Advice

[Lockdownpositive]

Hello again all. So i did the c25k. Then had a big bipolar episode. Feeling much better now and can't wait to run again as I know it really helps my mental health. Should i start at the beginning again? I stopped in July. I hope no one minds my honesty. The more we speak about mental health the less taboo it becomes! Stay safe and keep running.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

We aim to be as supportive of all our members as we possibly can be and if issues in our lives impinge on our running, then this is a wholly appropriate place to air them.

Many of us have had to redo C25K for all sorts of reasons and I can tell you from personal experience...........it always works. Far better to gently recondition your body to the impact of running by redoing the plan than to randomly bite off too much and get injured.

I would recommend starting from the beginning and redoing the whole programme. It is a positive experience and because you have done it before you will have no need for anxieties about achieving it.

So glad that you feel well enough to take up the challenge again. The benefits, both physical and mental, are wonderful rewards.

Have fun, keep us posted.

[Lockdownpositive in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks so much for your supportive words buddy. I'll start from the beginning on Saturday. I will definitely keep you posted. Really looking forward to it.

[Ian5K Graduate]

How do you feel about starting at the beginning?

While it has to be safe and doable - and you have a better idea of your ability than we do - it should be enjoyable, or as enjoyable as you can make it, to be motivated.

What I’m saying is, if it were me, having done it once this Summer, and I found repeating the first weeks a bit tedious and easy, I’d be okay to skip some of those week’s runs and move along further in the plan.

Keep your speed well down and you might find you’re okay. 🙂

Are you an outdoors runner or treadmiller?

[Lockdownpositive in reply to Ian5K]

Outdoors. I live near a beautiful park and river in Cardiff. I used to find it really therapeutic.

[Ian5K Graduate in reply to Lockdownpositive]

Nice! I was just curious, thinking it’ll be a different experience completing it in Winter to the Summer - outdoors, of course.

Mind you, the temperature is ridiculously mild so far.

Have fun out by the river. 🙂

[Lockdownpositive in reply to Ian5K]

I'll post a pic. It's jaw dropping beautiful!

[Hidden]

The great advice you've been passed already, it needs no more adding to it!

But that jaw dropping scenery around you, let it absorb you on those runs, and if you need to take a picture, do so share it here, it brings a run to life 👍.

You'll do a great job, and the advantage is you've done it before, there's no surprises lurking!

Enjoy!!!!!

[Lockdownpositive in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much my friend. Coming from such a dark place and getting this support is priceless.

[nowster Graduate]

After nearly six months of not running, I'd definitely recommend starting gently. Redoing C25K is probably the best structured way of doing that.

I have a friend who was bipolar but wasn't diagnosed for many years. Amazingly creative in the good times, but really difficult to be with in the extremes of it.

[Lockdownpositive in reply to nowster]

Thanks for your message. I will definitely start from the beginning.I lost my best friend as a result of my last episode. I feel quite upset about that. I do appreciate that it must be hard to those close to me but I do also feel that if I had a physical illness people would be more sympathetic. Generally most bipolar folk are high functioning, so from the outside you appear to be in control. But you're not. How do I address that?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Lockdownpositive]

The bipolar individuals that I have been aware of meeting are amongst the most creative people I have ever met.

We all need support and this forum provided it in spades for me when I announced I had cancer. I try not to bring it up unless I can relate it to running, but every thing in our lives impacts that and having good wishes from a bunch of strangers can make a huge difference when times are tough, so feel free to educate us all and take on board those good wishes.

[nowster Graduate in reply to Lockdownpositive]

I suppose the thing to do is let those you care about know what's going on.

[Frenc Graduate]

Hello there! I would start from the beginning and enjoy every moment in the knowledge that you know you’ve already got what it takes. And please do share that beautiful scenery, I can’t wait to see it. All the best! 😊😊😊

[suegrace Graduate]

Well done to You for starting again I think you could probably skip a few days if you found it easy or just enjoy the remotivation all again.A big well done for running anyway it really really helps us mentally. I don't have bp but have GAD and struggle. The running lifts my mood. Good luckxx

[Lockdownpositive in reply to suegrace]

Thank you so much.

[2old4 Graduate]

I graduated last December and continued doing 30min runs once or twice a week for 6months, then for no good reason dropped to one every so often. Before I knew it 12 weeks without a run had gone by, so this week I have started C25K from the beginning - W1, R2 this morning. I figured whilst I could probably still do a fair few minutes of running, the structure and (hopefully) ease of building back up through 3 runs a week for 9 weeks would get me, my head and my time back into the right place to keep it going. Good luck however you choose to get out there, I'm sure you will see positive results along with your fabulous views.

[Lockdownpositive in reply to 2old4]

Thank you buddy.