Motivation

[SamNotSammy]

I started my journey in November 2019 and if memory serves me correctly I managed to get to week 4 over the course of 4/5 months. I was doing ok but Covid hit and I stopped. I really want to try and start my C25K again but I really can find the motivation to do it. I’ve lost my job this year and I’m feeling fragile. I also think I’m going through peri menopause and I’m just all over the place. I’m hoping that if I put it down on here it will hold me accountable and kick start me into gear. Here’s hoping x

UPDATE

Guess who just got back from W1R1 ? Me!!! Yes I did it! Yes it felt as hard as I expected BUT I bloody did it! I managed all 8 runs and I’m feeling proud of myself. Thank you for all the motivation everybody. Bring on the next xxx

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Well I think running is excellent medicine. When you finish a run you feel great. Why don’t you start and you’ll be ready to join in parkrun in July, even if you can’t run it all which many don’t. Why don’t you go out tomorrow morning and post the update here 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome back to the forum.

Taking four months to get to week 4 makes it look as if your commitment was possibly not very high last time. By running regularly you create a momentum and you just want to run, so maybe try to do three runs per week.

Life throws all sorts of unwanted stuff at us all but having running as one constant can really help us through tough times.

We can advise and cajole but motivation comes down to you. You either do or you maybe, sort of possibly want to do it, or not. It's up to you. Make that big decision and we will cheer you all the way to the finishing line.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

[SamNotSammy in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Wow. That really wasn’t the motivational speech I was looking for nor is it very encouraging. Being at least 5 stone overweight, a plantar fasciitis sufferer and having spent over £200 on running kit I would most certainly disagree with you. I ran 3 times a week every week but found it very difficult. Having said that I felt so pleased after almost every run I did.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to SamNotSammy]

Were you running too fast? Could you speak aloud clear ungasping sentences as you ran? If not, you were going too fast.

Slowing down, even if it is slower than your walking pace, makes it achievable, then you can progress through the plan more quickly.

I am sorry if my response sounded discouraging but the degree of difficulty is largely in your hands, barring external issues, which face us all.

[PJRunner Graduate]

Hi Sam not Sammy. Its been a really difficult time. I've just started again and am not denying its tough but give it a go, something to work towards and focus on with this community to help you on your way. , and they do say exercise helps you get through the menopause. Good luck.

[Lookslikejames Graduate]

I think it’s hard to get started doing this at any time, and if you’re feeling stressed and down about your job, I’m sure it will be even harder.

But... I would also say that due to the above it’s probably more important than ever that you get out in the fresh air and kick start your body and endorphins. If you can stick with it, everything will fall into place. It’s helped me no end with my mental health, and eat and sleep correctly, and exercise way more than I used to.

I hope you do manage to get out there, and please keep us updated, you’ll have loads of people cheering you on in this forum 👍🏻 Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

[Popstess Graduate]

Hi Well done for posting on here about wanting to start again. You've made the first step. I did similar after 5 YEARS of not running 😂 and I think I must have really wanted to do it again or I wouldn't have posted. I think that might be the same for you too.

I've noticed you repeated a lot of weeks, this programme is very flexible and we can repeat any weeks if we feel we need to but unless you don't manage to complete the running part of that week I suggest you move on to the next, as were fickle things us humans we also need to feel we are progressing to keep us motivated.

Ill tell you what motivates me when I feel like I can't keep this up, one thing was a quote I heard on a podcast which was "yes this is hard, but WE can do hard things" sometimes I repeat this in my head when I'm finding a run tough or I want to stop. The other thing that motivates me is from a conversation with a friend about something totally non running related, she was saying how she can be disciplined and commit to things and see it through and how that transfers to other areas in life and something just clicked in my head one day and I thought I can be disciplined and see C25k through to the end.

I've had plenty of wobbles some are documented on here. But the above both help me when I'm not feeling very motivated.

I'm sorry you have lost your job, that's awfully unfair. And peri menopause can be very rough however I believe starting a regular running plan of 3 times a week and some strength training on your rest days will help you deal with both of those things.

You can do this 💪🏃🏻‍♀️💥

[Frenc Graduate]

Hi SamNotSammy! Sorry to hear you’ve been having a tough time, the peri menopause can be a confusing time, with changes both mentally and physically. Sounds as though you need something to uplift your spirits. Enter, ta da, running! I have runs that I so don’t feel like doing, and when that happens, I say to myself what’s the worse thing that could happen? I might come home early and no harm done. But that’s never happened because once I’m out there, I want to finish it! Don’t overthink it. Write down 3 dates in the next week you will run, make sure your gear is all tickedy boo for said runs, and don’t think beyond these 3 runs or try to come up with barriers as to why you can’t do them. Just think it’s only 3 x 30 minutes and you are fabulous. YOU CAN DO IT!!! ✅✅✅. Now go and get that diary out 😊👟😊👟😊👟😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️.

[Cakerunner Graduate]

Hi there SanNotSammy! My first thought, 'Oh my, poor you'! I'm sorry you've lost your job, and your mojo for running.....and as a menopausal member of this community, I really feel for you on that score too......what I would say is to try again, I've restarted this program twice, and this was after graduating the first time (which took me forever 😂) and then I was ill.......and then I was injured......and then I thought, 'sod this, I'm gonna try again' so off I went, snail pace is my pace, slow and steady and all that......but I never repeated any runs, because if you get to the end of it, however slowly and uncomfortably, well then you've done it😊 and you can move to the next one. I did take more rest days, because that's what I needed, not everyone can actually run three times a week.So, I'm rooting for you, we'll all be here to cheer you on, and I really hope you find that mojo again.....personally, I had to chase mine around for a while before I finally recaptured it!😅 I wish you all the luck in the world I actually wish I could physically go with you, cause I know how it feels to be wondering when the heck you're gonna find that mojo 💪🏃‍♀️go get it! Keep us posted !

[Week7 Graduate]

Sorry that you are having such a tough time but it sounds like you are ready to try again!! It isn't easy for anyone and for some it's harder than others but it really is worth it.At the end of each session ,no matter how well it went or how tough you found it , it is important to celebrate the fact that you went out of the front door and did it!

I found that the sense of achievement from sticking to a program and improving over time spilled over into other aspects of life giving me a bit of more of a "can do" approach to things. It's definitely helped my passage through hormonal changes too.

Good luck and don't forget the most important thing-run slow, and even slower. No matter how tired you are you know that you can take one more step, and then one more step again-take it step by step and you will achieve!!!

[Penguingirl1 Graduate]

Hi. Well done for getting back out there and completing that first run. Like you I am peri- menopausal. It's horrid. I am also overweight and suffer horrendously with my mental health. I've been slower than others to get to where I am but have only missed one session due to being poorly. I've got into such a routine now that I look forward to my runs and my "me time". My husband will say to me after a bad run "at least you've got out there" and he's right and that perks me up. Think about the health benefits - both mentally and physically that you will gain. You can do it girl. Best of luck xx

[CressidaB Graduate]

Well done. So happy for you. 🙂