A horrible day threw my head firmly out of the game. But I was determined to get out there and try this run. I overanalysed as usual so knew what I was up against. And then the time came….
I did my normal route in reverse to add a little variety (but not too much) and off I went. This time, possibly due to the nerves, I decided to add a stopwatch to my Fitbit to track the time a little… huge mistake!! Checked my watch at 3 minutes! Then again at about 7. Then checked accuracy when Laura announced the half way point, again at 13, 15 and 17. I will not be doing that again.
I would love to say it was easy, but it was definitely a mental fight. There was times when my mind was asking (quite politely) what the point of all this was. Then it asked whether it really mattered, then who’s going to know if you don’t complete it, then it began mocking me for my desperate attempt to improve things. But thankfully a louder voice joined to say, “don’t be daft. Do you want these new shoes or not?” (Something that I have promised myself imminently), “Well you can’t have them if you don’t complete this. Other people have done it. Why shouldn’t you?”
Once I’d passed 13 minutes, everything felt much better. I was actually enjoying it. Not hugely out of breath or struggling too much. But definitely not easy. But I just carried on. Something I would never have done 5 weeks ago. And I think that is the key. I’ve never understood the slogan “Just Do It.” But now I’m starting to get it.
It’s not over yet but I think I’ve hit a psychological milestone. The monsters in my head are wrong. I can do it.
And finally, I felt absolutely elated that I had!
Thanks for all your help so far everyone. Week 6 here I come.
Written by
Davidnotarunner
Graduate
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15 Replies
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Brilliant. Well done chap.I can confirm that you now know you can go all the way. Big mental milestone defeated.
Thank you Alan. I can’t actually believe how well this program works. 20 minutes is now the longest I’ve run in my entire life! I’m definitely not stopping now. 👍🏻
Thank you again Iannodatruffe. No more watch for me. It was like a horrible counter productive security blanket! I’ve got my eye on week 6. I don’t think it will be easy. There’s a reason for everything, and this will pull me back out of my comfort zone, to remind me it’s no over yet! The battle continues!
Huge well done to you😀 it is as much a mental challenge as physical. I really struggled with w6 on my first and second attempt at c25k. It's like I literally hit a solid brick wall. Most of the time the negative voice in my head was saying "STOP" and telling me every reason for doing so and some! On those occasions that I did stop, I used to feel such a let down feeling, I was angry at myself and moody, it was remembering how miserable I felt and the fact that my body could do it that got me through it. I now fully understand even a run that's not been to good is a good run because you got out and done it. It's not a race, we all seek to beat our previous run times, and sometimes that places more pressure on us to perform, hence run could be doomed before you start. Like the fellow runners say, don't over think it, take your time it's not a race and find a route that suits.. Happy running 🏃♂️
Thank you. I’m expecting Wk6 to bring me back to reality. But I’m hoping the negative voices get quieter. Each week I’m now thinking, “if I can just get to next week.”
You did it and I love the conversations going on in your head, I have many of the same ones but in a way I enjoy them .... They pass the time ! Congratulations on doing that run, my personal favourite. With the next week people warned me about it but I read what was expected of me and did not over think it , just before hand said to myself , ok you have done these type of runs before, do it again! Enjoy.
Absolutely. I’m going to be optimistic and really face this head on. At the end of next week I’m two thirds of the way to the finish (read that as “start”) line! 🏁
Well done! You realise you will have to change your name now…as you are now a runner! You have run non stop for 20 minutes…there will be no stopping you now 👍😉
Well done! I also didn't week 5 run 3 this morning and I'm buzzing! I didn't think I would get this far nor did I think I would stick to it but I think I'm getting slightly addicted now! Good luck with week 6!
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