Just finished week 1 - Cool, I can run for a whole minute, but 30 of them in sequence still seen scary

[venturieta]

Yesterday I finished the first week (actually it was five workouts in total. I started using an app that crashed after two workouts, and I decided to start over).

Looking back, each workout represented a different challenge. In the first two, my mind was my biggest enemy. I wrote about it here and received not only incentives, but similar stories that made me realize how common this type of insecurity is. I thought I had no problems with self-image, so I was surprised to find me worried about what other people might be thinking about me, my breathlessness, my red face and so on. As more than one person has noticed here: nobody cares.

My third workout was difficult, but I no longer felt so inadequate. (A little, yes, especially when people ran past me effortlessly). According to the app's GPS, I did 3.2 km - I was happy and thought I could improve the distance covered a little the following week. It was last friday.

But then monday came and I had to deal with the consequences of the allergic rhinitis that was present on my weekend: I was tired, breathless, I covered a shorter distance than I would like. Yesterday, however, I was optimistic. Only I didn't take into account the heat it was outside. We had a very unusual summer here, with weeks of rain and mild weather. But yesterday the thermometers registered 32o C when I arrived at the park - and it was difficult to finish the session. At one point I seriously thought about giving up, but I slowed down even more and went all the way.

I rewarded myself with coconut water and a well-deserved rest by the lake, where I took this photo. Okay, I finished the first week. In theory I start the second tomorrow. The weather forecast says the heat is expected to continue for the next few weeks. I think I can run for 90 seconds straight. But beyond that things start to look a little scary to me. Of course, at this point I need to remember that I'm doing this to deal with my anxiety better - and it's my anxious temper that is filling me with fears about week 4 or 5, when I haven't even started the second one yet. Did my mind seem to be my enemy again? Yes. Will the difficulties of this method (at least for me) be cyclical? I don't know, it's too early to say.

But I'm going ahead, even if I lack the courage. Week 2, here I come.

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Well done! Looks like a lovely place to run 😁

[venturieta Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

It really is.

[AU510 Graduate]

Yes, the mental outlook we each have plays a significant part in how we approach every run, and ultimately, determines how we do.

I've only just graduated but at the moment find my consolidation runs almost as daunting as Wk 1 Run 1. For yesterday's run, I felt like stopping early but did as you did: slowed down some more and kept at it.

Just take it one run at a time. Is it ok to encourage you to look just at your next run and to not worry about future runs (Wks 4&5)?

You're doing great - just the fact that you've kept at it and haven't given up. 32C heat is nothing to sneeze at and you completed the run: Wow! Go you

[Gerdakay in reply to AU510]

Absolutely agree with only focus on this run. I was surprised to find each time that I could do it.

[venturieta Graduate in reply to AU510]

Thanks, I´ll keep that in mind.

[Gerdakay]

In one of my early weeks I passed someone who randomly said "well done, keep it up", which I guess was kind but I mainly thought "so it's obvious I'm struggling"!

[venturieta Graduate in reply to Gerdakay]

[Hidden]

Loving your lake over there. I find there are great lessons for life in following this programme. How hard it is sometimes to live one moment at a time. When I set off today to run 25 mins (eek) my mind started running ahead to the next minute and the next and all 25 and if I could do it. I had to remind myself (again) to just run the minute I’m in and to stop looking too far ahead. I am working on looking ahead just enough to not trip over a bramble or a fallen branch 😉 .

[venturieta Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That's so true. Living in the moment is the real challenge (my weak legs don't really help, but...)