I finally got to doing W1R1 on Monday morning. Felt good & decided to go for a cycle and big walk later on in the day. Was looking forward to doing R2 on Wednesday morning, but I just couldn’t get out of bed. (I have anxiety & depression)
I now feel guilty and sick thinking about my next run. Feel like I’ve “failed” as it’s my fourth attempt at starting the programme. Furthest I got was W9 R2 and same thing happened— I missed my final run and couldn’t gather the motivation to start again.
Hi, I've just done w2R2, i was feeling quite flat before starting as I'd just looked at the scales and they haven't moved for me, but thought I'll feel better after doing my run anyhow, so I've just done my run and I feel so much better for it, no guilt for my weighing scales not moving, as I know I'm fitter for doing it.
I think the hardest thing is not to feel guilty if you miss a run and just try and look forward to that completed feeling at the end of a run.
The scales probably won't move that much. You may gain a bit during the first weeks due to fluid retention in the muscles, but that will go after a while. Then you'll be converting fat into muscle. Muscle is denser than fat. You're unlikely to change weight much but you'll be more toned.
Thanks for sharing your story— it’s actually good to hear someone else going through guilt/lacking motivation... I think at our stage we need to focus on moving forward in any way we can.
Maybe I’m getting too fixated on the “I can’t even do one run I’m a failure” concept. Need to be realistic and look at it from a wider lens... what’s one missed goal in the grand scheme of things if we’re progressing overall?
You've not missed a run. You've just had an extra rest day. Don't dwell on it.
You've not missed a run. There is nothing to say that you can only have one rest day between runs so go for it!
Aw thank you. That puts it into perspective... thank you!
I totally feel where you’re coming from. Too often, I self-sabotage and tell myself I’m a failure and get consumed with guilt for the most ridiculous things. I’m one of those annoying perfectionists - impossible characters! 😉
Like others have said, you haven’t “missed” a run. There’s no pressure on you to keep up with anyone.
I don’t know how much you engaged with the forum on your last effort - but, hello! - let’s talk about that for a second - you made it to Week 9! That’s an incredible achievement in itself! Be proud of that!
I’m a newbie but can already tell that the good vibes and encouragement from the group will propel me forwards. No one is here to judge.
I would recommend writing yourself some affirmations. Here’s two of mine:
“My self talk is kind and supportive”
“I strive for progress, not perfection.”
They don’t currently have the desired effect every single day but I find it’s a step in the right direction for changing my way of thinking.
Best of luck on your journey.
Isn’t it hard when it is your head telling you not to and not your body. My cousin said something really simple to me at the start which I always use when motivation is lacking ‘don’t let anything hold you back’ she literally just texted me that and nothing else and when I say it to myself there is no room for dithering I just do it. I am always glad I did. Good luck, you can do it 💪🏻
Never mind the 'feeling like a failure' think about what you have done, it takes some courage to keep trying. I'm sure you have been told 'one day at a time'. Don't look back, just forward.
Hello, your post has really struck a chord with me. I’ve battled with weight all my life and am big in starting exercise but after a few weeks I stop as just can’t motivate myself and it’s all too hard.
Today I completed W6R1 but it’s taken me 12 weeks to get here. I’m a morning runner and sometimes I get up and sometimes I don’t. I started off with regular 3 times a week runs for first few weeks. But from W4 to W6 I’ve found it hard. Sometimes I’ve only gone twice a week so that’s also taken me longer and I’ve repeated runs many times until I do it. But it doesn’t matter because what I’m doing is a first for me and something keeps me getting out of bed and moving forward which I’ve never done before.
The fact I haven’t packed it in in 12 weeks is amazing to me. So don’t punish yourself, just keep plodding at your own pace and you will get there.
It doesn't matter if it takes more than 9 weeks, but committing to finish it is key, and you nearly finished before, so you know you can run! Try not to be tough in yourself - you went for a bike ride and walk on the same day as your last run. Skipping a day is not a problem. I took about 12 weeks to complete the plan.
Stick with the forum, not sure I would have completed without the lovely people on here. I still post on the bridge to 10k forum - hopes and fears, wobbles, gremlins, we all have them, whatever stage we're at!
That’s EXACTLY what motivates me - the fact that if I miss a run, I’ll drive myself mad thinking I’ve failed and that I’m rubbish so therefore I make myself run three times a week without fail and I have for two and a half years. So you can either sit miserable at yourself or you can get up and go! Once you’ve run, you’ll feel great and hold onto that feeling to motivate yourself for the next one. Running beats mental health issues. Haven’t need medication since I started. So I’m not stopping now.
Oh and you can swap days if you need - like if it’s a hurricane it’s OK to delay!
feeling fine after a good run
My motivation to run
W6R3 in the bag!
W6 R1 at 6am!
Penultimate run of Couch to 5k
