Help with motivation

[Funguyman]

Hi started the couch to 5 k a few weeks back but I recently spend some time in hospital with depression what would be the best way to get my motivation back after missing a few weeks has now I feel a complete failure and get a lot of negative thoughts going around my head I would appreciate some help in gaining my confidence or getting some support from someone who experiences the same or similar issues thank you

[Rennur Graduate]

Maybe start a few weeks earlier than where you left off for one run. If that goes fine, then try a run from the next week until you find a natural place to re-start. Your piano looks fantastic incidentally. My cat follows me for 50 yards then rejoins me at the end from the same place like a cheating marathon contestant.

[Funguyman in reply to Rennur]

Hi Rennur thank you for your lovely comments about restarting my running again I wish that was my piano I’m currently having lesson it’s my teachers piano and my piano teacher took the picture as her cat came to join in

[Newbie59 Graduate in reply to Funguyman]

You must be good on the piano if the cat came to join you

[Papillon17 Graduate]

I agree depending on how far you got go back a week or so and start there. Myself I find listening to good music on a run helps me. Good luck.

[Funguyman in reply to Papillon17]

I recently bought some new air pods to listen to music so I will try that method when I start up running again thank you

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

For many of us our running careers are not smooth and uninterrupted, but those of us who have experienced all the benefits, both physical and mental, that come directly from running, make every effort to get back on course as soon as it is possible.

Motivation needs to come from the individual. We can offer advice, encouragement, support and an occasional kick up the backside, if you keep posting here. The only person who can stop you doing this is you..............the only person who will make you do it is you.

So look to the reasons why you started in the first place...........have they changed?

Life honestly is better with regular physical exercise. You have heard the corny phrases about looking better and feeling happier..............the fact is, as nearly every member of this community will attest, it is absolutely true.

We all have issues to overcome to start and keep running, but that is one of the reasons this forum exists.

You can do this.

Keep running, keep posting, keep smiling.

[Funguyman in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you for your support and giving me that little hope of starting up the running again I will attempt to start soon I will definitely keep you posted of my progress

[Indielass00 Graduate]

Hi Funguyman. Though I’m not in that headspace at the moment. I have been many times and I hope what I say can help.First of all you will see various people on here may need to take time out from running (including myself recently) due to an injury, illness, for a number of reasons and that’s the nature of the running journey. We need to take the time

to recover and heal.

Secondly running helps my depression and anxiety massively. Even as a teenager I would go out running if something was bothering me and it helped.

That has been a big incentive for me joining the C25K as I was struggling with my mental health in the autumn and I needed that boost of serotonin exercise gives you. I’m on Week 9 now and most runs (not all) I feel fantastic after I have run and it has really helped my mind set as well as getting fit.

Wishing you all the best with your running journey. You’ve got this 👍🏻😀

[Funguyman in reply to Indielass00]

Thank you for your support and for sharing your own experience and for your honesty I will keep you posted on my success good luck with your own issues and I hope you can keep going strong too

[Indielass00 Graduate in reply to Funguyman]

You’re very welcome. This forum is so positive, with lovely people sharing advice, stories, experiences and support. Discovering this forum has been an added bonus to my C25K journey!

[Hidden]

So Funguyman, dismiss those failure feelings, nobody on C25k is a failure, were all winners by being here 👍.

The forums are full of people who started where we all started at that 1st week run1.

Be kind to yourself, enjoy every run. And remember it's not a race, it's an adventure! Good luck

[Funguyman in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for reminding me I’m not a failure I did enjoy it when I was running before I went to hospital I was generally going for my runs around 6-630 am and found it was helping with my depression and was feeling more energetic then lethargic so I will keep you posted when I set off running again

[Hidden in reply to Funguyman]

Indeed keep those posts coming, and soak up that encouragement 👍

[Rabbithawk]

Hi, I struggle with motivation with practicing violin as well as with running. Once I start, I’m fine— it’s getting going that’s tough. So I break it into bits. Can I find my sneakers? Yes good. Can I find a place to sit and put them on? Can I go out the door? Walk a block? Pick some music? Turn on the app? Walk the first 5 minutes? Give it a go jogging really slowly until the nice lady in my ear tells me to walk again? Before I know it, the time has passed. (With violin it’s similar- how about 3 minutes of focused practice on this one tough passage. With that, inertia/resistance is overcome, and I’m carried away doing more.). I hope you find your way back to running- what a lift from the sun and air and endorphins. I often don’t feel like going, but never regret going.

