I find this time of year very difficult but running really helps take the clouds away.I had a mental health crisis on Saturday I went to hospital and now am physically okay but I just feel so deflated, ashamed and low energy. I know a run would be good for me but I’ve been struggling lately. I can’t seem to run past 25 minutes and I’ve completed the couch to 5k so feel like I have gone backwards. I’m really going to try to go for a run even though I have that nagging feeling of failure but surely even getting out out and doing a short one is progress right?!
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Pymander10
Graduate
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Let this be clear. 25 minutes of running most certainly is not a failure. When you put those shoes on and get out the door.....that is a huge win irrespective of time and distance. Dont think about time and distance just go for a nice, easy, slow, comfortable run which you can enjoy with no pressure 👍
Very few people find the trajectory of their running career is ever upward.
Life happens to us all and gets in the way of running and many other things.
I have restarted C25k six times in total because of injury and illness, but I don't beat myself up about it.
We all have to accept, in both running and life in general, that we are where we are and devise a plan to move us forward to our desired aims. There is no point in telling yourself you cannot or won't be able to do something...........just go out and take the first step.......... and the second one will follow soon after and in time you will be back where you were before.
Leave the anxiety, leave the doubts behind and allow your running to become almost like meditation. Just be in the moment. Enjoy the experience and don't compare to either your former ability or anyone else.
Don't apply pressure to the activity to make it your release from all the other pressure that you are putting on yourself.
Sorry to hear you had a rough weekend. Dont be too hard on yourself & do what you can one step at a time. Some great advise in above comments. You got this!
So sorry you're having a rough time. We can't all run for long periods or long distances all the time. It's good to treat yourself gently if you're feeling like it's all too much. Firstly, put all thoughts of what you 'should' achieve away. All you want is to have an enjoyable run, you don't need to break any speed or distance records today.
Couch to 5K is a starting point from where you can take your time and find out what kind of run suits you. For a start, just try and run as slowly as you can. Maybe if you have a heart rate monitor find out what your zone 2 and 3 limits are and stay within them. If you run easy you'll be able to keep going for as long as you choose and at the end you won't feel horrible.
Instead of saying 'I must do 5k' go for a 2k or 3k run. Take it easy and see if you feel you could do more when you finish. Next time try a bit further. If you don't push your body to its limits you can feel the excitement of thinking you've got a bit more to give for next time.
Another suggestion is to vary the runs you do. I enjoy doing an easy run, an interval or fartlek and a long run over the course of the week and go on slightly different routes according to the weather and my mood.
Quite a few of us find the Nike Running Club guided runs to be really useful. You will learn a lot about how to run. They also have Headspace runs which don't talk much about running except how to enjoy the experience and get in touch with yourself. The main thing I've learned from these is that the most important step of all is to get your running shoes on and actually start the run. If you do that you are already winning
January is a tough time for many. It's dark. We're indoors a lot. The bright lights and anticipation of the build up to Christmas are behind us. The TV is pushing us holiday and sofa adverts.
Any run is a good run, even if it's as short as ten minutes.
That’s pants don’t feel ashamed you are back and even thinking of a run is fabulous it could be 10 minutes 30 minutes what ever do it for yourself , don’t conform just enjoy. Hope you are feeling more yourself soon 👍🏼
Well Pymander10 when reading your post I was thinking of ways to not go out, tired, cold fed up but you changed my mind I opened my NRC app and went out and did a run just a 20 minute relaxed run and I feel energised and pleased. Not fast not long just a run 🏃🏼♀️🏃🏃🏻♂️💨
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I refuse to call it a Bad Run but........
So I had a bad run
W1R2 - Bad dinner, bad timing... F**k it. Run.
Only one run to go but feel rubbish!!
Week 9 run 3 - Exhausted but happy! 
