Hi. This is my 3rd time doing c25k. First time is just under 3 yrs ago when my 2nd boy was coming up to 3months old. It was also my most successful attempt at running, ultimately continuing to 10k and running for over a year. I felt fabulous. Although reasonably healthy anyway, it made me make even more sensible eating choices and decisions. I unfortunately then had a string of injuries that meant I didn't run for the beat part of a year. I started c25k for a second time towards the end of last summer and got to wk 8 run 2 when life just got in the way. I have now restarted again and am about to go out to do wk3 run 1.
I desperately want that positive healthy frame of mind again. I want to be bouncing full of energy. I've been sporty all my life but at the moment I feel it slipping away and I feel a bit lost. I've always had this desire to do a triathlon, not for anything but personal satisfaction. I want to run a half marathon (no desire to do a full marathon). I want to walk so many of this countries fabulous long distance paths. But at the moment I just feel stuck.
If you've read this far.... apologies... I just needed to get some of that off my chest. Right, I'm off to do my warm up and then out to do week 3 run 1
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Mum22boys
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This is as good a place as any to rant about such things.
Pretty much anyone who can do 10km can work up to a HM. Full marathons are a totally different beast and need structured training and planning.
Theoretically I could do a Triathlon. I can swim (though I'm not able to swim more than a length at a time, and haven't done it for a few years). I can cycle, though it's been thirty years since I did it regularly. The running bit wouldn't be a problem. Would I do one? Probably not. (I don't even have a bike any more.) Trisuits are also expensive and extremely fragile.
The usual problem with doing activities is other things demanding our time and attention.
Hi, thanks for your reply π I don't know whether I will do one, I guess it's something that's in the back of my mind though but seems very unattainable at the moment.... we shall see...
Hi Mum 2 2 boysπββοΈI don't see anything negative here. You are still here, and getting back into your running.
Life can get in the way, and injuries cause setbacks, but this running program works and you will be able to build back up and meet your personal goals.
You being fit and happy will be of benefit to your busy family duties and never underestimate what a great job you are doing there.
I applaud your resolve and yes, we are all here cheering you on as you journey through the c25k program.
Thank you Bluebirdrunner π the support here is amazing. The last time I really checked in here you were on your comeback, hope all is still going well xx
I have a lovely 14 month grandson taking priority π nice to be able to offer support for my daughter. Mum's work very hard indeed. ππππxxx
I have run 5k, and am presently using the Nike Run Club app with Coach Bennet on short build up runs. Having fun but not going out regularly. The daily YWA is easier to fit in.π
Oh that mojo sometimes plays hard to get! Hope you caught it!!!
And weβll be here cheering you on!
ππππππππππ
So well done for getting out there.
Some thing that helped me keep my mojo are the following. They might not work for everyone but they certainly helped me:
- follow an exciting plan, and if repeating (like C25k) choose a different experience (e.g. for C25k journeyβs I consciously researched different ones and chose ZR healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... )
- trust some other popular plans, NRC is so popular for a reason, I think. I really love the audio-guided runs.
- keep a fitness diary. I love looking back. One often forgets what progress one has made.
- keep posting here. It really helps to put your goals and your challenges in words. (So well done for your post! You hopefully felt better afterwards! π₯°ππͺππ½)
- and what does help me is tech. I love a good running or workout app. Wether a tracker, a planner, a timer, a stretch or workout app.
- and a recent thing I realised is that I donβt like targets but do like goals. With targets you hit and miss them, and there is the danger that you beat yourself up for having missed the target. With goals, you aim for them. You aspire towards them. And when youβve tried but failed to reach them, than you know youβve tried and that alone made you that little bit of a fitter, better person.
So all thatβs left is that they just need to develop a banish-your-mojo app!
Wishing you loads of mojo!
