New mental challenges overcome!

[Lula375]

First consolidation run today and I found it really hard to get motivated. My motivation before came from wanting to stay on track to complete in 9 weeks. This morning, the temptation to stay in bed and leave it until tomorrow was great...

Anyway, I got up and went out, determined that I would not bother doing the full 30 mins because it would be too hard. Then I realised I didn’t have to! I’ve not got to complete each run in order to move on, I’ve just got to do what I can and learn to enjoy it! I walked for about 50 metres at around 19 mins, then carried on to get just past 30mins and I think I’m okay with that. I still pushed myself, and I somehow managed to improve overall pace. Feeling much more positive about moving forwards and I’m looking forward to trying out the Nike Run app (can’t cope with Laura’s voice or the music on C25K+). Any tips for the best Nike Run programmes to have a go at? I’ll miss Michael though 😉

[Lula375 Graduate]

Thank you. I’m looking forward to new routes - I abandoned the local river after week 3 because of all the gates and styles. Maybe it’s time to revisit and jog a field, run a field and I’ll try not to start too fast 🙂

[Woollyweaver Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation! I know what you mean about being a bit de-motivated when you finish. On the Nike Run App I've been particularly enjoying Just a Run and Easy Run with coach Bennett...he will hopefully make you smile, and give you heaps of encouragement.

[Lula375 Graduate in reply to Woollyweaver]

Thank you, I will give it a go. Maybe Bennett will be my new Michael 🙂

[Hidden]

It's not unusual to come down from the high of graduation, but you will bounce back.

Enjoy relaxing into the consolidation runs now and do try out new things to keep the runs fresh. Like you, I couldn't handle the music on the C25k+ at all!! I really enjoyed running completely tech free when I first graduated back in March - no voices, no music, no app, just my plain wristwatch to keep me on track. As it was the start of the lockdown everywhere was so quiet and peaceful and it was quite liberating. I treated myself to a running watch a few weeks ago and watching my stats develop is a good motivator too.

Having had a chat with roseabi, I now run a variety of runs each week - a short 20 minute, a 30 minute and a longer third run, which increases each week. That has really mixed things up a bit and I now have a goal to transition me to the 10k plan.

Happy running 😊🏃‍♀️

[Lula375 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I’ve been eyeing up the Garmin watches too (I never thought I’d take it this seriously!) and quite fancy doing a few shorter runs. I miss the quiet of lockdown 😢

[Hidden in reply to Lula375]

I agree, the peace and quiet is slowly disappearing..... 😔

I bought a Garmin 45s and am really pleased with it. I had been using the free version of Strava on my phone but the GPS was very patchy and ended up giving me stats at the end of a run that an Olympic athlete would have been proud of! I decided I needed reliable GPS if I was going to be able to record my progress properly as I run on woodland tracks and it hasn't let me down yet. I can plan runs, follow training plans, the screen is really clear and there are lots of extras within the Garmin Connect app which are good to have. Researching the watches took me ages and the consensus on the forum was Garmin, so I followed their advice and can recommend it.

[Lula375 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! That’s really helpful 😊

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

It’s great isn’t it. The freedom that comes from now just running how, when, and where you want. No more rigid times, just plan your route and go. It was odd not having Sarah in my ear for the first time today though 😂

[Lula375 Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

😂Yes! Freedom to be rubbish some days!

[Dtay1978 Graduate in reply to Lula375]

😂