Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I just want to air my frustrations this morning.
I’m just coming off a 2-week break and was excited to finally go for a run. I tried yesterday but it was too smoky, so I rowed indoors instead. Woke up this morning after a rough night with my son, but was ready to go. It’s even smokier today. I would risk it except I have asthma and yesterday I was struggling to breathe and I think I would just be worse today. I can row again, but I just don’t feel I get the same benefits from rowing as I do running.
How do you all manage a series of issues outside your control preventing you from getting out when you really, really want to? At this point, I’m afraid I’ll have to go back a week or two in the program to make up for lost time.
For context, I finished W7 two weeks ago and then got sick. After a few days, I felt better, so did W8R1. Then two days after, sickness hit me worse. I’ve run with colds before, but this one hit my asthma and I had a bunch of errands to prepare for my son’s second birthday party, so I figured I would conserve my energy for that. His party was on Saturday, I tried to run Sunday but it was too smoky, and now it’s Monday and I’m going into week three with no runs and I am so frustrated!
Thank you for listening to my grievances. I don’t interact much here, but you all got me back into running after a difficult pregnancy and c-section! Reading you all encouraging each other gave me the courage and strength to get back out.
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There have been an awful lot of forest fires in Canada this year affecting many people as much as a thousand miles or more from them with smoke, even some of that smoke has got as far as some places in Europe, if you can't run outside you could get a treadmill, however, I know not everyone likes them, as for other exercises, apart from your rowing you could try yoga, planks, situps or pushups, I just hope the smokehaze clears soon enableing you to get outside to run.
Year, half the country’s on fire, unfortunately. I’m in Alberta, and the smoke has been on and off bad since June. The last couple of weeks have been beautifully clear, but now it looks like the forecast for the next few days is quite smoky. Usually, it’s a day or two bad and then it starts to clear, but it’s looking like the smoke will stick around for a while this time.
I’ve actually been looking at treadmills, but we don’t really have the space or money for one. My town does have an indoor running track, but it doesn’t open until 9, and by then, the day is well underway. I’ve been doing Pilates and strength training as well as rowing, but it just doesn’t feel the same, ya know? I’ve been getting up at 6 am so I could be back from my run before my family is awake—it’s really nice to get it out of the way first. But I can maybe try adjusting my schedule somewhere so I can make it to the track! Outdoor running is my preference though. Before anyone else is out is the ideal time to go.
The important thing is to accept that there will be stuff happening that is beyond your control, and that it's not your fault when it happens. Illnesses, bad weather, family crises, etc.
Are there any local gyms you could get a trial membership with, just to use their treadmills? (Not that I'm keen on treadmills myself, but needs must...)
For sure! I used to struggle with beating myself us for missing runs, but I’ve gotten better at it. I just let the frustration finally get to me now. My town does have an indoor track that’s quite cheap to access, but the operating hours don’t fit great into my day. It doesn’t open until 9 and I’m usually at work by then. In the winter, it opens early, so I’m planning on frequenting it as it gets colder, but I may need to try to fit a visit into my day now! Maybe I’ll test it tomorrow and see how it works out.
🍏Welcome to the forum. My son lives in Calgary & have friends up in Kelowna who had to evacuate. I definitely wouldn’t advise running in the smoke with Asthma. Hopefully you can get to a gym and use a treadmill till the smoke clears. Otherwise keep on with the strength and flex exercises & pick up the outdoor running when it’s safe again. Brilliant to get to week 7 and you will easily do it again. You will have to start further back but you will be so pleased to be out in the fresh air & running you won’t mind at all. Running setbacks are disappointing but at the end of the day one has to accept what is happening & and plan around it! Well done for writing in! Hopefully that got rid of some of the frustration! We look forward to hearing in due course how you get on at the gym or back outside.
Thanks, Annie! This community is so supportive and inclusive, I love it. I’m actually in the Calgary area myself. It’s been a tough summer for smoke. I hope your son’s friends were able to go home. The videos of the fires were very scary.