And so weβll done for getting out there! Big, huge β
Goals not targets - I like that, a very helpful way of looking at things. When I did c25k, I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep pushing through to finish despite an injury, as it had already taken me far longer than 9 weeks. But it clearly wasn't a clever thing to do, and I ended up paying for it later. Now, I'm much more relaxed about things and enjoy the achievements as and when they come rather than putting a time pressure on myself.
Thanks CBDB so much advice here π I think I'll stick with c25k for now.. I know it works so that gives me confidence. I am a bit of a one for a plan and a diary so will definitely look at those ideas. I dabbled a bit with NRC in the past but think I need to look at this a bit more. Oh and thanks again for the yoga suggestions to take the pressure off my shoulder, I did one last night after my run π
So good to see your post here. A huge well done for all you have achieved so far. I know what you have had to contend with over the last year or so
Good that you are running again and difficult to think how to kick that feeling of uncertainty into touch and move forward towards the goal.
Maybe, a starting point, would be to try not to over think things at this moment. You still have much going on in your life right now
So... just run.
Finish this programme and just take each run for what it is, when you are able.
Get to the Re graduation podium, ( no badge but a lot of cheering), and then take stock.
Enjoy these runs as , time for you, but not to think what you want from the future, but for the purpose of now, being where you are, doing what you are doing and simply running.
Now,
When you have reached the Finish line, that will then become the Starting line. Time then to think, sensibly, prioritize and find a route that is going to take you to some of those longed for goals.
They are all their waiting...and you will hit that starting line running, towards the first one.
You are strong, determined and it is all withing you to achieve the goals.
The hardest bit right now is being patient.
Keep posting here, and know, we be with you, every step of the way towards that Starting line! x
Thanks Oldfloss as always, you have been my forum rock over the last year or so π
I think my grumbles last night weren't so much about what I may or may not be able to achieve in the future, just more I feel so far from anything right now. But, I will get there... I'm nothing else if not stubborn and determined!!
I really enjoyed my run and me time last night, although my next run may well be very early morning with the predicted heat coming our way!
I sometimes find it helpful to focus on what Iβve actually done, not how I feel. Whether youβre feeling positive or not, bouncy or not, energised or not, you have still shown up and done those runs. Your body made those steps. Youβll be fitter and stronger because of it. Your head will catch up! Youβre getting closer to your goal with every run.
Iβve found the commentary on some of the recovery runs on the Nike run club app really helpful in feeling positive.
Congratulations on starting again, I know how difficult it can be to not just make the decision but to put words into actions. But youβve already made a great start. Iβm a big fan of a pros and cons list or more specifically, what am I afraid might happen if vs what do I hope will happen if. Iβve found it really helpful to see my hopes and fears in writing to firstly get to the bottom of whatβs holding me back but also to give me a whole list of reasons to feel motivated π
Oh Mum22boys I want to give you a big hug - you've been around as long as I have and seem to have the struggles I have had. You have achieved so much, but being a Mum is hard. Not the obvious stuff I mean like lack of sleep, less time, more housework....but the extra brain power that looking after little people takes up - all those extra things to remember - draining without you knowing it. Now, we all know, you wouldn't swap them for the world, but recognising the brain space is a bit bogged down is good. Your goals are fantastic and I have absolutely no doubt you will achieve these - you are one of life's hard core, stick at it super women! BUT (yes course there was one coming!) go easy on yourself - keep the big longer term goals in mind, but build yourself a little step to get there, when you reach it, set the next one.....i.e. don't map out the whole journey at the beginning. That way the brain can deal with one little thing at a time, you can set a reaslistic goal for you at that point - somethimes this will be something like - get out for W4R1 on Tuesday, other times it could be I'm going to complete week 5 this week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. When you have a busy life little goals are what makes it achievable, allows you to adapt as you go without feeling like a failure, stops the overwhelming feeling that you'll never get there and gives you lots of little wins to celebrate - and who does like ticking off a goal achieved and doing a little happy dance? π€ͺ The most important this is that you got this, you'll get there, you'll feel yourself again and most important we got your back on here - all our poms are shaking right now cos we believe in YOU!
