Some advice please

[Lola-bear]

Hello, I am asking for some help with getting back to running consistently.

I have been running for over 2 years and have never had an issue, always loved to run however I have recently been to Australia for 3 weeks and only managed 2 runs. Upon my return 4 weeks ago I am really struggling to get back into it. I have gone back to week 6 run 1 to try and help but I feel my motivation needs a boost and it all seems like hard work.

Am I doing the right thing going back to week 6 or should I go back further, I am 63 if that makes any difference 😊

Any help/tips would be marvellous thank you.

[nowster Graduate]

You did the first run from week 6? (5 mins, 8 mins, 5 mins)

How did it go?

So it's been about two months since you last ran regularly? I suspect you haven't lost that much, except perhaps confidence in yourself.

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to nowster]

Yes I did just that, it’s been 2 years since I’ve done that sort of interval running and I found it ok but I think I felt disappointed in myself and I think you are right about the confidence.

[nowster Graduate in reply to Lola-bear]

I've had a drop in my own activities over about two months too.

I was still getting in about two runs a week, but had previously been doing five or six times a week.

I have lost some fitness (as my watch keeps reminding me), but that might be due to me taking most of my recent runs at an easier pace than usual.

I suspect the best thing to do is to do what is comfortable to start with, then gradually extend outside that comfort zone, gently challenging your capabilities.

If an intervals run from week 6 worked, great. See what happens when you do the next one (10+10) in the series. Give yourself permission in advance to stop if you become uncomfortable.

If you want a confidence boost, maybe go back and do a run from Week 3, which I'm sure you'll find easy.

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to nowster]

It’s hard this time of year too to fit a run in around the daylight hours when working,

Oh that’s a good idea maybe if I find that easy it will give me a boost, I never thought about doing that so thank you.

You must be super fit doing 5-6 runs a week that’s impressive, if I can get back to 3 x 30 minutes a week I’ll be happy.

Thank you so much for replying 😊

[nowster Graduate in reply to Lola-bear]

I agree it's hard at this time of the year. Back in the summer I could run after work. This last couple of weeks, it's either been before work or at lunchtime. It helps that I work from home most of the time.

I can (and have) run after dark, but it tends to restrict me to the roads with street lights.

There's a happy medium to be found. It's definitely possible to do too much. I ran every single day from December 31st to March 30th this year. I don't recommend doing it: the body has no "down" time to fix minor injuries, and longer runs were developing a niggle in my left hamstring. Then I had a trip and fall on the last day of March which halted things until the deep cuts on my knee healed.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You have had some advice from Nowster...I agree, that maybe heading back to an earlier run would be helpful...just head out and see how it all feels , then move forward again and build back up..

By moving up again through the runs, gives you the progression with no pressure... gently does it.

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you I am going to try that and hopefully build up my confidence. I have always felt so happy with my progress until now but I guess we all go through hard times, so am determined to push through this.

Thank you for the advice I knew you would all help me to get back on track.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Lola-bear]

Many of us repeating bits or all of C25K again for various reasons. Me included. Back up to Week 8.The runs are like familiar friends. Use them to support your return...and do keep posting too x

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you I will do and thank you for the advice I feel cocooned with my people even if I can’t see you ❤️

[Yesletsgo Graduate]

Thanks to travelling a lot over the summer I've run far less than the three times a week that I'd manage in an ideal world. Specifically 30 runs from April to September (inclusive) and 10 in October. I almost convinced myself that I'd never get back to anything like my previous levels.

It sounds like your confidence has somehow diminished so, as has already been suggested, take a step back to the easy runs. I'd also suggest the Nike Run Club Mindfulness runs, they remind you about everything that makes running a joy (so no pressure and no numbers/stats to make you feel inadequate).

For me it was a matter of getting back into the routine of being a runner. So far this month I'm up to 6 runs and as long as it isn't raining I'm out there every other day. I'm lucky to be semi retired so I can run during daylight but if you're working maybe join a gym and use the treadmill? Just remember, you are a runner, you just haven't run much recently

Good luck!

PS I'm a 65 year old woman and spent far too much of my life not running so that's the best incentive to keep at it now 😂

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thank you yesletsgo seems we all struggle from time to time. I so wished I had run when I was younger, I will try the mindfulness app I love an app to listen to and anything that helps. I do have a gym where I work which could also help get me back to where I was but none of my friends or family run so it is sometimes hard to get out there.