I am sure that smoke from those forest fires got as far as Scotland, however, the smoke was at 30,000 feet so didn't harm anyone on the ground, the sky that evening looked very red, very unusual cloud effects, I think it was smoke, not clouds from the forest fires in Canada being blown eastwards on strong upper westerly winds.
Hey there. I’ve only just joined this group, having been doing C25K for 5 weeks. I hear your frustration and truly emphasise with you. It can be hard enough motivating ourselves to run at the best of times (especially if like me this is the first attempt at running for exercise since childhood), so it is extremely frustrating when your motivation is high but outside circumstances are putting obstacles in your way.
If you’re not feeling the benefits/enjoying rowing, how about giving a HIIT routine a go? You can do it in your own home with the windows closed to keep smoke at bay plus you don’t need any equipment. It doesn’t matter which exercises you choose to use (you could even do a rowing HIIT routine if you didn’t fancy doing it with the usual body weight type exercises).
I tried a rowing HIIT routine today, and holy! It was so good! Thank you for suggesting it! I’m exhausted and it feels like it actually worked and in less time than I usually spend rowing. I usually come away tired and sweaty, but I just go until I’m bored. This time, I wasn’t bored!
It's such a nice community for supporting everyone and I hope you are finding a way to get through this difficult time and the tips are so great and helping you. I am a beginner and love the support.
My daughter jogged 16k backwards and forwards across her bedsit during strict lock down in Italy. Nothing like a run outside, but it might ease a little of the frustration. Japanese slow jogging shows clips of people slow jogging around offices and homes, so you could maybe do that for "maintenance" until you can get outside again.
wow! Kudos to your daughter! Our restrictions weren’t that strict, so I was able to keep running outside. But I’ve had my fair share of setbacks over the years.
When I first started running, I jogged inside because I was too scared/self-conscious to be out in front of people. But I felt it was hard on my feet and shins. Maybe I should look up how to actually do it and try it again though! It’s not a bad idea. Thanks!
A search for Japanese slow jogging on this forum brings up a good few links, including this one youtu.be/9L2b2khySLE?si=I0g... Hopefully, you will be able to get outside again soon.
My oldest daughter is also in Calgary and Alberta just never seems to stop with the smoke! Hoping this fall will see brighter days! I just wanted to send my support as well and echo all the wonderful suggestions. If you are well, my friend suggested something that has stuck with me. She said just Move. Whatever that looks like for you. Try and Move 30-45 min a day. I shoot for 3 x week. As a mom of younger ones at also home I try and stick to that. 3x a week is attainable for me since I have Sunday - Tuesday to day 1, Tuesday- Thursday to do day 2 and Thursday - sat to day 3. Sometimes it is a game to try and get day 1 and day 2 in earliest I can in the week, then if stuff happens later in the week, I have a buffer. All the best and hopefully you can have some clear skies soon for some happy running!
Thank you, Luvly! That’s very good advice. Fortunately, the smoke started to lift last night! The air was fresh and light and beautiful. Hopefully the smoke stays away, at least for a little while!
I just wanted to send you some support. I’m glad you’re safe. I hope you’re able to run outside soon! It is frustrating when the weather conditions cause problems.
I live in Montreal. The smoke from fires here also prevented us from running outside earlier in the summer. There are also icy conditions in the winter. We have to adapt and do the best we can to maintain our cardio conditioning.
The suggestions mentioned are good - hiit, treadmill, indoor track. There are also stationary bikes and ellipticals.
Hopefully, you’ll find a solution and /or the air quality will get better soon.
Hang in there. Many of us have had starts snd stops on our C25k journey. 🙂
Thank you, Lavender! Oh yeah, Montreal gets so icy, hey. We have cold, slushy winters, and lots of black ice too. Winter brings its own, special challenges.
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I’m so frustrated & deflated 
Rubbish day, frustrating run
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