CATCH-Up-CORNER...WEEK 3... Come on in!

[Oldfloss]

Hello everyone! Here I am and I hope, despite the lateness of this post... again, that some of you will join me !

The Corner is warmer than of late, although the rain is here again; the snacks are ready, the drinks are here... lemon drizzle cake, fresh pastries and a super-power blueberry smoothie!

First off I would like to pin a link here, for any of our NEW runners visiting today...and maybe some repeaters or recent IC occupants may want to take a peek.

I do know some folk have not read, much of the incredible information !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Do please check this out, essential reading yes, but there is a wealth of useful information on here.

Okay. I am, without apology going to use a post from two years ago.

I have been thinking. Always worrying, as my husband will tell you.. I have read a lot of your posts this week and am in awe, as ever, of the way you are moving through C25K, either for the first time, or as a repeat.

But as ever, also, we have quite a few, worried posts. This never changes.

Worry is a normal part of our lives... the way we handle it... well,,, there is the issue. Over worry is the worst thing.

" So what are we able to do?

“ Well, I was lying in bed thinking, and I came up with three words.

* Acknowledge

* Accept

* Adapt

Having had those words pop into my head, what followed was;

* Acknowledge + Accept + Adapt = NOW

Weird eh? But to me it makes perfect sense.

We are in a situation, and basically, that is it.( Here, that situation is our running). The situation is as it is, we are doing what we are doing, and overthinking, and over-worrying is going to change that, not a jot.

How then do we handle it ? Well, those three words may help to make it simple.

Look at the photograph.

I acknowledge that it is wet and cold ( rainy and foggy too) . (And yes, over the last weeks, the weather has been exactly the same as two years ago).

I accept that I need to run.

I adapt to the fact, by wearing my wet weather gear, and I run.

Now.

So, applying the three words here;

If you are following C25K , whether at Week 1, Week 5 or Week 9, it is simple; you just follow the plan.

You acknowledge the plan that is C25K.

You accept that each run will move you onto the next and to Graduation.

You adapt, to wind and weather and to any obstacle that may occur, but always confident in the knowledge that you will move on at some point.

This is running in the NOW.

The Now is the thing .

You take each run as it comes.

It's all about being focused; on each run, acknowledging the run, accepting what is happening, ( good or bad), and adapting.

I don't want to use words like mindfulness, or in the moment, but I suppose it is a bit like that.

It's about each run and the NOW of that run.

Each run may have similarity in the now, but in some the, now will be different.

Is this making any sense to anyone?

Yesterday, I was in a situation, not a running one but a very tricky one. It all resolved, but I think that was where all this kicked off.

I suddenly realised, that what happened, in that sort of situation, was going to be a permanent thing, which would always happen, so, I acknowledged, I have not accepted, yet... that is going to be hard, but I will and I will then, adapt.

Some runs will be like that. E.g.

There may be pain or a twinge, so, acknowledge,( listen to your body)

I landed awkwardly, the ground is lumpy, accept.

Ease back, take it gently and stretch well, post run, adapt.

The more difficult time to do this, will be if you become distracted.

Try to just focus on you, your body, and your mind too, on your run...be aware of you, running in the now.

Let thoughts come, and they will come, thoughts about speed, distance, style or pace, it's perfectly natural, but then, let them go, or label them and put them in your memory jar and then try to re-focus again on you and your run.

If this has made any sense at all to any to you, the message here is, for all of us, not just our new runners, positivity not negativity, trying not to over-think or over-worry, trusting in the plan and believing in yourself. “

Those last words.... are key... then and now. Believe in Yourself.

I look forward to seeing you here, with us, and to finding out what you are all up to and how it is all going

Happy, safe running, everyone

Oldfloss x

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏Acknowledge Accept and adapt! Three key words Floss that we need for running and for our lives! Thank you!! I am grabbing one of your delicious blueberry muffins as I leave and mull over these wise thoughts!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Morning.... yes, all fresh and tasty, to set you off for the day!

We can all use a refresh and remind of those words, can we not... ?

I forget sometimes... but when I recall.... well then , it all seems a lot more achievable.

Have a lovely day and thank you, for popping in today. Your cushion is always here

[BarbieW Graduate]

Hi Of (she whispered, peeping shyly around the door frame, worried that due to her recent absence, she might not be welcomed….?)

