I signed up for this forum years ago, but not only did I not just never have the courage to post it, but I couldn't actually run.
I spent hours reading old posts this week, looking for stories I could relate to. I'm a little overweight, but it's not something that upsets me. However, I decided to start running because both my doctor and my therapist recommended that I do some physical activity to help treat depression and anxiety, in addition to my insomnia.
Running is not something I've always wanted to do, but it's the cheapest physical activity I can think of - which comes in handy, because I'm currently working as a freelancer and I'm not making a lot of money.
So my main goals are not to lose weight, but to reduce anxiety levels, gain some energy and, especially, try to sleep a little better, which has always been very difficult for me, since childhood.
I am trying the C25K again, this time without resorting to treadmills because I frankly feel a little claustrophobic, in addition to tolarate the blatant competition of the gym environment. Nor am I running on the streets near my house because I am so ashamed of having to dodge people who are just trying to get on with their own lives, in addition to getting sweaty and disheveled in the neighborhood. This time I decided that I'm going to take a bus to a park, because at least the scenery is more pleasant than the traffic jams and pedestrian flow in the big city where I live.
Having gone for a run twice so far, I found, of course, that my body is quite out of shape, and that running, even for a minute, is very tiring (I'm 33, 34 next month). However: it is much more difficult to deal with my mind, which keeps repeating that I was never an athlete, than to start exercising again is to set up a new failure, since I have never been in shape at any time in my life. I was the child and teenager who hated physical education classes, who never learned to run or play any competitive sport. I even realized that when I'm running through the park areas where there are more people, I immediately feel more tired, more breathless, more inadequate to be exercising. When I'm alone, I'm still tired and it's still difficult, but I don't feel so ready to give up.
I'm writing this all because I've been thinking of keeping a diary of my experience, so this post itself is already helping me organize my initial thoughts, but I would also like to hear if there are people among you who also think the mind is, sometimes, an enemy.
Ps - I apologize in advance if my grammar is not 100% correct, but English is not my first language and although I understand and read well, I am not used to writing so much.
Written by
venturieta
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Firstly, thank you for your open and honest post. Secondly, you are right. It is very much in the mind. The limbic part of our brain is where the negative thoughts can be easy to listen to and it is always this part of the brain that wants us to give up, remain the couch and fail. The Prefrontal Cortex however is more rational and balanced and reasoned. It has a plan and can set goals. Listen to this part. The truth is that you will do it if you commit. You will have ups and downs along the way; good runs are exhilarating and difficult runs can cloud the mind. They are however runs! Focus on you and not on others or how you think they may think or feel. This forum is full of support with people that have earned every step of their journey. Now it's your turn and the baton is yours. Keep going and posting and inspire others. You can and will do it if you keep being resilient. Positive wishes on your journey.
Hey that’s so very well done to you, no one fails here, take each run as slowly as you can, read the guide, post your progress and we will all cheer you on and you might find you enjoy it
Thank you so much. This forum is filled with nice people - such a rare thing on the internet! For now, the only thing I really like is going to the park. I live in a big city and it's being a nice change of scenery.
Well done for deciding to join in on this great programme, and you will get lots of support on this forum.
Yes the mind is not always helpful, and I think we all feel sometimes that we really don’t want to go for a run. The most difficult thing is getting out that door, but if you can just do so and try not to over think it or talk yourself out of it.
Your body will adjust to the physical efforts and it can take the head a little longer to get used to it ....but hopefully you will start to feel and sleep better soon.
There is no limit on how slow you or anyone can run, and slow and steady is a great way to go .... it is all progress.
Someone on this forum last week was talking about running around in public and what other people think. I’m my opinion people don’t really care or notice that much if people are running near them or not. I always think, good on someone for having a bit of exercise .... no matter what their shape , size , or speed is.
Best wishes with you next run, and please keep us all posted with your progress.
Well done you ! I definitely found that doing Couch to 5K lifts my mood and makes me feel much more positive. I’ve told nobody I work with I’m doing this....I keep telling myself failure is not an option....might sound corny but it’s a mantra I’m sticking too....the very best of luck with your journey 👍
Good luck for you too! Thanks for sharing your experience. I also didn't tell anyone that I started running because, to some extent, I think people (even well-intentioned ones) will discourage me. My boyfriend already thinks it's a fad
I’m just finishing week 2 - I actually though I would die of running until someone pointed out that I was probably running too fast! It was true, I slowed down and the difference was amazing. I still had to push myself, but only in a good way.
