Hello there. Does anyone else experience days when they love running and then days when they hate it?

[Resolute1]

I am a newbie (W3R3) to running and due to the dark evenings and the need to avoid pavement pot holes, I have been running on a treadmill . I have noticed that some days I absolutely love it and then others I hate it and I can't wait for it to be over. Same after a run too, sometimes I am buzzing and then others I just feel tired and like I want to go to bed 😂 Not sure if I need to eat better or sleep better etc and whether my enjoyment of a run is linked to energy levels. Has anyone else experienced such a rollercoaster of running love and hate?

[Yesletsgo Graduate]

Some days it's easy to get out there and run, I feel I could run forever, others it's a horrible struggle. I think it's something to do with being human.

I haven't run on a treadmill for years, the only thing that made it bearable for me was watching Jerry Springer on the TV in the gym (that ages me!). Since doing C25K nearly 3 years ago all my running has been outside and it's definitely more enjoyable. The days will soon be longer, that's for sure.

I generally feel best after the runs I run slower. There's a pace for me which feels absolutely effortless. The right pace for you will depend on factors including your gender, age, height, weight, general fitness, leg length and probably other stuff too. When we start running the common misconception is that it doesn't count unless you go fast. This is utterly wrong, there are as many ways to achieve 'success' in a run as there are runners.

Being properly hydrated is another really important factor. It's not so much about the water you drink just before a run as making sure you've had enough to drink the day before. Hint: if your wee is very pale, almost clear, you're drinking enough. Sorry if that's too much information.

Also, make sure you warm up properly. Walk for 5 minutes but before that do some dynamic stretches. These involve moving around (as opposed to static stretches where you hold the stretch for a while. These are best kept for cooling down).

The other thing that a lot of us find useful is music. Individual tastes vary. I get most of mine from the BBC Sounds app and during C25K listened to Sarah Cox. Lovely and lively and not too much talking. Now I'm doing longer runs I prefer drum and bass which my 22 year old son finds hilarious. Find what works for you.

Most important, make running your routine. That way the less good days won't put you off and prevent you from doing the fantastic days. I found the first three weeks of C25K the hardest, from now on it gets better and better

Good luck!

[Resolute1 Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Ahh thanks for the encouragement 🫶 I will certainly try those things even some drum and bass 😄

[Yesletsgo Graduate in reply to Resolute1]

Go on, you might surprise yourself

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

I agree, music for running is a very different beast in my view to music for pure pleasure!

[Resolute1 Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Nothing worse than a random slow song in a playlist right when you need to push for those final few minutes 😂🚀

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Resolute1]

True, although for most beginner runners I feel music is more likely to drive running too fast. (For those of us who used or use the podcasts of course, "You and Julie" chiefly has value for motivating completion of the session so you don't have to hear it again!)

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to Resolute1]

🤣

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏🤗 Excellent reply from Yesletsgo with some lovely ideas & good advice! Just to add you are not alone. I think most runners go through rough patches. Always bear in mind why you wanted to run in the first place.. We learn much about ourselves and our running every time we lace up.. good or bad, each run teaches us something. Try and keep a running journal.. Keep running and let us know how you get on!!

[Resolute1 Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks Annieapple you are so right. I am applying what I am learning through running into every aspect of my life at the moment. Progress doesn't come unless we push ourselves to do things that can sometimes be uncomfortable. Yes, there are physical benefits such as being less out of breath when walking up flights of stairs but I feel my mind has sharpened up too. Most importantly if I complete this 5K journey (something which initially I thought would be impossible) how many more impossibles can be achieved. 😀

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to Resolute1]

🍏🙂👍 and not if but when! With that mindset you will go all the way. In C25K we follow teeny weeny steps one at a time, over 9 weeks or more to reach our goal & so it will be afterwards too. That has spilled over into my life in general.. set bite size tasks to achieve the goal. Running gives us so many surprises and presents as we faithfully put on our trainers and have some ”me time” 🙂

[Yesletsgo Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Running teaches us a lot more than how to put one foot in front of the other, quickly.

[adnewg73 Graduate]

I know exactly how you feel. Over the Christmas period, I did all my running outside, as I could do it in the day. Now I'm back at work, it's dark, cold and miserable when I finish at 5pm and while I do love running, I often think "I haven't got time for this" as things need doing around the house, or dogs need walking etc. I push myself on and think I will feel better for running, than guilty for not running. At the moment, as it's dark after work, I run on a treadmill at home and once a week a parkrun outside.

When I first started the C25K back in July, I made myself a running playlist (yes, I did google which songs are good for a running playlist) and even when I'm on my treadmill, I still put my playlist on. So, as others have said, keep running and the days are getting longer, even if it doesn't seem like it. Just imagine how guilty you will feel if you don't run and that should encourage you to make the run and continue, I know it does with me. It will soon be light enough for us to go outside again, but I am hoping with me and you that the treadmill will keep us in good stead, so that when it comes to going outside again it will not feel hard work.

Good luck, and do let us know how you are getting on. This forum is brilliant for encouragement, advice and everything else in between. Whatever you have, aches or pains or self doubt etc, someone on here has had the same issues and will always give you what worked for them as advice !!👍😁😄

[Resolute1 Graduate in reply to adnewg73]

Thank you adnewg73 - 100%. At the moment I am huffing and puffing away secretly in the shed on the treadmill - But, just wait till all the neighbours see a new fitter me in the spring/summer running around the block. They will be saying "wow, never knew she was a runner" 😉 😂

[mrrun Graduate]

Of course. I never run inside so I’m always exposed to elements and that could be a pleasant and warm spring afternoon as well as a wretched cold winter evening when I’m doing long marathon training runs, hating life. Running is the extension of your life with good and bad days. Your eating, sleeping and hydration will have an effect when running. Try and run dehydrated, on an empty stomach after a restless night and see how that goes. Not well. The only way that one can carry on regardless is motivation. If you’re are motivated to achieve whatever your long term goals are, you will continue to run through ups and downs and feel positive in the long term. No motivation and the game is over.

[Resolute1 Graduate in reply to mrrun]

mrrun: "running is the extension of your life with good and bad days" I love this 🤍

[Week7 Graduate]

Running has its ups and downs but only by having those not so good runs do we get fitter for those "feeling fantastic " runs. I think you have already realised that!!! I really enjoy listening to podcasts, -usually comedies, when I run. The only downside is that I get the giggles which is a little embarrassing as I cackle my way around the town! But on a treadmill you can chuckle away with no witnesses! Enjoy your running- !!!

[Resolute1 Graduate in reply to Week7]

Thank you Week 7 - I can't wait until I get to a point where I can laugh and run at the same time too 😄

[Yesletsgo Graduate in reply to Resolute1]

If you can't run and laugh at the same time it means you're going too fast. Slow down, then you can laugh, sing, chat, anything you like really. Especially if you're on your own with a treadmill so don't have to worry about random dog walkers etc being judgmental 😂