Help folks, I need motivation.
Graduated and continued for a month - then life took over and winter .
My runs are at 05:00 , so difficult in the dark mornings . Work most days 7:30 till 18:30. Can’t run After work , I am a morning person Just restarted , this forum kept me going in the weeks to graduation - please help me continue
Well... it’s getting lighter again! Soon 5am will be perfect. Not sure how long you’ve not been running for, but you’ll soon be back where you were if you missed too much. So, I’m thinking you really need a strategy for next winter... and it’s not too hard. Running once a week will maintain your running legs nicely, so you could go long at the weekend (or whatever days you don’t work) and keep it shorter on work days. If you enter the winter at 10k, run the 10k on your day off, and a couple of shorter ones in between.
The immediate issue is getting you back where you were, and that’s not so easy to solve without seeing what you’ve done and how long you’ve not run for. In terms of weekly milage, after 3-6 months out you should probably be looking at about 40% of you old milage. If you were running 15k a week then we are looking at 6k, so that could be 3x2k. You could divide up the 6 differently... I’d go for 3x2k in the first week or two and then change to 1k pushing a little, 2k normal and 3k easy and then add to that.
Thank you for the prompt reply , am a novice actually, the C25K got me running - graduated and managed 30 Minutes thrice a week for a month .
Really want to consolidate and do more .
It’s so easy to slack off in winter. Not only are we contending with discomfort at whatever the weather throws at us but also the very real fear of injury.
UnfitNoMore idea of doing a longer run on the weekend and shorter runs in the week may be helpful. Try going out this week for a short 15 to 20 min run or even 10 after a brisk warm up walk. (I warm up inside using an app called Runner Stretch and then go straight out into a slow run. I find it easier to go out when I am nice and warm). We just have to get through Feb & it’s getting lighter earlier now. The long runs will wait but in the meantime a few short ones to keep moving and motivated & get you back out there!! A big hug, a good sleep & off you go!! 🏃♀️
😍
Well, the thing with running in winter is you have to adapt. It’s hard, I know (from experience!) UnfitNoMore gives brilliant advice and I second that! A short run or two during the week will keep you ticking over, and a longer one at the weekend, could be the key. I was recently very short on time, so would go out and run just a mile - with warm up walk and cool down, it took me 20 mins all in, and was very satisfying. You honestly don’t have to be running 5k every time to feel the benefits (yup, it has taken me over two years to figure this out for myself 😂).
I am a morning person too, and could never run at night. Our reward for these horrible dark mornings is coming: running as the sun rises in spring/summer! It’s the best. 😊
It really is difficult to face those dark mornings.
The spring is on its way and we are going to be fit and ready to meet it.
Those long May and June days? We’ll own those beauties!!!
I'm a morning person too, have similar working hours and therefore the same reasons for running before anything else happens. I usually leave my house around 5:15, running on the roads & pavements to the edge of my village and back (so far anyway, hopefully I will go further as I progress through the programme). On my way out there is only the occasional lamppost lit but when I turn around and head back, they're all on. After staring last September I (just) got to the start of Week 4 before stopping in December, I re-started this month, and am now on Week 3. I've enjoyed the few clear mornings, looking at the moon & stars as I've set off on my warm up walk, and always enjoy the fact that it's dark and no one else is around (I don't want to be seen), but it's also nice and welcoming to see the village all lit up on my way back. I don't find running easy (I've never been a runner) but want to complete this (and carry on afterwards), so am trying to make it automatic that I ALWAYS get up early and go for a run on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday mornings. It's only half an hour so with recovery time, maybe 45 minutes taken from my day. I always feel brighter and more alert during those days, with a great feeling of achievement too, hopefully it will be the same for you? Good luck with getting yourself back out there, let us know how you find it.
My daughter got me a light for Christmas it has a hazard triangle on the back and a round light on the front, lots available on amazon. I am not running as early as you, but my new game is to see how far I get before it's light so that I can switch it off. Motivation is in the small things, not the huge ones, just getting ready and out the door is a start. So many times I think I don't feel like this I will just do 20 minutes minimum, then once I start, I am off and go so much longer. Don't beat yourself up about what you have missed, just get out and do something and you will soon be back on track.
Exactly! A run is a run 😊
Great , what is the light called , would you mind posting a photo of it , will try and get it for myself
Sorry I am not techy and when I tried to share a link I got a personal info warning.
Several available just search running light for runners
Yay, I started again - with C25K and SK’s voice urging me on - started at week 6 - 4 runs so far .
Thanks for all the advice and Dozydora61 - I found a hat with a light to take me running 😊
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