I completed week 6 tonight and I do actually feel great now it's done however whilst I was doing it I had various conversations in my head about my pace.
I know you're all going to tell me off and tell me I need to keep my pace slow and I do. I could manage a clear hello to a passing very fit runner who passed me so i know I'm not going too fast. BUT I feel embarrassed and so selfish conscious. I feel so slow and that I'm too slow to be running oh I know it's silly I know it is and if I was running with someone else I know I wouldn't care it's when I'm on my own I feel so self conscious when I pass people or I'm infront of people. I had to speed up a couple of times once when I got tangled up in some dog walkers and another to get over a busy road and boy did my little speed ups make me more out of puff. So I know I can't up my pace even if I wanted to. Not to sustain it for 25 mins anyway.
I did speed up at the end like sarah told me to and I do feel great now but how do I get over the feelings of not being good enough/ fast enough/ slim enough/ young enough/ fit enough etc etc. I do try to turn my music up and drown these gremlins out π
Sorry for the ramble
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Popstess
Graduate
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Week six is badass! πͺππ. Itβs the hardest week! Youβre over the hump now and batting downhill πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈ
Slow is just lovely so donβt even think about worrying about it. C25k is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Youβll see
Really no-one cares what weβre doing out there. You just think they do π
Anyway, just crack on and enjoy yourself. It wonβt be long til youβre done and graduating ππ πββοΈ
Hi! You are not alone in these feelings. I totally relate to everything you have said. Iβm the oldest person I ever see running and I run barely faster than I can walk, so donβt worry about your pace ( as people tell me too). I always tell myself that these fast runners/ joggers/ dog walkers donβt know how far I have run when our paths cross-it could be 10 miles! Cheers me up anyway and keeps me plodding on slowly! Best wishes and keep going π
You should feel great now that you have ran run 3 of week 6, you are now OFFICIALLY a RUNNER ππΎ, congratulations, don't worry about pace or other runners passing you, perhaps on your next run which is again 25 minutes, (runs 1,2 and 3 of week 7 are all 25 minutes,) you may pass a runner going a little slower than you, onwards and upwards ππΎ π
Thanks everyone I know I'm being silly, I don't know why those thoughts even come into my head.
I think when I apologised when I got tangled up in the doh walkers they were a bit rude and then my 1/2 bell rang and I knew after passing them I now needed to turn and go past them again and felt so awkward and self concisious. So silly I know as I'm sure exactly what you're saying is true no one cares!
I feel slow and embarrassed sometimes too. Iβve started to tell myself βthey donβt know how far Iβm running- I might be on mile 20 for all they knowβ π
You are now officially a runner! You are very close to graduation week and have done so well to get this far. I'm sure nobody cares whether you're running fast or slow, they're too busy caught up in their own worries about what other people think of them!
You are doing this for you and nobody else's benefit. I remember when I used to pass runners when I was in my car, I would always be in awe of them and frankly quite jealous. I never thought anything negative about them, just positive thoughts and made sure I gave them enough space on the road. Don't be hard on yourself, you're doing great. Run at your pace, a pace that's comfortable for you and just ignore those gremlins.
We are all so proud of you and your achievements so far πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈππππππποΈποΈποΈ
I presume you are running to develop your stamina, strength and endurance to enable you to run for longer and in time work on speed in a structured way. If that is so, then the easy conversational pace is the most effective to trigger the appropriate adaptations in your body..........faster is not better.
A crisis of confidence might be in order if you were hoping to be in the next Olympic squad, but if you just want to get fit then you are doing great.
The study on this article womensrunning.com/culture/s.... suggests that slower runners live longer..............so what was the actual reason that you want to be faster?
βI don't see anyone else running at my paceβ. Some of us are probably going slower!
Iβm at the same stage as you - did W6R3 yesterday. And I am occasionally hit by those same feelings. Each time, I think about the guy, Prof Tanaka, in the slow running video and think if I can be still running at his age and be so awesome, then why worry about how quickly Iβm running now. And anyway, like you mentioned, I wouldnβt actually be able to go any faster anyway!
The main thing is that you are running! THAT in itself is an achievement! In time your pace will probably get quicker but it's the beginning of your journey. I'm sure most people who see you don't think you're slow. I'm sure they'll think 'good on them' for getting out and doing it! π
Thank you, I always thought that in the past when I saw people running wow good for them! Never ever did I even consider what pace they were going so I don't know why I've convinced myself anyone would care about the pace I'm going π
π No, me neither! Honestly, we can all be our worst enemy. Hopefully in time you will get to that point where you couldn't care less what people think because a slow pace is better than no pace. For me, the focus is the distance and not the time. That will come second. I've seen myself improve my pace without realising. It's only from looking at my saved times I see it. Just trust the process. I know you may have read this before from other people but it really works. Just think how amazing you'll feel when you complete it! ππ»ββοΈ
Thank you, you're right and the fact that 6 weeks ago a few mins or running felt tough and last night I ran for 25 mins of course this programme works it definitely does. I just need to relax a little and enjoy the process rather than beating myself up for not being good enough all the time.
