CATCH-UP CORNER... MAY WEEK ONE...Slip off those running shoes and come on in !

[Oldfloss]

Good morning !

A brand new day in MAY and lots to look forward to, as the weather, hopefully, gets a tad warmer and a tad sunnier...

The Corner is open, the cushions are ready and the reviving beverages and some tasty snacks are waiting !

SO.... what am I rambling about today... well, I am rambling about running; of course you are, I hear you say.... this is a running forum!

Well yes, but, this morning I am thinking not specifically about our running body... but our running mind. !

Whether you realise it or not... and I am sure you do, our minds play a massive part in our running. Why we do it and how we do it. We chatted, a week or so ago, about those sneaky little running gremlins that get into our heads, but this is about a bit more.

The mindset needed for running... whether you are here with us as one of our amazing Newbies, someone, who other than at school has never run before, or whether you are a returner or repeater. What is or what should we try to get into our heads?

We hear and read about some of the most amazing elite runners who work so hard on their mind sets, in order to achieve the goals they set for themselves... but this is not just for them... this is for all of us.

Currently .my mindset has been all over the show!!

Up, down, for me, against me... and driving me quite loopy! So, as this new month began.. I made a promise to myself that I am going to work very hard on keeping, regardless of what life may throw at me, a mindset that is... POSITIVE!

This now begs the question... why bother? Well, quite simply, it can improve your confidence, your performance, and your enjoyment. What's not to like?

By exercising our mental strength, we may be able... in time, to stay positive, maintain motivation and generally create an all around improvement in our approach to our runs.

Now, the best bit? This does not involve lots of complicated, tricky and time taking strategies... There are some simple things, really simple!

A few ideas, just short descriptions here, , but if you use and work on the techniques, or some of them, in your own way, they may just work for you !

* Be your own best running friend: Literally, cheer yourself on. Encourage yourself and praise your self... you are awesome.

* Bite-size your run : C25K does that for you, but if you are beyond that, then break the run down, take it one section at a time.

* Find your own mantra : My daughter had a mantra when she was at University. “ I can and will succeed” . ( She did). Eliud Kipchoge wears a blue bracelet around his wrist, with the words, “ No human is limited”, inscribed. What is your mantra,,, you all know mine?

* Create a fabulous running video in your head : Image yourself, running, tall and proud and confident. Imagine the easy, light steps, the steady breathing and you , crossing that finish line, which is the end of your run , Crossing it, feeling successful, ready and eager for more.

* Change the negative thoughts to positive ones : Quite simply, turning a negative thought into a positive one... e.g. “I hope my foot doesn't hurt again today...becomes, my foot is going to be fine today”. It will take time to get this right, but with practice, it could just work. The pattern of your thoughts becomes a reality.

* Distract yourself : Do this in whatever way you like. I look around , I take in every single, sight sound, smell and sensation. You can count, sing in your head, make up daft rhymes, create a whole fantastic menu for a meal or make a shopping list in your head. Give the trees or bushes names, give silly names to the people you pass...( not aloud obviously). I know someone on the frum who named a bush in a park after me !

* BE KIND TO YOURSELF : This means, if it ain't happening...then it is not the end of the world...ease back, slow down, and if that is still proving to be a struggle, stop. The run is still there, and you turn the negative, I couldn't do this, into...I did really well in that run, and I know next time, I will start slower, breathe easier and I will finish it. The runs wait and you have to work on the thought that YOU will succeed.

Okay.... ramble over... I and all of us popping in for a chat, want to know your thoughts., please.

What kind of shape is your mind-set in ? Mine, as I said has been pretty out of shape for a while; but I am going to be working on the exercises which will make it stronger, and give it stamina,

If anyone feels as I do, what are you planning to work on?

So grab a cushion, get yourself a drink and a snack, sit down and share

Oldfloss

PS

In case there is anyone who does not know my mantra... ( is there anyone)? It is of course... SLOW and STEADY!

[ClairePC Graduate]

oldfloss, thank you for this. It’s what I need today. I’m back in a slump of depression and kniw that a routine will help me emerge , and so will going out to do that run. Visualising muse as held held high and speed irrelevant as I’m doing my best.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to ClairePC]

Hello and welcome ! I am so glad you popped in to day... It is so blinking hard,, sometimes to get out from the depths, when all the muddy thoughts and worries seem to pull you back! It sounds like a super start.... head held high and speed irrelevant.. !

Have a sit for while here, then gather yourself together and you do that run! You are doing your best ... and you know what, that is absolutely amazing!

We shall watch for that running post and please. pop back in here anytime you wish x

[backintime Graduate]

Morning OldFloss, I love that picture!

How are you?

My tricks change depending on whether I'm running inside or outside.

Inside, on the treadmill, it's the boredom that gets me, so I've learnt to trip over a memory and let it carry me along (as we call it in our family). We used to do it with the children when they were bored and had to wait patiently for something. A bit like daydreaming but only for memories. Often triggered by my music those memories can take me along for a few minutes each.

My other inside trick is maths - I'm a fifth of the way through, I'm a third of the way through, I'm half way through, etc. I know that once I get to half way that, barring injury, there is no way on this earth that I'm stopping The trick is to get myself to halfway.

Outside I use "just to that tree", or "just to that car" or "if you make it up this hill you know there's a nice flat bit" Daydreaming helps there, but I tend to find myself being more situationally aware and I can't get caught up only in my thoughts like I can when being on the treadmill in the security (and boredom) of my basement.

