When will I like it?!

[GrannyPigsPerfume]

Hello and thank you for all the motivational and information posts. With a friend, I am on a repeat of week 6 (we have repeated each week so are currently on week 12!). It hasn’t got any easier and I’m still not really enjoying it and my stamina has definitely not improved. I use strava from when we leave the house to when we return and it shows an average pace of 10.44, which is very slow compared to what I read on here and about the same speed as I walk. I tell people that I’m doing Japanese slow jogging but the truth is I don’t think I could go any faster. Currently completing about 4.3k in 45 mins but that includes the warm up and warm down walks. Will I ever improve? Will I ever ‘like’ it a bit more? I certainly enjoy the chat with my friend three times a week but am not sure I’ll ever be a runner ! I’d be grateful for any advice thanks

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

🤔 don't worry about pace. It really, really doesn't matter.

Your stamina WILL improve, there is no doubt of that.

Like? Well, you kind of need to find your own things to like.... do I like plodding endlessly on and on... no, not always and I hate roads but I love the views, all the nature around me, I love looking back or on strava and seeing the area covered. I love the feel of the sun abs breeze, the grasses blowing in the wind, the wildflowers. Sometimes the actual running can be fun, making me feel like a kid again, jumping over puddles or roots, kicking the leaves...

Once again, it's a bit of a mindset...Once you can find what's in it for you to like the other stuff doesn't get headroom anymore 👍🏻

[GrannyPigsPerfume Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks for this - yes I need to shift my mindset!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hi GrannyPigsPerfume , Congratulations on your progress and getting to week 6

Or as you say (week 12)

I'm curious as to why you repeat every week ?

Do you manage to complete the runs first time through ?

If so why not try moving on without repeating .

I notice you say your stamina has not improved !

If you had gone out on day 1 and attempted a week 6 run , would you have completed it .

I guess the answer is no !

But you are doing it now because your stamina HAS improved .

Please do not worry about pace !

It really is irelevant.

I'm certainly not a fast runner !

As long as your completing the run times you will improve , how far you get in that time dosent matter .

You are enjoying the chat with friends while you do this and it is doing you good .

And if you have got to week 6 then I'm sure you can get to graduation .

Be proud of yourself and keep it up 👍

[GrannyPigsPerfume Graduate]

That’s so kind of you, thank you for your reply. You are right of course, I didn’t believe I could jog for even one minute on week 1 and now I am just about managing it for 20 minutes. We repeated weeks just to be sure we could do it and to consolidate before moving on, both of us are in our 60’s with health issues, never run or exercised before and are overweight so we felt it was a good thing to take it very slowly. It feels like the right thing to have done. I am determined to finish the programme now we have got this far …… even though it’s getting really tough now!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to GrannyPigsPerfume]

Your welcome !Keep running , keep chatting and enjoy yourself .

I'm sure we will be reading about you graduating before long 👍

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

It is so easy to approach this C25K "Challenge" as a battle. Running, in my book, should be fun, otherwise you are highly unlikely to persist recreationally if it is a drudge or chore.

Firstly, stop tracking your runs. I run as tech free as I can be, just enjoying my environment and forgetting about pace. The act of running through beautiful scenery is so much more life affirming than just walking. Comparing my pace to my former pace or that of others could so easily rob me of all that joy.

As Instructor57 says, if you are chatting to your friend as you run, then your pace is about optimal to develop your stamina and endurance over time. Going faster would not be better. Those of us in our sixties have to accept that our development will be slower, as explained in this post about running and aging healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Focus on what you are able to do and congratulate yourself that in your sixties you can do so much more than many of your peers and that you are doing the best possible thing you can for future health prospects.

If, after you graduate, you really want to work on pace then come back for advice, but for now just be proud of your efforts...........and have some fun.

[GrannyPigsPerfume Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you so much. That makes a lot of sense. I have work to do on my mindset, I appreciate your reply very much.

[backintime Graduate]

Sounds to me like you're doing great and that you're progressing well

I often run at around that speed

I didn't like the running when I did C25K, sometimes I still don't, but I liked the sense of accomplishment, the changes in my body, my mind was clearer, I was making better life choices, I was less stressed....as my distances started getting longer I started enjoying it more and I liked the challenge of pushing on.

It does get easier, and as you have said, running 1 min is now much easier than when you started. I think the reason you don't feel it's getting easier is that you are increasing all the time with C25K so it's always a constant push to improve.

For me it helped to compare with what I would be doing if I wasn't running (probably sitting on the sofa watching TV, or working on my laptop) - and sometimes I thought of running like taking medicine - doesn't always taste nice but it's good for you

[Purplefiona Graduate in reply to backintime]

So great to hear that you do enjoy it but not all the time. A good pointer to me to dial down my expectations of perfection 😊

[GrannyPigsPerfume Graduate in reply to Purplefiona]

Absolutely. I’m just about to finish week 9 and it feels so good to finish but it’s still tough going!

[nowster Graduate in reply to GrannyPigsPerfume]

It all depends on how hard you push yourself. Giving yourself an easier run occasionally can actually be quite enjoyable. (I'm one of the worst for not holding back and forgetting to ease off.)

[GrannyPigsPerfume Graduate in reply to nowster]

I don’t think I could go any slower! I run with a friend who walks and we move at the same pace!!!

[GrannyPigsPerfume Graduate]

That’s a great way of thinking of it! And yes, everything I am doing is better than what I used to be doing. Thank you - you’ve made me think!