C25K week 6 - encouragement needed

[NettieNoo]

Hi all - LONG story, but I started C25K 4 years ago, got quite good at it and it really helped me, both physically and mentally. Was running up to 11k ... then the world exploded. The pandemic happened and running helped me for a while, but eventually fizzled out - then I got Covid, hurt my back, had a cataract op and just as I was intending to start again my dad died. I've started from the beginning again this year having done nothing (except drink too much gin) for a whole year.

I'm currently up to week 6, and run 3 is due tonight (RUNNING 25 MINUTES!!!) and I'm really nervous. I'm 58, have arthritis in my neck and my big toes, have a lumbar scoliosis and all sorts of other things, leading to me feeling like I've got imposter syndrome. I don't even know that what I do can be called running, I'm embarassed to call it that. The only way I've got this far this time round is by going incredibly slowly. I did the 20 minutes last week, but I honestly don't know how and 25 minutes just seems like a step too far. I know I did it (and much more) once before, but I'm feeling old, knackered, negative and defeated.

Someone please give me a boot up the bum?

[Roxdog Graduate]

Oh dear - a touch of the glooms! I'm sorry you've had a tough time of it. Of course, you know the programme works and you've already done the week 5 20 mins, so try not to think about it too much.Unless you've been advised not to run by a doctor then I'm sure running will be good for you. Having suffered myself with imposter syndrome many times, and as someone who is clawing my way back to longer runs, I do understand completely where you're coming from.

Good luck - get those shoes on and just run!

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Good advice. Sitting around anticipating it is the worst bit, once I've got my leggings and my shoes on I look forward to it in a masochistic sort of way 😅

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

Take the pressure off yourself. Treat it like a practice run. All you need to do is show up in your kit, do the warm up walk and start. See how far you get. Take it one step at a time.

If you can do 20 minutes, you can absolutely do 25 minutes-I totally believe in you. I’m not kicking you in the butt but I am kicking those gremlins. Slow running is still running. Running slowly is good for your development as a runner. You might feel old and knackered but the evidence shows you’re not! You’re completing the program as it’s set out so there’s no reason to think you can’t do this run. It’s just what’s next and you’re ready for it.

Really good luck to you 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you. Part (all?) of my problem is putting pressure on myself and never being satisfied 😁 I'll give it a go and just see what happens - if I do 25 mins, however slowly, I will try to be pleased and recognise it for what it is i.e. 25 mins running I couldn't do 6 weeks ago.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to NettieNoo]

If you’ve ever used the Nike Run Club app, you’ll have heard Coach B talk about measuring success in as many ways as you can. Starting a run you’re nervous about is a success. Keeping going when you’re doubting yourself is a success. Finishing when you didn’t think you could is a massive success. None of those things are related to speed. Speed runs can be great fun, and I absolutely recommend anyone at the right time in their running journey tries them out. Couch to 5k is about getting you (back) into running and slow and steady is the right pace for that. You don’t need to add extra success criteria to the programme-it’s about time on your feet, not how fast you’re running.

You’ve already had so much success to get to this point. Maybe you need to look back and recognise all the victories you’ve had! This run is going to be another win. ❤️

[Frenc Graduate]

You got this NettieNoo those 25 minutes will fly by! And let us know how you get on 😁😁😁.

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to Frenc]

Will do!

[Cmoi Graduate]

You can do this  NettieNoo ! I'm another one with imposter syndrome. I led a charmed life for my first 18 months of running, and ever since seem to have spent most of my time alternating between fall-related injuries, ice and heatwaves. That's set my running back quite some way, so I can empathise.

Try not to worry about speed - you're running for longer, and distance runners don't run at the same pace as sprinters!

As for getting your head round things, even now I still break down longer runs mentally into do-able sections, ideally ever-decreasing. So for 25 minutes you could try 13 + 7 + 4 + 1. The numbers don't matter as long as they add up - the point is that you're counting down to success, not striving to push past a barrier.

Good luck!

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you. Doesn't matter if I worry about speed anyway, I just CAN'T go any faster!

[Sidmouth203 Graduate]

Everyone feels like that at some point and doubts themselves just put on some favourite music and go for it you've done it before u can do it again👍🏃‍♀️

[NorwegianWood Graduate]

I love the wisdom that it's not about speed, but it's about distance over the longterm . Distance will give strength and stamina and in the early weeks it's always challenging.

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate]

I’m looking forward to hearing how you get on. It sounds very much as if you’ve nailed the slow running ethos.

The programme does really work-and I think that is partly to blame in the impostor syndrome feeling as I had (have ) it too. There is that sense of I can only do this because [Jo] has talked me through it but I couldn’t possibly do it alone, therefore I’m not a runner. Obviously balderdash as it’s you that is making the decision and all the effort.

You are running, it’s benefitting your physical and mental health. Good for you.

Don’t forget to do the warm up and the post run stretches. Stupidly I’ve given myself shin splints despite very slow gentle running-that has derailed progress but I will be back!!

[SkiMonday Graduate]

I still feel daunted some times before the start of a run. Something that helps me is to make sure that I start off at a nice easy pace.

I see from your next post that you completed W6R3 so good on you for that!