Thank you Sparkey5000 that was like a hug in a message π€ I'm definitely going to set some short term goals (just need to find some time to do it π€£)
I think you hit the nail on the head in terms of focusing too much at the big picture, I'm frustrated that I've let go the fitness, the super healthy eating etc and now I've got to start again.... but here goes!
Great to hear you sticking with it. Inspirational even more so than those who sail through. I read a good book the other day "Atomic Habits" this resonated with me when I read your post as in it the guy emphasises not focussing on targets or goals but work on trying to establish the habits you need in this case the habits of a runner. To do so he talks about some really sensible stuff in terms of making it as easy as possible to do the things you need to do, training, diet and so forth and well it made a lot of sense to me.
Wow, you managed c25k with a tiny baby! If you can do that you can do anything. Small children are all consuming, being a young mum is hard work. Your life isn't slipping away and your sportiness is just on hold.I hated running when I started but made a conscious effort to find things to enjoy about it when I was at about the same stage of c25k as you. I'd just look at my surroundings or even simply realise that things weren't hurting and I actually could run a bit further.
If you've already run 10k (that's further than I've managed... yet!) you'll know that your mind is at least as important as your body for reaching goals. Doing something like a triathlon is a series of steps and getting to 5k is one of them. Be kind to yourself, realise it's a journey, some bits are easier than others but if you carry on you can achieve anything !
Thank you so much for your kind positive words π. I have no idea whether I'll ever do a triathlon... but it would be nice to be fit enough to have the option... we shall see...
Welcome back Mum22boys, we have missed your posts but understand and sympathise with you regarding your injuries that you haven't posted anything recently and as you say 'life got in the way' I hope from now on you are injury-free and can complete C25K for the 3rd time, no need to apologise, good luck for your desire to compete in a triathlon and run a Half Marathon.
Congratulations for keeping going π. You're doing great! I didn't really stick at running until I found this forum and found it so helpful for motivation when I take a dip! I haven't run since my last half marathon because life got in way BUT I am doing the James Dunne 30 day strength challenge along with others on here for motivation and that's what's different about me now.... I am always doing what ever I can fit in at the time! JD is quick so I can do it. Soon I'll run again! Good luck to you too.
I'm convinced I replied to you... π€ good luck with the JD challenge, I did it once and found it really good, hope you see the benefits. How hard is some of that balancing!!
Hi Mum22b, so lovely to hear from you. Well done for starting again, please don't be hard on yourself. You can only do what you can do. The triathlon will wait - or not, don't even think about that right now. Just take your time and enjoy running as and when you can. Anything you can do is something to celebrate. π Here's to new beginningsπ·
I don't know whether I'll ever do a triathlon but I guess it just represents my frustration at losing the fitness I had and just generally the passing of time and the opportunities that get lost.
But I'm back, and looking forward to the next run πββοΈ π
Good luck and the fact you're getting out there again is the main thing! As a re-starter myself I know the cycles of demotivating and then excitement. You have great goals, but one step at a time! I think demotivating can set in when you feel you are so far away from achieving them! It will come - you are a busy mother and an inspiration!
My goals are super aspirational, possibly not achievable. I think I was venting my frustration at current fitness levels and the passing of time, and having to start again... but you'll know that frustration. Hope you're restarting is going well
That is brilliant you have started your running again, well done!
I think running, and any form of positivity around healthiness, fitness, and good eating takes up a lot of mental energy. What with life and a full time job, sometimes I feel as though I am literally hanging on by my fingertips when it comes to running! I understand what you mean about you slipping away too, it is upsetting, but you can get the old you back, I know it! Take each running day as it comes, check back here often, and celebrate the small things π. And letβs make a healthy eating pact. It is tough to eat properly sometimes, but not impossible. We can do it!
Best of luck with your next run, Iβm sure youβll find the old you again very soon! πΈπΈπΈ
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