I completed C25K late November, had a break due to covid in January and started back in feb.
My first run back was 25 minutes which I was amazed by. Following that, I was fairly regularly doing 2-3 miles twice or 3 times most weeks.Until, about 5 weeks ago I went out and couldn’t run!!. No idea why this happened, just ended up walking home and felt very despondent. Tried again and same thing.
Instead of giving up, went back to the plan and did week 4 for 4 weeks 😩. Now on week 5 and managed 20 minutes a couple of days ago, this morning struggling again.
Keeping hydrated and slow… what is happening?! Not sure what to do other than ask you lovely people for advice, thank you so much
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swim63
Graduate
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Sorry to hear you are struggling. This happened to me too after graduating. I think my problem was that I gave up as soon as I got tired. What I needed was a target to push me on to go the extra mile - literally 😂. So I signed up for some virtual challenges to motivate me. A bit of bling is also a nice bonus 🏅. I also enjoy guided runs as they help you to push on. Try the Nike Run Club app. It’s free and has a wide variety of runs and distances. How about pushing on to 10k? You can go at your own pace but will have a target. Have a look at the Bridge to 10k site. You’ll find Ju Ju’s magic plan on there and lots of runners at the same stage as you to encourage you. Good luck!
I've had this too. Amazed to have Graduated in Feb, been doing 3,4 and 5 or 6km runs using the NRC app. I've found I need motivating, and so went back to popping post run selfies and updates to my friends and family group who cheered me through getting off the couch. I do a weekly catch up of runs now for them and they are very motivating with likes and cheers etc. They know how far I've come!
Each run needs something different - a new playlist, bit of kit or route or target.
If I do a 5km+ run, I use a special 'posh' shower gel I keep just for that (seriously, rather than give up at 4km I'll do the bit extra for that 'treat'.
So I think it's targets, treats, achievement and validation you need to set up so you would need to have a think about what works for you. I wouldn't run for medals or group runs-just doesn't work for me personally.
Come back and let us know. See you in the consolidation barhouse 🍸
Thank you, my problem with treats is it’s likely to be the wrong sort and likely to be something in the form of chocolate!I just need to keep plodding on I guess 😊
What is making you stop? Something physical? Is something hurting? Are you struggling to breathe? Or is it just a mental issue?
Sometimes you just have to push on. If I'm miles from home on a long run and the brain whines "don wanna" there isn't really an option, I still need to get home. If I was injured I'd walk but otherwise running is the best way to get it over with even if my mind wants to give up. Usually after a little while that part goes quiet and I go back to enjoying it anyway.
There's a meme somewhere that goes something like "stop running? Am I bleeding? No... keep going
Am I breathing? Yes... keep going
Am I dead? No.... then keep going"
The mind is a powerful force and if that negative part knows it can make you stop it will just keep on doing it.
It might help to remember that our "central controller" in our brain will try to make us stop when just 40% of our energy is expended. There is always more in the tank but the main function of that part is to just conserve energy.
I think being miles from home is a great motivator! Yesterday I did my longest run to date, 55 mins. About half way through my brain really wanted to give up, but I knew I had the rest of the running distance plus the 10/15 min section that I'd walk anyway (the section closest to my house isn't great for running), making 2.5-3 miles in total. The quickest way was just to ignore the gremlins and keep going, so that I could get home for my breakfast and a cup of tea! It's one of the reasons that I could never use a treadmill, it would make stopping too easy.
To be perfectly honest, I really don’t know what went wrong ie physical/mental or a bit of both.I’ve never found running easy but think I probably need to come away from the podcast and get back to music 😊
* Lack of a target. Have you anything to aim for? Are you trying for a specific distance or duration?
* Too routine. Are you running the same course every time? Are you running the same distance every time?
* Introspection. Are you over-analyzing things? Do you perhaps stop a run rather than pushing through to the end just because it feels a little harder?
I just don’t know! Definitely stick to the same few routes and similar distance but can’t work out what is making me stop. Think it’s lack of stamina more than anything. Very annoying!
Of course try and keep to 30 min runs at your comfortable pace, but don't worry about having to do 5km distance, it will come in good time. I've had a similar thing happen with me and at Parkrun this morning I was lagging behind, but I latched onto the runner 100-200 yards up front of me and managed catch them and sprinted past to the finish line, it felt good although a tad whacked but not too bad, I think this is what's needed, a target for motivation, I'm not too bothered about PBs and times, but should I be more bothered? maybe, so if nothing hurts and feel ok it's probably phsycological and need to push on through any mind gremlins..
Everything going on in our lives can impact on our performance as a runner. Restedness, hydration and nutrition are at the top of my list of variables that need to be optimised to enable enjoyable running.
I'm struggling too. Graduated a year ago, built up to a couple of 10ks, knee niggle etc.. Flirted with low heart rate running which I enjoyed but seem to be anxious all the time at the moment and feel breathless through panic within 5 minutes. I carry on to 5k but don't feel good about it.
How are you doing this week? I haven’t been well so had a week off of everything. I think anxiety may well be playing a big part, no idea why. So frustrating but hoping to try a short run in the morning. I would be happy to get back to 5K, don’t think I will ever get beyond that but that’s ok 😊
Still struggling really. Heart rate through the roof yesterday within 2 minutes. Completely lost my mojo. I'll go for a run tomorrow and see how it goes. Life just seems so hard sometimes doesn't it? X
It’s such a pain hey! Have you had your heart rate checked out? May be a good idea, just to be on the safe side.It’s so deflating when we loose our mojo, hopefully just a blip 🤞🏻
First of all: well done!!! You are keeping on getting out there even when it’s hard!
There was some really good advice here, so I’m probably not adding much more but what worked for me is
- don‘t feel guilty if you take 5 - 7 day break. I was surprised the first time I was forced to take a short break from running how much mojo I got on my first run back. Sometimes our body needs a bit longer to recuperate and gain strength.
- running slower works for me, and I sought out music with a slower beat to keep me from running too fast for my fitness. Running slower allowed me extend my running to way above 60 min.
- having a plan was a motivating thing for me as well and I created plans to explore all sorts aspects of running, from exploring running to different kinds of apps or music to different routes. See my plan from after C25k: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Thank you so much 😊. I went out yesterday morning with my music on and did a slow 2 miles. Struggled towards the end but felt great afterwards. I think I need to keep plodding on and accept the blips as inevitable. The support on here really helps and I should use it more often!
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