Gremlins got me again..W8R2

[ClarMars]

Ah, head gremlins got me again and I stopped, but only at 18 mins and 23 minutes so I ran further than before. Disappointed as of course have run for 25 mins before. And I took the advice everyone kindly gave me! Will keep repeating week 8 until I achieve 3 x 28 mins. 😀

[Runningmummyy Graduate]

I was going to do a post about this. I always start thinking about 2/3rds of the way through my run that I can’t do it. I manage to keep going because once I’m on the way back I don’t want to make it take any longer to get home. But was wondering if anyone else gets these feelings of doubt creep up.

What works for me is going further than half way away from my house about a minute or 2 over and then I turn around and start heading back and when I feel like walking I know it will take me longer to get home so I just speed it up a bit.

Also self talk ‘you can do this you’ve done it before etc’ and when I’m really feeling like it’s time to quit I start thinking of those sas and navy seal guys that do those crazy training things and I think if they can do that then I can handle 28 minutes.

But no matter what the thoughts still come to me, and I have previously ran a marathon so I know I am capable or going the full distance so not sure why I doubt myself at just 3 miles. I’d love to know if other people get the same. It always affects me in races

[Jazzyrunner Graduate]

Boo to the gremlins! We all get them sometimes. Just imagine all of us on here, running with you, and when the gremlins start talking, we will all bat them out of your way and clear the path for you!

I’ve also read that the best sort of self-talk for running is the “you can do this” sort, rather than the “I can do this” sort. We’re all willing you on, you can do this!

[Hidden]

I say to myself at those times, 'There's no way this is going to beat me". If I have to, I slow right down and then when I feel I'm nearing the end, I'll pick up my pace. I am so stubborn though so I won't stop once I've started a run! Slowing down has always got me through my run.

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

I love Jazzyrunner approach. Count me in, I'm batting them away for you. Slow down, think of the end, andcat the end of the day it all counts as km run so all good. Bat bat bat run now while they are distracted

[linda9389 Graduate]

Those gremlins are a pain. But they get tired, they'll give up and you'll win. At the point they shout loudest in your ear, pick a target that's reasonably close - lampost, bin, tree ... anything. If you make it, that gremlin gets squished underfoot in your next 10 steps. If another gremlin appears .. same treatment. I had some very bloody runs during my first trip through C25K - total carnage on the tough days. But the horror movie playing in my head was a great distraction. Whatever it takes! Distraction is the way to go. You CAN do this. We'll all be with you on your next run, booing and hissing at those gremlins as you squish them underfoot 🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Beat the gremlins,when you feel you can’t do it and need to stop slow right down til you feel you are hardly moving and kick them out of your head, I imagine a green ribbon to pull myself along so i keep moving and there’s a gold bit near the end my hands pull on the green one and the aim is to get to pull on the gold one across the last minute, there are times we walk for a few steps so i just give a tug on my ribbon and trot off again, if you stop because of pain that’s fine if it’s just gremlins pull yourself along and tell them to get outta here

Good luck, we often found the middle run of a week tough then repeated the last run a couple of times to make it up getting stronger running legs all the time

[Shepsbird Graduate]

You can do this, them darn gremlins can do one!!! Keep going, I forget how many weeks I’ve repeated!!!

[ClarMars]

You are all so inspiring!! Thanks so much. I shall keep on keeping on..if it takes until Chrimbo to run continuously I will DO THIS!!!