How appropriate your words are, as I have recently been a bit neglectful of myself and allowed myself to just worry too much, and I lie awake at night, just basically worrying!

I am though still getting most of my 3 days a week runs in, but I have not managed to increase either my speed or my distance as I was wanting to. I am afraid, I think, that I will not be able to, so I go out with that negative attitude already. So of course I fail!

So tomorrow I will acknowledge that I may need to accept my slower shorter runs for a while, and adapt my planned routes accordingly so that I do not come home with that feeling of failure. And I will do that now, or at least tomorrow. If of course it is not raining again…..

Any of that Lemon drizzle left as I creep over into the corner?

B

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to BarbieW]

You are always, always welcome! Lemon drizzle coming up!

This worrying is a real pain and I totally empathise with you! The night time can be the worst... and we may wake, more tired than we were when we went to bed!

We just need to try, to let it go... get out there and just run. Yes, accept the shorter runs and really enjoy them...adapt the routes and enjoy them too... and come home feeling proud of yourself and your runs.

It is easy to say, and not as easy to do... and if the rain falls.... then sit back and plan for the next dry spell. Plenty of exercise to do in the house

I shall try to head out tomorrow too... so we may be running together... better have another slice of cake.... we may need the energy

When you settle tonight, try some simple gentle breathing exercises and repeat to yourself. Go with the flow... and just let it go.... I bet you sleep well...

Thank you for popping in... stay a while... it is calm here x

[Fionamags Graduate]

What a great post - and possibly a brilliant mantra! Today I tackled run 2 of week 6 and it was a bit of a stinker. Having run this programme several times now (and read just about every pinned post), I have the benefit of knowing that some runs are just like that. So I acknowledged that it wasn't great, accepted it for what it was (time on the legs) and adapted by gritting my teeth and getting it done. (Was that an adaptation???) But anyway, I love the idea of running in the 'now'. It's one of the reasons that I love running and am looking forward to getting back to longer distances - it clears my head and lets me enjoy the world going by at a very gentle pace. Thanks OldFloss for taking the time to share this with us. Oh, and I'm on a diet but I think a slice of virtual lemon drizzle would really set me up for the rest of the day!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Fionamags]

I love the three As... not just applied to my running! Welcome... good to see you here on the cushion Lemon drizzle cake is, though I say it myself... is pretty yummy!

I am glad you knew what was happening on your run and you took it in your stride, ( see what I did there)? Some runs are... just like that ! They happen... as do the ones that turn out to be spectacularly wonderful!

The, now, running is the best.... soak the moment up, with every step... it pays dividends, it really does.

Huge, well done to you and thank you so much for calling in... sit a tad longer with us... hopefully a few more folk may pop in to share their running and to read your reply too x

[RunningJ123 Graduate]

This post is so good, Oldfloss... It is a good way for me to think about a stressful work situation that is ahead, that I have been worrying about for weeks and not really able to do much about. Thank you! Also, today I did my first kind-of 30 minute run for absolute ages! I've done a few 20 and 25 min in the last weeks.

Today I drove to a canal path near home and did 5min warm up, 25 min run, 5 min cool down, drove home... And the dog was looking pleadingly at me so I thought I'd take him a quick walk... And when I started I thought ohh... I could run 5 min and make it the 30, just to feel the achievement! So I don't know if it counts but it felt good 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to RunningJ123]

Hello and so good to see you... Stay a while longer. I am glad that the three As are going to help. in more ways than running. It is amazing how they do help with a whole load of issues!

This run sounds just the thing... and the dog was happy too! Just splendid. Thank you so much for calling in and you are welcome here, any time

[RunningJ123 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you so much, Oldfloss.... You are always so nice and so encouraging!

I did another 30 minutes today, in between the showers of rain and hail! Managed to get a little window that was mercifully not too bad. I'll try to consolidate this now for a few weeks and then see. It feels good to be back!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to RunningJ123]

This is super news... really well done you! I had a little dry bit too this morning, but gosh, it was chilly ! We got out though, didn't we!!!

Well done you... on the way and good to have you back ! x

[Never-too-old-run Graduate]

Hi Old Floss. I haven't received any notifications for the Health Umlocked site since 20th March. Are you taking a break or is it me messing about with my settings??🥴 I usually get one a day?