Thank you so much for your reply.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏🤗🍁Lovely to heave you back!! Welcome! Lots of wonderful advice already given but just to add many of us on the forum had to start from scratch due to life happening so you are not alone!! It’s an awesome program that just always there for us as are we to support you!

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Aww thank you so much for that, I was feeling so alone and thought I may give up but I feel so differently now. You are all so giving and wise with your adviceI can’t tell you how much it means to me as a lone runner but I will get back there.

Thank you 🥰

[TheGrouse7]

Do the runs feel harder to complete? If not it sounds like it's only about motivation, and if so here's some motivation: you're doing great for being able to complete the runs! Just think about doing progressing next week and more the week after, and that should give you confidence. Well it did with me anyway, and it's still doing so 🙂

[Lola-bear Graduate]

hi no I don’t think they are harder it’s the feeling of going backwards that’s hard after 2 years of running. Think I’m going through a crisis of confidence but after all the advice here tonight I do feel refreshed so thank you

[TheGrouse7 in reply to Lola-bear]

No problem at all, glad you're refreshed! You're going forward again now, that's the main thing.

[SAF1999 Graduate]

Hi Lola-bear.

For many of us including me (I am 65) it is now ‘hibernation’ time of year. I find that motivation for running diminishes .

My runs have decreased from 3 to 2 per week at most due to lack of light, wetter conditions.

Parkrun times inevitably increase as a result

I look on this winter period as one in which I need to keep running as a means to keep fitness at a base level.

Once the daylight returns I will build back up to full fitness.

It is not something I can overcome nor do I wish to.

I just accept it until conditions improve.

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to SAF1999]

Thank you I’m glad it’s not just me, I was feeling a bit of a failure but you kind people have helped enormously I am so glad I reached out.

[Olliebear125]

Hi Lola,I had to have a few breaks on my c25k journey Always found week 5 run 1 was a good one to get back in even repeat a few times until your feeling good...🤞

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Olliebear125]

Thank you I think I will go back to repeat a lot of the runs to get back to my previous fitness. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it 🤔

[ChannelRunner2 Graduate]

Good for you for restarting your running, Lola-bear ! As others pointed out, you can celebrate that rather than beating yourself up over "going back." I know that's far easier to type than do, so one trick I used for myself is to redefine it. I was going back so that I could "really do" heart rate training...

The other thing I remember reading on this forum somewhere is about motivation: It's really fickle! Some days, I run because it's on my calendar. Other days I run because it's a running day. I don't wait for being motivated... Like nowster , I am lucky that I can run over lunch, which makes it easier. I also try to do that because I can get some vitamin D...

It sounds like the exchange here has encouraged you, Lola-bear , so maybe report back on your next run? (Building some accountability in here 😉 That, too, helps me sometimes: When I have to report that I did something...)

Happy running!

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Thank you so much ChanelRunner2, that’s a really good tip to redefine the message I give myself. I will report back on my next run I am feeling so much lighter after all the encouragement😊 and actually for the first time looking forward to my next run.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Hi Lola-bear …sounds like your confidence in yourself has waned a little? Repeating c25k is a great way to get back into your running…not necessarily right from the start but picking runs out here and there helps massively…I’m repeating c25k at the moment, my confidence had gone out of the window..so I started from scratch and on Friday I ran w5r3…with ease…I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with yourself

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Mummycav]

Thank you Mummycav, you gave me my graduation badge way back. It seems like a lot of us experience these confidence dips, running can be a very up and down affair 🤣

Thank you so much for your words it is very inspiring, good luck to you too 😊

[Sweatylady Graduate]

Hi I did the c25k 5 years ago and since then have had a few times when it’s harder to get out (injury, lack of time, rubbish weather or just that “umph” feeling!)

Every time that happens I just put on my kit and tell myself even if I just do 10 minutes it’s so much better than when I could do no minutes!

you are amazing to run at all and you will regain your confidence just cut yourself some slack and feel good about yourself when you do get out remember it’s just for you and we don’t have to set ourselves a lot of arbitrary goals to beat ourselves up with!

[Lola-bear Graduate in reply to Sweatylady]

Thank you Sweatylady for a great response, I do tend to get het up on goals and blame myself for what I haven’t done rather than celebrate what I have so thank you for the reminder.

I make such hard work out of everything 🤣🤣

Have a great day