Is that a thing? I remember that from university: When the semester is over, I rest - and then I struggle with motivation... Now, this morning I noticed something similar in me... I just graduated last week - and this week I've already run twice. And then, this morning I moved my third run to later in the morning rather than first thing - because I just couldn't get motivated. It's "just a consolidation run" not a special new achievement to be reached...
As I was eating breakfast I remembered a few things folks have written here: Change the route, change the music (I might've even suggested that 😉 helped me in the past...), sign up for a Park Run.
So! 😎
I will go out in shortly to finally run the 5K route I mapped out a couple weeks ago to run however much I can cover in 30 minutes using the playlist I put together.
Then I'll sign up for a park run for next Saturday (since I've already missed today's). (Via parkrun.com/ )
This time of year is challenging for me anyways since I crave (sun)light and warmth - and both are disappearing fast... (Yes, it's at least a touch of seasonal affective disorder...), so I might just move my morning runs to midday anyways to get some more light even though I really enjoy running first thing. Except in the dark.
It seems that for me, right now, the most important thing might be accountability to get me over this hump, hence this detailed post.
Any other suggestions? 🙏
Written by
ChannelRunner2
Graduate
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It’s definitely a thing. There’s a few things I try:
- Keeping a running streak (which for me is 3 days per week for as many weeks as possible). That has got me out of the door at 10pm so I don’t break the streak
- Not having more than two rest days in a row
- Having a purpose for every run (stolen from Coach Bennett at Nike Run Club). That doesn’t have to be a running purpose. It can be a destress run, a thinking run, a scenery run, a reminiscence run as well as a speed run or a hill run or an easy run or a long run
- Celebrate success. You’re doing brilliantly, you’re still going, you’re still motivated because you’re working on goals. And this is your third run this week. Go you!
Thanks, Vespina ! These are great suggestions! I think especially the running streak thing will "get me" as I am a stickler for those kind of things... So, I am off to get my third run in now - to not break my (tiny) streak and avoid adding a third rest day!
Some great suggestions! I'm wondering about that at the moment - due to do my first post graduation run tomorrow. I try to set a low minimum. For me it's getting out for three 20 min brisk walks a week minimum, no pressure. Then if I happen to do a 40 min walk with 10-30 mins of running in it, it's a winwin. I suppose the trick is to have lots of positive options, so you can't 'fail'.
Yes! I was thinking after my run today (yea, I did it 🥳) that I might need to do some reframing (again) - something other than a Work.Out.I.Have.To.Do 🤣 And you just gave me the perfect idea: I get to run for 30 minutes!!! Something I couldn't do two months ago!!!
Yes it can be a thing. I’m much the same as you graduated last week and struggled to get out yesterday until later - early morning just didn’t have the mojo. However, I came across NIKE running App and followed a recovery run of 30 mins coached which talked all about success and how we measure it - I found it hugely inspiring and took any pressure I was giving myself away. I think it can be about celebrating the small wins like actuality getting out at all some days! Consistency is a massive win however the run feels.
Yes! I am actually following that plan, well, at least the running part of it. Thank you so much for putting it together and sharing it, CBDB ! I've also realized that a simple change in how I track my workouts is helping: Number the consolidation runs! So, today's was number 3 🥳
Even if one is not planning to train up to 10k for a time yet, as that forum focussed rather on how to keep going (rather than how to finish C25k), it helped to be part of both forums.
I also had the slump after graduating, no matter how hard I tried I never hit 30 minutes again.
So today I have tried this Jeffing thing I had read so much about and although it felt weird, particularly as you don’t run continuously as in C25K, I did manage to keep moving for 35 minutes.
I am going to try it a few more times and see if it works better for me.
Yea, I think the most important thing is movement! Right now, I actually enjoy running the most - and I spent years speed walking. And there are runners who swear by walking breaks in runs...
I felt the same immediately after C25k. Buying a running watch; the cheapest available with its own GPS, was a game changer, Being able to see how fast I was running as I ran along, distance covered and time elapsed allowed me to experiment with different paces and different distances covered. Out of that came the classic pattern of one shorter quicker run, one 5k and one longer run, the latter increasing week on week, which took me from 5k to HM. The data transferred to my mobile phone was also fascinating; stride length, total ascent, average heart rate etc… you can see yourself getting fitter and adjust technique. I may just be a sad old bloke who likes stats, but checking through this stuff with a coffee post run really helps me to identify things which need to be changed and monitor progress. Same as same as is the enemy here, for me at any rate.
Thanks, Beachcomber66 ! I've been too cheap to buy a running watch so far - and might change that if my motivation slump continues... you should see the spreadsheet I use to keep track of my workouts 🤣
EDIT: I just found out that my health insurance subsidizes the purchase of fitness trackers 🤔
Create little goals (run one run a bit faster or a bit longer or hillier) that could take multiple runs to achieve.
Count animals or wildflowers en route, count steps if needs be!
Award yourself for doing the no of runs per week that you want, even if its just a sticker, have some way to see your progress. Weekly goals in Strava do this for me.
Think about doing one run a week or fortnight with a friend or a group.
Coming into winter is the hardest, if you can get through it, you'll have the habit truly ingrained and it will be easier. 👍🏻
I've decided to try running after work starting tomorrow, which, for me, means around noon - to take advantage of the light. Hopefully, this'll make it easier to get through the winter.
I have always struggled with winter but since running it’s got easier. I do go out in the dark in a morning (or the day would derail me) and I genuinely think it helped me or I may not go out into fresh air at all.
Thanks for posting ChannelRunner2 . I nearly fell into that slump but I am glad i did my 1st 30 min post graduation run. I think for me it will be harder to run during the week since I have done most of runs after work and with winter setting looming. I have to find a way to keep running.
I am fortunate that I can run around noon for some sunshine (most days 😉 so far at least...). It did help me on Monday to tell myself as I was getting up "today I can run again!" Well, and maybe also not wanting to let all the people down who gave me (us!) such great ideas in the responses here... 🤣
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Overcoming post-Graduation blues
Post graduate decision made
Post graduation- week 1
The obligatory graduation post 
Post graduate blues...
