Don't give up

[Richard7]

Don't give up!

Sometimes it can be difficult to get out for a run. The weather, an injury, an illness.

This winter has been all 3 for me!

But finally my injury seems to have abated, my illness seems to have cleared up and we have had a few days of weather that is so much nicer.

The lighter mornings and evenings also make for much happier runs.

So stick with it - as the song goes - Things can only get better!

Many of my runs over the last couple of months have been very reminiscent of my time on Couch to 5k. Lots of stop/start and struggling to make the time/distance. Finally I think I am out the other side.

So stick with it whether you are on week 1 or 9 or 9+ keep going you will thank yourself in the end.

[Hidden]

I was using extremely bad language about the weather last week as I was fed up of it all!

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Certainly nicer this week where I am 😃

[Dexy5 Graduate]

It sounds like spring is springing in our absence Richard. How wonderful after the most awful February. Good luck with increasing your running again. It doesn't matter I f you are run/ walking as you are building up your stamina again. I will be in the same boat when I come off the IC in 6(?) weeks time.

[Hidden]

Well done for keeping on with keeping on. I do think that these challenges make for better runners

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Very good message, thanks Richard! And I am pleased to hear you are on the up again! The lovely thing about running is that you CAN build up again after a period of absence. One thing I have learned from running is patience and persistence. 👍 I have been on a rollercoaster of injury and recovery since September...but am happy to say I think I am over that now - just in time for spring (fingers crossed!)

Happy running to you. 😊

[Love2run1969 Graduate]

Thank you so much Richard! I really needed to read that. I joined a 5k running group 8 weeks ago. I've been feeling very discouraged lately. I had an injury the second week but kept going. I'm not running fast, doing 5k but slowly, I dont feel like a runner and I've only lost 5 lbs and I'm eating well

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Love2run1969]

It's true to say that we are all different - I started running in 2017 after a summer of trying to get out in the morning for walks someone suggested the Couch to 5k. I was a bit older than yourself and overweight (still am but just not as much). They do say that running will not guarantee weight loss, as you build your muscle. For myself I was not at all active so the weight loss was due to a mixture of actually doing something and starting to think about what I ate. So for me running resulted in weight loss 😃👍

It's tough that you picked up an injury so early on I hope that has all cleared up. Don't worry about speed, just work on your stop/starts gradually building up the length of each bit of running between stops. Are you using the NHS Couch To 5K app? Their emphasis is on running for 30 minutes not running 5k.

Stick with it, the tiredness will go as you increase your endurance and become more active.