Running, just for the sheer pleasure of it

I've not long graduated, now bear with me as you may find this slightly strange ... I'm not concerned about my pace or entering parkruns / races, I do enjoy covering at least 5k 3 times weekly but for me personally I just want to run surely I'm not the only one .... or perhaps I am

[Puglover87]

That’s my goal too, I’m a long way off yet but 5k 3 times a week is what I signed up for 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Puglover87]

Thank you for commenting, I'm not the only one best wishes with your running journey

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Do try parkrun though. Best thing ever!

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

I hear what you are saying, I have joined the parkrun site, I'm possibly being a touch (please read that as VERY) silly but hear goes ... I'm nervous about joining in a run ~ what if I can't run? what if I can't breath properly? what if I put myself under too much pressure & stop enjoying running? or are these fears everyone has?

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yrs everyone has them! We have people who walk round VERY SLOWLY (I am tail walker sometimes) and they take over an hour. Go to a busy one 👍🏽 I walked my first on week 1 and did the last run of each week on the plan inside each parkrun.

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

So perhaps it's my fears that are actually holding me back LOL

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Once you’ve done one, you’ll be hooked! You could go and watch or volunteer first maybe.

[Andyeliot Graduate]

That’s what I do I graduated in January just love running so you’re definitely not the only one

[Hidden in reply to Andyeliot]

Thank you, I do have quite a stressful job, so running for me is alone time, where it's just me & my time to recharge

[Hidden]

Hi Roma! No you are not alone in this . I have tried park runs and honestly they are not for me. I occasionally enter race for life but even though it’s a great cause it’s over very quickly.

I set myself challenges and just run for myself. This month I have ran 22 miles obviously not all at once but every other day. My September challenge was for 15 miles so I’ve done that and a bit more. I am doing a 10 mile training programme by bupa just for myself.

So your not alone in this thought believe. I’m 61 and just prefer to run on my own for my health, keeping active and hopefully getting fit and losing some weight. It’s got to be all good.

Happy days!

Happy runnin🤗🤗🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤣🤣

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That's it exactly!! YES you understand, perhaps it's an age thing I'm 57 and do exactly the same personal challenges you describe ~ enjoy your running journey & best of health to you x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

And to you too Roma!🤗🤗

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Just being able to go for a run because you want to and not because you have to. Its great 😊😊

[Hidden in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you so much, I don't want to put myself under pressure and loose the joy, running simply because I can to me is priceless

[Jogonton Graduate]

I am enjoying running out in the open air across fields and trails. I will start w8r1 on Sunday. I would like to get to 5k eventually but no more ambition than that. Just running. So no, you are not the only one 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Jogonton]

Best of luck as you near graduation, enjoy your self and most of all keep running for the joy x

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

No.......read this healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for the link much appreciated

[ChoosingHappy Graduate]

I feel exactly the same, I graduated end of Aug and am in no way concerned I'm not yet at 5k in 30 mins, not concerned about getting up to 10k, I just love running now so do it 3 times a week! I have my very distant sights on the great north 10k next June, that's far enough away for me to not be concerned about training yet either! 😊👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to ChoosingHappy]

Let me know if you do indeed decide to do The Great North Run, who knows you could be the inspiration I need to take the step into parkruns or races - till then happy running

[ChoosingHappy Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Woah woah woah, great north 10k not GNR! Though one day, who knows..?

[Hidden in reply to ChoosingHappy]

HAhahahaha but now the thought is in your head isn't it? I wish you every success on all your running goals x

[ChoosingHappy Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, you too! 👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Jogunlikely Graduate]

Defo not alone. I did a Gungho event (5k with giant inflatables on the way round) whilst it was ok it really cemented that running in a group is not for me.

Friends and colleagues keep saying oh we must go for a run together but it's my headspace time and I don't want to share it!

I'll do a local 5k trail race next summer as it's really low key and they give you jelly at the end 👏👏👏 otherwise I'll stick to doing my own thing.

Just remember you don't have to do 3 x 30mins. Before this ic I was doing 20/30/50 as part of juju's magic plan. I have no particular aim to get to 10k I'm just using the longer distance to improve stamina. The different lengths of run each have their own joys.

Experiment with distance, speed and terrain, most of all enjoy xxx

[Hidden in reply to Jogunlikely]

Thank you so much for your advice, my aim is to do a longer run once a week simply to see if I can LOL

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Nope, you're not alone. I run for fun and health. It just happens I like distance so I can spend even more time out in nature. But it's all for fun and personal achievement. I don't enter events although I know I could and I wonder sometimes if I'm missing out or would enjoy it, it just doesn't appeal.

Just do you, don't worry if that's different from others 👍🏻😁

[Hidden in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Fun & personal achievement - my new buzz words, thanks for your input

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I’m the same apart from one difference, I do one HM a year, the rest of my runs are just for the pure joy of it. It brings so much into my life, I just love it, even on bad run days. Rfc x

[Hidden in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thank you for commenting, it seems I'm not alone in my thinking after all

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

No you are not the only one, we just love to run and feel good whatever we do this weeek a steady half hour a longer slow 5k and a shorter run with intervals, we do check our speed and distance and if it’s less we are just happy we got out there

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

The very fact I can get out there & do what I want is enough for me - happy running

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Us too and if i’ve had little sleep and a tough day at work just being out and plodding on for a bit makes me feel good again

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

That is me ~ plod on until calm rules x

[Sonia52 Graduate]

I have just started parkruns and they give me somewhere different to run on my third run day of the week, especially now I need the distance... Yes they can be competitive, but there are also a lot of people partaking who just take their own pace, part walking, part running every now and then along the way and simply enjoying the day out. Plus I have got to make new friends, everyone has been absolutely lovely and very encouraging. I was very nervous before my 1st park run thinking I wasn’t up to standard, but totally surprised myself!

[Hidden in reply to Sonia52]

I'm so pleased that you surprised yourself, maybe I need to bite the bullet before dismissing parkruns