Help! What's happening? Need a kick push or something to find my motivation.

[Determindtorun]

Hi Everyone,

I graduated last July and have been loving running 5k on average of 3 times a week but I had my Covid jab back in February and wasn't to well so skipped a couple of weeks, when I started again I found it really difficult and was nowhere near the pace before and it felt so much harder, I just can't seem to get motivated to get up and run as I know it's going to be a struggle rather than fun and I beat myself up for my rubbish pace. I'm a morning runner as I try and go before work and before it's too busy but lately I'm just finding excuses not to go even though I want to......... Do you guys think I should start over or maybe half way through the programme or should I just keep pushing through until I'm back to where I was?

P.s I was supposed to run this morning but my excuse was the wind ( mother nature's not mine 😂) and I'm regretting not going now 😒

[Jell6 Graduate]

I don't think you need to start again. Just go out for a gentle jogette, no target (time or pace) See how it goes...😊

[Determindtorun in reply to Jell6]

Thanks Jell6 - I think I will push myself to go out tomorrow morning when I am not on the clock and just see how it goes Xx

[ALZMum Graduate]

I know how you feel. I had Covid at Christmas and it’s taken me a while to get back into the groove. I took the pressure off and reduced down to two runs/week. My mid week run is shorter (4K) and weekend is about 6k. It’s help keep me motivated and also improved my speed. So give yourself permission to not do 5k every time and see if that helps. Remember anything off the couch is a victory 😀

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You don't lose significant condition in the first two weeks of non running and after that loss of condition is gradual.

That said, if your body is below par because of illness, or in your case a vaccination, then you cannot expect to be able to perform to the same level as when you were at your peak.

I am redoing C25K after chemotherapy and accept that pace is slower than before, but that is fine as it is the nice gentle pace that builds stamina and endurance..........not a fast pace.

This post about run preparation might help you put it into perspective healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

All any of us can do after a lay off is to go out and see what we can comfortably manage, then build back up gently, using C25k or something similar as a guide to weekly increase.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Motivation comes and goes. What's more important is building a habit and getting out even when you don't really feel like it or when the weather is a bit grim.

[Beach_runner Graduate]

Looks like others have posted some really good advice, particularly IannodaTruffe. It all depends on what sort of person you are and what motivates you best. I enjoyed working through each week of the programme, so you may find that having some form of structure may help and start again at week 4 or 5. If you are going to be hard on yourself for not meeting your usual pace, another option could be running with someone else or mixing up your runs and running somewhere different. That way you are not always measuring your progress but instead just enjoying running. All depends on what will help you enjoy it. So long as you get out there and start running you will definitely feel better - pretty much every post on this forum says so!!. Good luck 🙂