Starting all over again

Without sounding too pretentious, this running malarkey is as much a journey of self-discovery as anything else, I have found. The first discovery – one that every graduate and the vast majority of participants of the Couch to 5K programme make – is that you can do it. Even when you think you can’t, you can and that’s a fabulous feeling. A second discovery is how so much of the process is in your head. Many of us take time to trust the programme and some of us have doubts and lack confidence. Which brings me on to my latest reflection: what happens when things go wrong. Early in the new year I was running 5k three times a week and then I hit a mental wall. I failed to complete a run which knocked my confidence and then I was unwell. I have really struggled to get back into it, physically and mentally. I’ve put on weight and it’s been a viscous circle of harder and harder effort and less and less motivation. I can’t say that I enjoy the physical act of running but I got such a sense of pride when I graduated and I enjoyed it when I completed my runs. I have been out a few times these last several weeks but it’s been very hard and as much as anything I have really missed the discipline and the increasing sense of achievement I got while doing the programme. So that’s why I’m doing it all over again. With a twist. Yesterday I did 1.25k followed by W1R1 as a kind of interval training and I plan to take myself through the whole thing again because it seems that I need the routine. Already, just after this one run, I feel that I’m back into it and I’m looking forward to my next session. Hello Laura, nice to hear your voice again. I’ve missed you.

[Debston Graduate]

Well done for getting back on it! Keep posting on here, lots of support and encouragement to be had!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

You've done it before you can do it again good luck 😊

[backintime Graduate]

Stick with it ! You know you can do it !

[Katnap Graduate]

There's a sense of knowing where you are with the programme so enjoy your retakes 😁 and plan your future graduate running.

😸 Katnap 😸

[Granspeed Graduate]

Really interesting post - thank you. 😊. I fully agree about the importance of the head as well as the feet in this running affair. Different for each of us, I’m sure, but also similar apparently in some crucial ways.

I love your creative take on your rerun of the plan and hope it continues to work well for you. 💕