You are good enough though. More than π exactly! 25 mins running is amazing! And you're going to keep hitting your personal bests and get that buzz that comes with it. Enjoy!
Your run is yours alone Popstess worry not about others, just own that run πͺ
Hi Popstess..I really feel for youπ You are not alone! So many people beat themselves up over all sorts, and fall into thinking traps. I did an introductory Cognitive Behavioural Therapy online course in September to get me through a rough patch of covid anxiety. If you haven't ever looked into CBT I would highly recommend it.
Stresscontrol.org run the course I did and it was free, the only downside being the sessions aren't available all the time. The course videos are released on YouTube at various times in the year. I did a more intensive 'life skills' online course through Aware (.ie) in January and that was even better and really changed how I figured out how I was dealing with stress, thoughts etc. I've recommended it to several friends, colleagues and family going through any sort of rough time!
There's always going to be someone slimmer, younger, fitter, prettier, richer, etc than us, and we would be miserable if we were to always compare ourselves to others. You can accept who you are now and change what you have the power to change- if you want. Want to be fitter? Continue running..it won't change our age but it might make us younger at heart and younger in body and mind!!π
Part of you already knows that there is no need to get flustered or embarrassed, and it's great that you realise it. It's believing it maybe that's the hard bit. Could you come at the tangled with dog walkers episode from a different angle?.. if your friend told you it happened to her what would you think about it and what advice would you give to her? Would you laugh maybe? Or sympathise and say "Sure it wasn't your fault! Stupid dog walkers with their long leads", or similar. My point is don't beat yourself up about it or put yourself down over it. π
On an aside..I was slow jogging behind a man out walking yesterday. He could hear my footsteps and kept moving in on the path so I could overtake..I was going so slow I was baaarely making any progress on closing the gap so I doubled back on myself and reran the same stretch again so he would be further ahead!π€£
It's good you took the positives from your run and you are giving time to focus on them. It is super that you've week 6 under your belt. We are all behind you. You can do this!!!!π
Oh wow thank you for this message that's really helpful, I'll look into that course you mentioned and that website thank you that sounds really useful.
Yes that also happened to me running behind a man walking and he kept looking for me to overtake too!
I think I just get totally self conscious and awkward when around other people when I'm on my own. I'm really self conscious about the way I look and my weight anyway so out for a run in my running gear I feel like I'm drawing attention to myself. I know it's silly and I'd be the first to be supportive of anyone else feeling this way but I guess we're always harsher on ourselves.
Thank you again for all that info I'll go and look into it now.
I read somewhere on here that C25k is a mental training programme, wow isn't it just!! I'm going to have to train my mind to
get over myself and ignore these rotten gremlins chittering in my head. πΉ
Ya it's been a mental training programme from the very beginning of wondering if it's something I should, could, would begin and that big step out the front door in leggings and runners!π Talk back to your gremlins..tell them you are on week 7, a runner and amazing!!!π
Thank you I'll try my best! The little beggars won't beat me! They just want me sit on the sofa and eat chocolate don't they! πΉπΉ they want to keep me in my comfort zone horrible little critters
what a great post Running-rings! π and Popstess, like everyone has already mentioned, you are doing this for you alone and you should not be measuring yourself up against other runners who have probably be doing it for years!. Remember this saying attributed to president Teddy Roosevelt... "Comparison is the thief of joy". Keep going and enjoy the journey
This race only you can win and your nearly there. Iβve done this twice before and when I say I run I use that term loosely as I to am very slow. Itβs not about speed itβs about getting out getting moving and feeling like youβve achieved something, so a massive pat on the back. This trip is also a massive mind over matter as at certain times in this programme I found that my mind kept saying you canβt do this stop, but my body was able to keep going. Letβs do this, you know you can π
Thank you! Yea I don't know why I've immediately gone to beating myself up I should be thrilled I managed to run for 25 minutes! Instead I'm telling myself how rubbish I am, I'd never do this for anyone else I'd be super supportive but to myself in horrible.
