Advice needed

[anitatanner]

I managed to complete the 9 weeks C25K in July. I then consolidated and managed to build up to 5k (once!) Apart from the relieved feeling after each run I didn’t enjoy it in the slightest! I felt alien to the fact that I wasn’t addicted as many people assured me I would be. I haven’t ran since, I have an active job/life. When I’d completed the 5k I ached for days, my hamstring is still tender! I’ve now bought a second hand treadmill, intending to run 1k five times a week....not so boring me thinks 🤔 Is this a good idea? Any advice welcomed.

[John_W Graduate]

Clearly a bit late with the treadmill purchase in mind, but if you didn't enjoy it, then why carry on? Whatever exercise you chose to do should be enjoyable , no ?

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Hi, I think John is probably right. You need to find a sport/exercise you enjoy or the likelihood is you will give up. As much as their are many on here that seem to love running, I’m sure that some starters fall by the wayside too, as they don’t enjoy it - Indeed, I might be one, as I’ve only just started, but enjoying it at the mo!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Just try the treadmill and see of it makes any difference about how you feel about running. I wouldn't run 5 days though you still need that rest day between each run. Let is know if you begin to enjoy it. Good luck 😊😊

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Sorry you weren’t hooked by running. Loads more sports out there. Find one you love and go for it. Life’s too short to do something you don’t like if you don’t have to do it. Take care

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Are you running at an easy conversational pace, at which you can speak aloud, clear ungasping sentences? It sounds to me as if you were pushing hard if you ached for days after a 5k, when C25K should have gently conditioned your body to cope with that distance fairly comfortably.

Running isn't for everyone, but I know that many have had moments of enlightenment when they knock the pace down to a sensible, easy conversational pace...............mind you, trying to achieve that on a treadmill may be asking too much.

Just try going to some beautiful natural spot and running at an easy pace, with your head up, looking around you and forgetting about pace, distance or time............run for fun.

If it isn't fun, you won't stick with it.

[John_W Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Re: achieving a "sensible, easy conversational pace" on a treadmill... au contraire IT! If anything, a treadmill gives you control in a way you don't have outdoors. It's a perfect tool to find that easy conversational pace. Starting from a brisk walk and just nudge the speed up a bit. Voila.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to John_W]

Sure, the treadmill may give you an easy pace but for anybody like me who has a pathetically low tolerance to boredom it is not going to provide a satisfying run.

[John_W Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I've managed 90 mins on a treadmill last spring as part of marathon training and also 33 laps of a 400m track in 1 session - my boredom threshold is high! In fact, I love the treadmill - controlled conditions provide for good quality data (hahaaa!). Note that the OP has recently bought a treadmill ...

[Speedy60 Graduate]

As somebody new here, I've quickly realised the people who post are a self-selecting group who are enjoying the challenge. Those who've tried it and don't like it are somewhere on a Lindy hop or badminton forum. Find something you enjoy; life's too short to make yourself miserable.

This is my first ever post, by the way. I'm on week 5, run 2.

[anitatanner Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

🙁

[Speedy60 Graduate in reply to anitatanner]

Sorry anitatanner, I didn't mean to make you feel sad. I've had some pretty horrible things happen to people I love in the past two years and it's changed my outlook on life. I'm determined not to sweat the small stuff and get on with doing the things I want to while I can. Hence I'm doing this in the first place. I didn't mean to sound unsupportive 😔. Go for the challenge!

[anitatanner Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

It’s honestly ok, I just wanted some advice about carrying on as I didn’t want to just give up...everyone seems to live running, OH included! I’m going to attempt the programme suggested by John and see how I get on. I’m so sorry about your problems, hope things are improving now and well done you! X

[anitatanner Graduate]

I completed the 5k in 44.44 so not too fast! Haha! I am 60 though and haven’t run since school days! I was simply asking if 1k 5 days a week would benefit? Buddy34 answered it really saying I should have a rest day in between. Maybe 1.5ish 3 times a week on treadmill. I’m only here in the evenings and don’t want to run in dark/rain. Maybe I’ll enjoy it more if it’s not a 45 minute slog!

[John_W Graduate]

Given that 3x 10 min brisk walking per day is a said to be far more beneficial than trying to achieve an arbitrary 10,000 steps, then I'm not too sure of 1x 8 min of running once a day to be honest. It's much better than *NOTHING* though!

If it's the slog that you dislike so much, then maybe you've hit on something re: trying to mix it up on the treadmill .... why not some interval sessions to make things interesting? You could try ...

- brisk walk for 5 mins to warm-up

- slow jog for 5 mins and then ...

- much quicker for 1 minute

- then SLOW for 1 minute

- repeat the fast/slow say, 7-8 times and then finish with a 5 minute slow jog...

How does that sound?

[anitatanner Graduate in reply to John_W]

Brilliant! I’m going to give it a try tonight, Thankyou 😊

[John_W Graduate in reply to anitatanner]

How did it go?