Lost confidence

[Obesenomore]

Completed couch to 5 k over a month ago. Hit my weight loss target, now maintaining the loss. Was consolidating my times and aiming to beat the 25 minutes.

Disaster, dog runs in front of me, land on wall chest first, Winded, bruised chest, wrist, knees and even nose.

So badly bruised that only just started again this week at week 5 run 1. Problem, scared, lost my confidence and brick it every time I see a dog 😥. Anyone else had anything similar? Go out at 5.45 - 6.00 am but still dogs around!!!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Sorry about that dog jumping out and making you fall, I hope you recoverd quickly from your fall, however, your confidence on running again will take a little longer to recover, most dogs don't run and jump on runners, when you do see a dog with its owner when out running, from now on give a good shout, that way the owner of the dog will prevent the dog from jumping or chasing you.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Poor you that’s a horrible experience, the only thing you can do with lost confidence is build it back up, keep going out have a bit of a run and just keep going, tell yourself you want to do this and over time your confidence will grow again

One step at a time and good luck

[Mobiliseandmove]

Hey Obesenomore ,

Firstly, I'm sorry that you had that experience and that fall sounds nasty. I totally understand why you feel shaken.

Something that may help you to regain your confidence is to reframe this thought process.

When you see a dog whilst running, instead of thinking 'will it jump out at me' or letting it shake your confidence, I'd like you to try counting every dog that you see that doesn't jump out at you.

Provide yourself with the evidence that this was a very rare event, and that the vast majority of the time, you'll be perfectly safe.

Let me know how this works for you

Adam

[MacTavish1976 Graduate]

Hi! I had an accident last year and I've only just gained the confidence to get back out now! Don't leave it as long as me 😢

I did C25K and C210K in 2015, but a career change meant shift patterns now got in the way of running and it dwindled away. Last year I thought I needed to improve my fitness and decided to go out for a run on my old route. After only about 1km a little white dog bounced out of a bush in a wooded area - headphones in, all I saw was a white streak coming in front of me. I hurdled said white streak, but I was on a downhill and the landing was further down than a expected. Right foot landed first and the jarring action went up my leg. I hobbled on for a few steps, but that was it. Almost 2k from home, I struggled but I got there. The next day I could hardly walk and after a visit to the doctors I was sent for a hip xray.

Now a year on, a school event meant I had to run 2k . . . I was petrified! The thought of that pain again, but I'm glad to say I did the 2k and now I'm back in C25K! W4R3 completed this morning! I still run past the 'dog bush' but I have a good look these days!

Don't give up, but wait until you are recovered before you go back out. I see lots of dogs now, but i just zone out as I go past.

Take care 🙂