Satisfaction v Happiness

[Jonty1953]

I have just completed Run 3 or Week 6, so I managed to do 25 mins - albeit at a slow pace - without stopping. That is unimaginable a few weeks ago! But I am not yet really enjoying it. I persevere and I felt pleased with myself and satisfied but FUN it is not, yet. Does that ever come? I so desperately WANT to want to go running

[Roxdog Graduate]

Well done for following the plan and managing that continous run! I think finding joy or fun can come at different stages for different people. I remember that when I was following the plan, in those later weeks, varying my routes helped stave off potential boredom. I got to explore new places, or experience familiar places while running.

Is it possible you've sped up unconsciously? That's quite common and perhaps you're finding you can't relax, which takes some of the joy away.

I would say slow down, try to stay relaxed. Look around at your surroundings. It's still early days, you want to run and I'm sure you will start to enjoy it more soon.

You don't need to track your runs using tech, just try to be in the moment.

Good luck!

[Jonty1953 in reply to Roxdog]

Good advise, I spend too much time focusing on my speed, and not enough looking at the surroundings. I have tended to keep away from a lovely lake near because I am self conscious of many other, much faster runners there, but why go the dull way?

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Jonty1953]

Oh yes, go to that lake and forget about the other runners! If you are focussing on speed, or thinking you're 'worse' than everyone else (which you're not), you won't enjoy your runs.

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Jonty1953]

Just to add, in the last weeks of cto5k, I went running around a running track with a colleague who runs half marathons. I hated it! Too much pressure, even though he slowed down for me. I prefer it on my own and try to find beautiful places ti go on my own adventure

[nowster Graduate in reply to Jonty1953]

I can guarantee you that the other runners will have at some point felt self conscious about how they looked.

Many won't even notice you (from personal experience of those who don't acknowledge my greetings). Some will be thinking, "That was me once." Most are supportive of other runners.

I might be unusual, but I go out of my way to greet other people on my runs, especially other runners. If they've got headphones on I'll wave or give a thumbs up.

Once I started the continuous runs from Week 7 onwards, I varied my routes considerably. I started to explore my local area, including getting totally lost once.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

I agree with Roxdog Run somewhere beautiful. Appreciate your surroundings and don't think about running.

You may find distraction helpful, so that the last things y,ou think about are time and the physicality of running. If music doesn't do it, try podcasts or audiobooks. I used to give myself a running commentary on everything that I could see, hear, feel and smell as I ran, in full florid sentences.

It becomes much easier to have fun with your running when you are not pushing the limits week on week.

Relax and enjoy it.

[Jonty1953 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks. On a technical issue, how do you listen to music without cutting off the C25k commentary which I find helpful, oddly enough as she (Jo Wiley) does not say a great deal during the run...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Jonty1953]

If you play music alongside the C25k app, the music volume will dip when the trainer speaks.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

It is what you make it. Don't focus on pace. Do enjoy your surroundings. Jump in, or over puddles. Try different surfaces. Go to a new place, a park, a beauty spot, a beach. Find your version of fun. I frequently do "aeroplanes" in fields or run down grassy banks.

My motto is "smiles over miles" find your version of that.

[Workingathome Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I love that you do aeroplanes! Made me smile just thinking of you having fun

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Workingathome]

Life is was too short to not have fun when we can! 👍🏻😁

[PJRunner Graduate]

Hi jonty, I'm was in your camp too and can't say I enjoyed running until after I finished c25k. Right now you are asking more of your body each week, probably more than you've done for years, it was in my case. But slowly I started to feel fitter and healthier and thats what kept me going and still does, I want to feel good and running helps me do that so why would I stop? Good luck.

[Lucylasticplease Graduate]

Like you, I was conscious of ‘real runners’ who speed along making me look pathetic. But, now I’ve started to notice how many people are running like me - at a gentle pace that is manageable for them. Actually, there are far more of them and they are the ones who smile and acknowledge me - we are kindred spirits 😂. Slow and steady wins the race and means that you can breathe at the end! 😂

[Me_time Graduate]

I am in the same boat. Currently on W8, haven't found the joy that everyone talks about. Just read the replies to the post and I think I agree with PJRunner . Probably it is still learning stage, once it becomes less taxing on the body, the happiness stage will arrive 🤞I am not disliking it, so thats a positive

[LanciaA Graduate]

I am going through a similar process, so you care certainly not alone. I find sometimes I enjoy it more at particular times - perhaps when the sun is shining and I can go through open countryside or woodland. I enjoy it less when it is dark in the early morning and there is less visual stimulation. The days will get longer soon, so this should help.

Developing rhythm at a steady pace I can manage has also helped, as I do not have to concentrate on the physical process so much.

[B1GK9 Graduate]

HiBeen running for 18 months and fun is still not how I would describe running. But I do find joy in the places I go the time outside the satisfaction of completion and of course a stronger fitter me.

If I could get all that without running I would stop. Of course there is the lesson of life no rewards without some effort.

I have learned to slow down. Killing yourself every run certainly doesn’t up the joy index any and isn’t required to get all the stuff I mentioned.

That’s my take on it for what it is worth.

Keep going you will find your joy.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Hi Jonty, I’m not sure I’ve ever really thought of it as fun! I’m embarrassed about how slow I am (and I do mean seriously slow😂!) and the fact I probably don’t ’look like a runner’. . But you know what? Once I’ve dragged myself out there and am trotting along minding my own business and greeting other runners ( who nearly always reply !), I find it’s really not that bad and when I get home and remind myself that I’ve just been for a run - well, that’s when I can say “I enjoyed that”!! Think how far you’ve come and don’t put too much pressure on yourself - and who knows how you’ll be feeling when you get to the end!