The only mantra I have is "I will not quit". When all else fails then, every 4 steps becomes I WILL NOT QUIT, one word on every foot fall, not exactly related to being positive, more to being stubborn. I'm not the best, or the strongest, or the fastest, but I got hit with a sackload of stubborn and it serves me well

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to backintime]

Hello and welcome in.!

I am feelong a lot, lot better than I have been feeling thank you. Back in my happy place now after a couple of weeks away! Looking forward to seme sea air and some mountain walks! Oh and some running of course

Gosh, the diea of , tripping over a memory and letting it carry you... that is a splendid one and one that I shall, If I may borrow !

Your other techniques I can identify with. also.... I am a bit of a counter sometimes, too, when I am out...a throw back to C25K and Laura days,... 1,2,3,4.

Great mantra too.. determination with a liberal helping of stubborness... working for you... clearly! Thank you for calling in today... x

[backintime Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

The idea of tripping over a memory was inspired by HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy (one of my favourite books) where they document how to learn to fly as getting distracted while falling and missing the ground. As I said, we used to use it with the children, but it applies so easily to running too, including those with unhelpful remarks.

extremelysmart.com/humor/ho...

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Good morning Floss, I don't need a cushion today but appreciate all the times I did and you kept one for me 😄Oh yes those gremlins, they snuggle right in sometimes, but I beat them with a stick or have been known to set the cat on them, but they are hiding under the bed at the moment so not bothering me.

My mantra? I can, so I will, and if I can't, I can come home again, I've rarely had to come home without some sort of run, slow and steady is what my running lives by. Xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Hello and welcome to you!Good to know that the gremlins have beat a retreat..they hate walking too...and you have been doing loads!

I am liking that mantra...a lot! It clearly works well too...because those unfinished runs are so few and far between. Thank-you for popping in today x

[Runawayfast Graduate]

Love reading your ramblings! So true about positive thoughts. Life is too short to waste it on negativity.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Runawayfast]

Absolutely.. turning things around to work for us, not against us x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just giving a shout out to some of our NEW or newish runners, in the hope that they may pop in and have a chat

This is a great place to come and share and let folk know how it is going No need for a long post, just a sit and a chat.

Lindypink Moosefacedgoose Menopausalrunner Betty305 Uris Core16 Dorcas3 First-time-runner MissBoris HanHan8 Han99m DazyWazy Zula2022 Darren7

[Moosefacedgoose Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

hey Oldfloss I’m still here, still plodding around the park and progressing with the runs. I’m going to tick off week 4 run 3 today. The 5 min runs have been hard - but not impossible! Having snuck a peek at week 5 run 1 there’s nothing in there I haven’t proven to myself I can do.

Im planning to treat myself to some running socks when I make it to week 6 run 1.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Moosefacedgoose]

This sounds to be an excellent plan.. these small treats can be a real booster! I feel that some gentle park plods, sound perfectly fine... I am pootling along nicely at the moment... no rush and just taking everything in. The runs are really to be enjoyed... why hurry?

Good to see you and do let me know how that run goes... I will save your snack until after the run? xxx

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to Moosefacedgoose]

Rewards are a great incentive 🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Calling a few more NEW RUNNERS...

Come on in and share...

Fresh Croissants this morning and some delicious blueberry and apple muffins!

You may find some folk have answers to your questions here

Spider226 Arty67_ Mmcv96 Love2snack Alibosslady73 Supergran62 ChrisFroome1 Louise_inz Molly108 Hey81

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

My nephew is training for the Comrades Marathon & so what better place for me to run & be inspired than on his farm where he trains. I am an early morning runner and my mantra is always, “ get the job done & enjoy doing it! “So a tick list runs through my mind beginning on rest day..

Early to bed, early to rise

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Running kit ready to roll into…

Run day…roll out of bed into kit..dynamic warm up, out the door … “get the job done & enjoy doing it! “

Lastly a little reward never goes amiss…on the farm an early morning fresh water swim.. here at home avo on sourdough with a steaming cup of coffee…

There is nothing to compete with the feel good factor after a run!

Farm Run

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Inspiration indeed and what an absolutely wonderful place to train...getting the job done... and... enjoying it, sounds just perfect to me... that is essential in my books... enjoyment!

Loving the tick list mantras too! Those treats too.. so well deserved... mine is scrambled egg with smoked salmon on thick home made bread!

It all sounds just great... and what beautiful photographs ! Thank you so much for popping in... !x

[BarbieW Graduate]

Hi sorry bit late this week. This morning I did W5 R2 although I had considered repeating R1 as I wasn’t too sure I could do those extra minutes. But I’m so glad I went for it as I feel great now. (But I do know what R3 has in store so I may take another extra days rest…)

I had promised myself some long needed new running shoes if I felt that after week 4 I was going to be able to carry on running. And so I am now the proud owner of some new blue shoes, so I know I have to continue now…..

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to BarbieW]

Hello... hope you have a comfy cushion there?

Good to see you and never too late... always a welcome here for you.

Really good that you completed that run this morning! Well done...and an extra rest day sounds okay to me... in fact a really good idea.

Run 3 is just fine... just take it gently and as relaxed and slowly as you like, You have seen other posts about this before and you know there is nothing to fear. You have done it before and it is waiting to be done again. It knows you.

Rest up. have another snack, and pop in later in the week, when the run is done x