Week 4 - motivation needed

[Irishgirlrunning23]

About to start week 4 but it is absolutely bucketing down out there. Not really feeling the motivation to get out and run.

Also had my first appointment with my rheumatologist. I have to have some further tests and scans and see her in 3 months. The other abnormal bloods I have she doesn't deal with and I have to go back and see my GP. She says at the moment, no clinical evidence of inflammation even though I'm walking around with sore hands and feet all the time, dry eyeballs and more. Honestly, the impatient person in me feels disappointed not to have come closer to an answer or diagnosis. But I know she is being cautious and thorough and does want to help me. So I'll do the tests and scans and see what happens.

I'm feeling a bit low right now between that and the rain and unmotivated to go and run. I feel like if I was more positive I could go to the gym and the sauna to avoid the rain but I'm just ☹️

Maybe I'll start today and maybe I won't. I'll have a rest and see how I feel.

[MissUnderstanding]

I often (almost always!!) find that if I can force myself out, I’m glad that I’ve done it and feel good afterwards. Sometimes I do a bit of online yoga at home instead and that feels nice. Running in the dry on a treadmill followed by a chilled out swim (or hot sauna!) is another option I really like.

But…it’s absolutely ok to decide you don’t want to run today. Totally fine and not something you need to beat yourself up over.

Hope you can get some answers soon-thinking if you ❤️

[Irishgirlrunning23 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks for the comment! I did actually go out. It helped me with being down in the dumps 🙂 I decided it was easier to just go out, the effort of getting ready to go to the gym and sauna lol!

Thank you - I'm the kind of person who needs to solve every mystery 🤣 which is not great as so much of life is ambiguous. So it's driving me a bit mad that I don't know what's happening to me. A good lesson in patience tho.

[MissUnderstanding in reply to Irishgirlrunning23]

That’s such a great update! ❤️

[Jools2020 Graduate]

I do force myself out if it’s raining. But not if it’s bucketing down! Sometimes when I’ve been caught out in the middle of a run by a downpour, I have to laugh! All my plans to avoid it! I study the forecast and look for breaks in the rain; I stand at the door and stick my hand out!! I tell myself skin is waterproof. But really - you have a lot going on and it’s not the end of the world to miss a day or two.

I hope that you will soon get some answers.

[Irishgirlrunning23 in reply to Jools2020]

I did actually go during a break in the rain! Yes skin is definitely waterproof, it was also absolutely freezing though so I did wait until it eased off. I really want to stick to this plan but totally agree with you it wouldn't have been the end of the world.

Thank you so much.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Irishgirlrunning23]

Well done! 😊 When I do run in the rain, I always feel so virtuous!

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏🤗 Here is a great big hug! It’s so hard when we want definitive answers to our health needs & they are not clearcut! There maybe a break in the heavy rain and you can get out, but if not that run will wait. When you can do the run and feel you have achieved something.. it helps one to feel a tad better about the other issues one is facing.. Let us know how you get on!

[Irishgirlrunning23 in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks so much for the hug! 🙂 I did catch a break in the rain and it did help me feel like I achieved something. And actually helped me to think about it some more. Its good to focus on things that are not that, I am single minded at times so anything distracting is good!! Thanks again

[adnewg73 Graduate]

It's definitely hard to get motivated when you are feeling down and the weather is rubbish too. I hope you can get your health issues sorted soon, that will at least put your mind at rest. I have a few health issues too, mainly IBS but I'm determined not to let it stop me doing anything. As for the running, I recently (last week) bought a cheap (about £200 on Amazon) treadmill and have used it once so far, but I will go on it again tonight. It certainly is a lot more enthusiasm to run, when I know I will be dry and warm indoors.

Good luck with your health and I know it's not for everyone, but do look into a treadmill. I was surprised at how relatively cheap they are, mine is a folding one too so I can tidy it away when the weather improves.

[Irishgirlrunning23 in reply to adnewg73]

Thanks so much! It does make it more difficult. I went out for a run tho and felt like it took my mind off it for a while. Sorry to hear about your health issues as well and hope you're doing ok!

Not a bad idea at all to look at a treadmill. That's cheaper than I thought - how do you find running on it? Could definitely help being dry and indoors for sure. Thanks again 😊

[adnewg73 Graduate in reply to Irishgirlrunning23]

It was a bit strange at first, with the running but I'm quite into it now on the treadmill. I'll still do a parkrun on a Saturday though. The first time I used the treadmill, I just manually played with the speed and was running quite hard at 6.5kph for about 20mins. Last night, I thought I would try one of the preset programmes (there are 12 I think). I think they go in stages, as in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced (which I guess is no 12). I tried the no 2 programme last night, which was 2kph (virtually standing still 😂), that went for about 5 mins, then it went up to 3kph, then back down to 2kph, then 3kph, then 4kph .... the last 8 mins were the best, as it got up to a steady 6kph. I'm guessing that programme is a beginner programme, but I'm going to try no 4 tomorrow and see what that does.

I'm really glad I got it and have no doubt it will pay for itself over the next few months. This is the one I got, from Amazon. It's quite bulky when it's folded, I did have it behind a chair in my lounge but have now put it in the spare room upstairs.

Gymax Treadmill

[MrBassmanjazz Graduate]

Go for it. Tipping it down here, too. (North). I've not run for over a week. Life got in the way.

[Irishgirlrunning23 in reply to MrBassmanjazz]

I did go out during a break in the rain. It was good, I was glad to have got out. Life goes get in the way sometimes, good luck with your running!