Omg it could have been me writing this! I feel EXACTLY the same way! Iβm in week 7 and I do manage the 25 mins but everyone overtakes me! It doesnβt help that Iβm 5ft 2 and my strides are short. I also keep wondering whether Iβll ever run faster. BUT I feel fitter and thatβs the only thing that matters. Donβt forget fellow runner, this is something you are doing for yourself so well done!! π
Thank you, it's helpful to know there's other people out there feeling the same as me. Well done on also doing the 25 minutes! I think I'm going to spend the next 3 runs focusing on getting over my gremlins and just allowing myself to run.
Something that helped me was downloading another running app to use alongside the C25K. It monitors my speed and accounts the terrain etc so I can see where I was 'slow' and why! I have enjoyed watching my progress via this and it def gives me a buzz. This all being said I try to focus on rewarding myself for the distance I'm running and not my speed! I'm very self conscious too but just try to block everyone out and tell myself they don't know me and they didn't know me 7.5 weeks ago when I first started this! And they're never going to know me so who cares!
This is what I need to do block people out, I'm sure they couldn't care less what I'm up to and aren't the slightest bit interested in me so I've no idea why my brain is telling me that they're thinking I'm slow and shouldn't be out running.
I'm sure if anyone was to ask them about me after they'd passed me they probably wouldn't have even noticed me π so I am going to try and remember that when my gremlins start bullying me.
Hi Popstess, I doubt those thoughts will really go away, but at least you can see them for what they are. Be assured that lots of people who look confident on the outside are wrestling with thoughts like that too. If you can keep going out and doing what you want to do, the thoughts will start to take more of a back seat.
p.s. a few weeks ago I was running a footpath along the edge of a field. A dog walker a way up waited for me at the end of the narrow path. After a while I started to feel really embarrassed about my pace, thinking she's going to start looking at her watch in a minute or give me a dirty look when I get closer. As I jogged past her I said "I bet that took longer than your thought it would!" She gave me a big smile and said "no problem, you go at your own pace" in a "you go girl!" Kind of way π. She could have easily been on this forum, I felt a little proud that I was capable of taking to her π
Thank you, I will keep going, aw that's lovely the dog Walker did that βΊοΈ Yes you should be proud for being able to talk to her π
Hi. I know exactly what youβre feeling. I graduated yesterday & still stress about βam I going fast enoughβ & I havenβt got to 5k in 30mins yet, but you know what, everybody on here will tell you thatβs not important & they are so right! All thatβs important for you now is to finish each run. Forget all about your speed, that will come later on. As for feeling self conscious, donβt give that a thought. Your out there & your doing it, so good for you. Keep it going, I assure you the feeling when you complete C25K is worth all the sacrifice. Good luck.
These gremlins follow me on my runs too, little blighters, although less as time has gone by. I find making eye contact and smiling at people I pass helps: most give a friendly smile back, some ignore and Iβm sure a few think Iβm one of the local nutters π€ͺ It makes me realise that the negativity is all in my head and most people are just nice folk going about their day π
Little beggars get around don't they! πΉ thank you that's a good idea, I find I put my head down because I'm embarrassed but I'll try eye contact and a smile from now on.
I think, like everyone says, we all feel the same at the start but soon realise no one really notices. I once was having a βbadβ run where I kept stopping to walk (post graduation) so when I met a neighbour talking to a stranger I was happy to stop and chat (theyβd already seen me so might as well pretend I donβt care!). Explained I was having a bad run and she said - well it looks good to me!! Itβs all about perspective. Do you look at runners and criticise? No. Most people are like you. Itβs good to let it out though. By the way Iβm in my 60s so not your poster girl runner !! π€£ Iβm sure youβll soon feel less self conscious. Happy running
Honestly no! I would NEVER think anything negative about any runner or Walker for that matter so I know these gremlins are wrong and there's a high chance people don't even notice and if they no they don't give it a second thought anyway. I think it's that feeling of being an imposter that gets me like who do I think I am I'm not a runner I'm over weight I'm unfit it's silly because of anyone else was saying this I'd be the first to cheer them on!
Oh those blooming internal voices donβt you just hate them?? π Truly truly truly do not fret, week 6 is a big step up... you have done so well, your speed will gradually improve and it really isnβ t important. Getting out the front door and doing the run at all is a major accomplishment ( letβs face it, sometimes just getting out of bed is a major accomplishment too!) I recently graduated but this week have gone back to W6R2 before tackling that 25 min run again. Youβre doing a great job, sounds like a busy route you run too. Give yourself a big pat on the back!π π
Blimey I can only dream of being on week 6! Impressed.And on the subject of 'other people', I'm a dog walker and have been guilty of (accidentally) getting the way of runners....you can guarantee the woof will wander across their path just at the last minute! I say live and let live, theres gonna be push chairs, toddlers, people looking down at mobile phones, dogs, scooters, cyclists the list goes on, you can only do your best and if you get tangled just laugh, if its your fault say sorry, if not smile and say no problem. Easy to say ignore the voices, hard to do, but it does sound as if you are talking back telling them you're OK. Everyone needs to vent occasionally it doesn't mean you are negative - just human.