[Runawaytrainer Graduate in reply to Rabbithawk]

So true!

[BonniesRest Graduate]

Well done starting, and posting here. Lovely picture - you and the music teacher’s cat look very relaxed together. I echo what everyone else is saying here, and would add that running has really helped me with mild/moderate depression symptoms that I usually experience every autumn/winter, and that in itself has helped me to keep running. There have been setbacks and life events that take over a bit and I occasionally need a some extra rest days, but it feels good to know there’s always running, and I can pick it up again. Actually the rest seems to help and my body seems to remember what to do and I get back in to the weekly rhythm of running again. So take it steady, listen to your body and enjoy the running - and the music - and your beautiful feline friend🏃‍♂️ ☀️

[Runawaytrainer Graduate]

You do want to do this. Why else would you have a photo with Dozen a day in front of you?! Beware copying some of the cartoon postures, or you could do some serious damage!!

[Hidden]

I’m sorry to hear you had to go to the hospital. May I just first say that I have fallen in love with that cat! My advice is see how you go: if you think that picking up where you left off and not being able to do it will make you feel worse, start a few runs/weeks earlier. This is a positive, permanent journey and there’s no harm in taking your time.

I always try to think that 9 weeks will pass anyway, regardless of whether I run or not. Sometimes I didn’t enjoy it, but the time sure flew by and I ended up running a 5k at the end of it!

Best of luck with whatever you go with. We’re all cheering you on and will be proud with whatever you achieve!

[Speedy60 Graduate]

How about putting your running shoes on and going out the door without any tech or any expectations. Just go for a walk and if it turns into a run, so much the better. Enjoy your surroundings and listen to your body - it will tell you when it's had enough. Maybe that will give you some idea where to start the programme from with no pressure to fail or succeed.

Best wishes

[Potnoodle10 Graduate]

Please don’t feel a failure for missing a few weeks of C25K. This is my third attempt at C25K, with even this attempt taking me more than 4 months now. My journey has been plagued with illness and injury. But now, fingers-crossed, I hope to graduate next week. As everyone here will tell you, you’re only a failure if you give up. So best of luck!

[Funguyman]

Hi everyone thank you for your lovely comments and suggestions and encouragement I am planning to do start up my running again on Sunday morning which is a massive achievement for me I am determined to complete the nine weeks with you help I will keep you all posted on my progress thanks again I hope you all doing well yourselves

[Knightlow]

You are not average. You are taking steps to help yourself and reach out to others for help - that makes you special, many folks would do neither. C25K has been part of the mix that has supported me to halve mental health medication - my work continues. Keep it as part of your toolkit. Wishing you progress. Good to see your smile.

[RunningJ123 Graduate]

Hi.. I was just thinking of you today and wondered how you were getting on... I hope you are feeling well. Take care!

[Sortofrunning Graduate]

My dear friend and fellow sufferer from depression. Here is a radical, very radical approach: try being kind and compassionate to yourself for just one week. Just one week! If it doesn’t help, you can go back to feeling like a failure, right? I am really serious. I am older than you and have spent a lifetime giving myself negative feedback. If I could have gone back and talked to my younger self and given her any advice it would be to cut that $)@& out. I can tell you that it never helped me in all those years and I’m 57. So, try to be kind. I took off three weeks to heal my left knee. I got back to it. Use running for the mental health benefits. You do not have to go fast to get the health benefit or the mental health benefits. Go at a conversational pace with your music and just be kind to yourself. Appreciate how exceptional you are.

[Funguyman in reply to Sortofrunning]

Hi thank you for your positive comments I am hoping to be running again soon hope you are well take care I will keep you informed of my progress