You have made that first step of doing something about like everyone else here has and that is brilliant.
I’m overweight, over 50 and over sensitive to being judged , but while my mind is playing the same tricks as you, I’m too stubborn to let it win. I fear my neighbours seeing me trotting around my village, so started running in the evening when it was dark. And I’ll still run after lights out until I feel more confident to tackle daylight running close to home.
Don’t give up, keep telling yourself that you are able to do this, that you won’t be beaten and give up, and remind yourself why you are doing it. Keeping looking at how far you get, every goal is an amazing achievement 🎉
The brain thinks it knows best, and will try to talk you out of it - try your best not to listen to it 😊
You are just a youngster compared to many of us here - I graduated last week and turned 51 on Tuesday!
I had no idea if I could run before I started, but after losing 6 stone, I set myself the challenge. In the beginning, I went out early in the morning when it was still semi dark, for fear of anyone seeing me. Now, I don't care if anyone sees me, and I don't think anyone actually cares if I'm running, today I went out at lunchtime.
Do what is right for you - run where you feel most comfortable, run slow and slower still. If you have to repeat a run, it doesn't matter, you don't have to complete c25k in 9 weeks - take it at your own pace.
Wishing you luck ☺ 🏃
Keep running, keep posting, keep reading and keep smiling ☺
Keeping a diary of this and all your future running is an excellent idea.
That mind... absolutely our biggest enemy. The voices it has will tell us we are too slow to be a runner, to big to be a runner, too lazy to be a runner... they’ll remind us that we always quit so what’s the point in trying... they’ll point out that the couch is so much easier... those voices in the mind will try everything to stop you. There is of course another voice... the one that wants to do this, the one that will travel to do this, the one that wants to grow stronger and fitter every day. It’s not easy, but that’s the one to listen too. When I’m all alone on a trail, I still get the negative voices, and I’ve been known to tell them to #%^* off out loud on a few occasions.
You can do this for one reason, you’re awesome... keep pushing on, don’t listen to the voices and then you’ll see just how awesome.
As for the grammar, mine is awful at times, and English is my first language 🤣
Thanks. You were all so nice to me that today I hit the park with a little more confidence - it was still very difficult, but certainly the encouragement helped a lot. Although I read many posts on this forum before posting, I didn't really imagine that I would find such kindness among strangers who are on another continent and time zone. I hope to be able very soon to report on my progress.
We may all be different, and from all over the world, but we are united both by running and the struggle it is to get started, so in other ways we are all the same, and we are all together. People here often come on a run with me... they don’t know it, but I do use the stories of people here to fight the voices in my head when they come. There’s been many runs that I can honestly say I wouldn’t have completed without a little help from my friends.
This plan works as many here and on related forums, like Bridge to 10k, can tell you... but in the two years I’ve been here, nobody has ever called it easy. The good news is that what is now difficult becomes easier, and one day you will be able to go out for “an easy 5k run” and when you do that, you’ll smile all day.
Welcome, join the gang! I can almost guarantee at least 90% of folk here would say they are not natural athletes - that's not c25k. It's about ordinary people wanting to make a change in their lives. Be kind to yourself and you will do this.
Mind is the biggest hurdle, but when you do get through it, it can be the biggest switch you could ever imagine.
The programme works, and it will teach you so much more than just how to run, it will give you a confidence you didn't know you could have, it will restore faith in yourself.
We all have those annoying little voices telling us we don't finish stuff, it's too hard, we can't do it, why bother... etc etc etc... but when we flip those, we CAN do it, we WILL finish, it's hard, but it's WORTH it... we can be our own supporters too and it's empowering! 👍🏻😁
There are so many amazing and inspiring stories here, so many people here have overcome huge hurdles, you can too!
Just take each session as it comes, you'll be OK. Good luck!
And also for the greeting, which almost hit the target. I speak Spanish too, but it is not my first language either. Close enough, though: I speak Portuguese. So: muito obrigada pela acolhida.
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