Thank you, I'm sure you will get to week 6 soon enough, I can't quite believe 6 weeks have already passed to be honest, feel like I was only trying to talk myself into starting this programme not long ago. I did apologise but they were a little rude in their reaction but that's probably all in my head anyway because I'm super sensitive!!
Thank you, it's a bit of an odd route really but it's convenient for these longer runs. My quieter route is better but it's too short and I'd have to run round it a few times which I find a bit off putting. Maybe I'll look at other routes. I don't like running along busy roads either with lots of traffic so limets my choice a bit too.
I think we all have gremlins in our head when running, like you I think Iβm not good enough, too old to be this ( though Iβm only 59!), but when Iβve completed my 3 runs I feel empowered as each week goes by I feel stronger and very proud of myself. Carry on and youβll achieve your goal and be proud!I have just completed week 5 and so proud I ran for 20mins.
Oh sweetie.... I know exactly what you mean. I felt like this too and on my last run these thoughts popped into my head too.
But do you know what? I mentally stick my two fingers up to anyone who is passing by walking or in a car if they are thinking these things (which they probably aren't). I believe fellow runners on that you pass understand how difficult this is and are supportive and encouraging with a little wave or smile or even thumbs up. If they don't make eye contact, then I believe they are concentrating on their own run.
Be proud of what you are doing. Remember, no matter what, you are lapping EVERYONE else on the couch. And besides which, you completed week 6 of C25K. Go you!!! This is not easy, if it was everyone would be running. You have achieved amazing things! Keep going!!!! π€β€
Thank you it's nice to know I'm not alone with these thoughts. If I'm honest I have these thoughts in lots of areas in my life so it's not a wonder they have transferred over to my running. I generally lack confidence. Yes thats true and I'm sure no ones thinking anything at all it's like you say our minds that make it up and make us feel bad. If I spoke to others how I spoke to myself I'd have no friends π why do I put up with such bad behaviour from myself to myself?!
It's easy to say don't be hard on yourself.... people are always telling me the same, so I think I get it...
A counsellor once taught me that the more we think these thoughts, we actually create pathways in the brain so the default is to think them.. BUT, the brain is actually not clever. We can consciously over ride them. You can 'note' them and replace them with something more positive. Then, the positive pathways become default.
Well I graduated last year, August I think and I have yet to overtake another runner unless they are walking. Even then sometimes I think they might overtake me, not happened yet though. If you push yourself too much, you will suffer injury so follow the plan and just enjoy π
Thank you yea this is the thing isn't it, I don't want to push myself and end up injured. I got injured when I did a similar plan to this with a running club over 5 years ago and it put me out of action and I never took it up again so i definitely don't want to injure myself.
Wow I am absolutely blown away with the amount of kind words and support on here. I cannot thank you enough. This community is amazing! It's truly truly amazing! Thank you so much to everyone that contributes I definitely wouldn't have kept this programme up without the support on here so thank you!
Well done on completing week 6, thatβs amazing! In regards to your pace and being self conscious imagine looking at things with a different mindset and I wonder how many people you run/jog/plod past who you inspire, how many people might just see you and think βyes good for themβ or βIβm going to give that a tryβ Iβm 100% sure everyone who notices you running never thinks a negative thought about you, youβre doing amazing π
Thank you! That's a lovely way to look at it. I know I've found lots of people on here inspiring id never think I'd be someone that would inspire anyone but that's a lovely way to think of it βΊοΈ
We are all doing C25K for ourselves. We all set our own pace, decided if we need to repeat a run, if our bodies need an extra day off. I know easy to say, but don't be so hard on yourself. You have completed week 6, so you can run for 25 minutes. If somebody told you 6 months ago that you would be doing this, you might have giggled in disbelief and definitely raised an eyebrow. But now you are doing it. Be proud and keep putting one foot in front of the other
I know just how you feel .... i was feeling the same . The way round it for me was to run early in the morning when very few folk about. But in reality we should be proud of ourselves for getting off the couch and giving it a go!!
Thank you it's nice to know I'm not the only one, I've thought about running earlier but 1 I'm not a morning person and 2 that route i wouldn't feel safe on early in the morning really. I need to look into different routes actually
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