?

You can carry on through the rest of today knowing you are a star 🌟 and you’ll fly through those chores now!

As for repeating runs, you’ve got to go with how you feel, but I also agree with the advice on here that says - if you finished the run, you are ready to move on. That way there’s momentum to your progress and that can only make you feel great too.

Happy running 😊

[Stottygirl Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

Well done 😀so glad you went out and did it

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

Huge well done!

[Islesrunner Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

Well done, darling 😘

Repeat any runs or weeks to your heart’s content you completed two weeks!!!!!

Running does boost you mental health and the achievement of each run boosts your resilience.

Xxx

[MarybellM in reply to Islesrunner]

Thank you, island buddy!!

[TigerBiscuit Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

Wow! Well done. Reading you post the all the comments was a real cliffhanger. Will she, won’t she? Might someone else do the chores? I saw you in your kitchen with one hand in the suds and the other on your sneakers. But I sensed your heart was halfway out the door. So good on ya, MM. I’m a relative newby W5R3, with a number of forced pauses due to travel and dodgy knees/back. When a break was longer than a week, I went back and repeated the previous week. Shorter breaks - repeated just the last run. But if there’s no real break and you managed the run the last relatively ok, then I’d continue on to the next. That’s how the program is designed, like lovely little stepping stones. Good luck.

[MarybellM in reply to TigerBiscuit]

Thank you - that’s good advice about the repeats. I had a really good day yesterday. After the run I had more positivity towards everything I did. I truly am astounded by all the people who cared enough to come on and encourage me. I thought maybe I’d get one or two... in fact it made me feel like I’d run a marathon and had come in first with crowds of cheering supporters willing me on across the finish line. What fantastic support. How could I not run? How can I not carry on with this programme knowing that I have this supportive crowd at my back?! All I can say is THANK YOU. X

[TigerBiscuit Graduate in reply to MarybellM]

Totally there with you on all that positivity. Going through a bit of a difficult time myself, but all this malarkey make me raise my hands high and say I’m glad to be alive. Waxing a bit lyrical now, but I mean it🥰. Looking forward to following your progress, MM.

[Islesrunner Graduate in reply to TigerBiscuit]

🤣🤣🤣

[jaybrass73 Graduate]

You can do this! Put your running shoes on and go for it! We’ve probably all felt like this at some point - but you’ll feel more motivated to get back to healthy living. Keep going!🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

It can be hard to drag yourself out there but you’d be quitting just before you start to really see & feel the benefits. If like me you’re doing this to get healthier, fitter and part of a plan to lose weight - c25k is the BEST part of that plan! I run following the Japanese slow jogging technique m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...(Not working as expected?) And it turned running into a real pleasure. So don’t worry about doing this slowly, you will tone and feel great! So much happens to your body during this incredible journey - building muscle (helps to shift that bad visceral tummy fat), new bone cells and blood capillaries to get the oxygen to your muscles more efficiently. And you’ll feel this in feeling stronger and fitter. Also dieting without exercise is not a great idea - your body will she’d it’s muscle rather than the fat you want to lose if you don’t use the muscle while restricting calories. And muscle uses more calories than fat - so you burn more calories by having more muscle!

So many reasons to stick at it - and not only will you get all these good things - but it feels good and will lift your mood! So running things on - and out that door! Good luck! x

[JaoJao]

So what if you ate unhealthy, when you start enjoying the runs you’ll notice that you make better food choices by default. For now, don’t worry too much what you ate, it’s W2 so be kind to yourself.

Did you read the c25k faq blog, do you know that you can have anything up to 2 weeks out and you will not use any of your conditioning, so in your case 3 day gap is fine, let’s call it a one- off but that doesn’t mean you will leave a 2 weeks gap the next time! I see that happening if you went on holidays.

Do you have a playlist to distract you whilst you are running? That makes the run enjoyable regardless of the weather.

Keep coming back here for support, we are behind you! Xx

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Now come on Marybell, it’s half an hour out of your day and, let’s face it, if you do the chores now there’ll still be more to do later! They’ll be multiplying as you close the door behind you! So forget them - get outside in the sunshine (glorious here on the south coast, I hope it is with you too!) and blow those cobwebs away - forget the last few days, they can’t be changed. Enjoy your run and sorry for banging on a bit but don’t give up on the basis of a few days away!

[MarybellM in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Wow - the support and great practical advice keeps coming!!! Thank you to all of you again. I do feel brilliant about doing the run and shaking myself out of the threatening slump. The day ahead feels more positive now, even the chores... Also, after putting in the effort to do the run, it makes me feel like eating more healthily too. Huge thanks to ALL. X

[Kevtrev]

I’m on week 4 next and I hated the first week now I’ve got the bug it’s mind over matter you can do it if you really what to better yourself get your running gear on and let’s do it you really can do it I believe in you so there is nothing stopping you stop putting things up that you can’t it’s just an excuse don’t let your mind win just be strong and complete the program and you will be so proud of yourself 🏃‍♀️😉

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Well done for slaying those gremlins. 🤺🤺🤺

You're in the hardest motivational stage just now, just beyond the initial excitement of starting something new and not yet quite fully addicted. Your personal gremlins don't want you to change because then they'll lose control over you. There was a change in routine and they spied their chance... but you came out swinging (came here and got the push you needed) and kicked those little devils to the kerb.

As with so much in life it is so much more a mental struggle than a physical one. You have already seen the rewards that can come from getting out there even when we're tempted back to the sofa... You've got this, enjoy the rest of your weekend 👍😉

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Yay! Well done!

[MarybellM in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Just a quick update - I repeated Week 2 Run 3 today after work. Found it surprisingly easy so am looking forward to Week 3 runs starting on Thursday!