Having the mental capacity to be able to carry on when all your senses are screaming for you to stop is a huge part of the journey.
This is even more evident when you are training and running in isolation. I have more confidence in myself just by joining this forum. Sharing experiences and listening to the stories and gaining valuable insights and advice. I don’t feel like I am on my own now. It’s like having a safety net. Thanks to everybody for responding to my posts. It means a lot.
I have a colleague who is doing Couch to 5k but he is keeping quiet about it. He struggles with confidence and he is afraid of being judged. He doesn’t know that I know. Although he knows that I am doing it. His partner who is a runner told me that I am inspiring him to keep going. He is inspiring me to keep going. Teamwork makes the dream work.
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Baggieboy61
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Yes, you may run on your own... but you never run alone here... So many forum friends.
I often take a real crowd with me... we do fill the fields sometimes... ( virtually of course)!
I talk to my running friends, some of whom understand me better than I do myself, I feel.
Knowing that you are part of this wonderful running family. really impacts your runs...they have got me through some very tricky times, and their support is priceless as you are finding out .
Well done for your persistence. C25K can be a lonely experience when you're doing it on your own, especially as an older runner who (speaking from my own experience) maybe doesn't 'look like a runner'?
As runners our bodies exert two main ways of trying to stop us, mental and physical. Supportive people, in our daily life and on forums like this, can help with the first. Seems like you have these, and so does your friend.
Regarding the physical difficulties, if these are the reason your senses are screaming at you to stop, it's not a bad idea to listen to why stopping might be appealing. Are you breathless? Are you suffering from aches and pains as you run? Do you wake up stiff and sore? Do aches and pains interfere with your sleep after a run? Lots of us have these issues and many of them can be resolved by simply slowing down.
When we run we should go at a conversational pace. Next time, try saying out loud 'I can get to the end of this sentence using just one breath.' If you can't get to the end of the sentence you definitely need to slow down until you can.
Slowing down and taking control of your breathing will make your run more comfortable and enjoyable. At our level, running isn't about speed it's about being active and slow running does you a world of good.
Slowing down will also limit your risk of aches and pains as you won't be overdoing it.
Wishing you all the best as you continue, with your attitude and persistence you're going to be fantastic
I love your post and absolutely agree about the confidence I gain from everyone sharing their stories. So much of it is ‘in the mind’. Even after accepting that I am an old, slow runner, I still feel obliged to try to go a bit faster when I pass someone, especially someone I know - what’s that about? 🤣
Parkrun is the worst for the 'gotta overtake' mentality for me. I don't mean the fast lads who lap me and finish in under 20 minutes, for me it's the slower people with dogs/buggies or anyone who looks like they're at my level of age/physique/fitness. Can't bear to see them ahead of me. Am I a bad person? 😂
🤣🤣🤣 I think he was fundraising for a bowel disease charity so I’ll forgive him!! This was the Bath Half marathon a couple of years ago and it was hot. The state of me by the end was not something anyone would want to use to advertise anything except a cold shower!!!
I used to really struggle with this. It’s got much better the more I’ve been. Now I’m more focussed on just ticking off the runs so I can qualify for a t-shirt! How bad is that?!
Running with MrU helps most because we just chat and do our own thing. Plus, starting well away from the speedy speedsters! On some courses you don’t get lapped at all so you only really see them jogging home when you’ve still got ten minutes to go!!
It’s odd. I really don’t have much bother about the time it takes yet I still feel the need to speed up from time to time. It’s as if it’s an indicator of how fit I am. Yet all it really does is wear you out and invite injury.
Well done for carrying on. I must admit it would have been really hard if my wife hadn’t agreed to start this running journey with me, but as you said this forum is great for encouragement. Is there no way that you and your colleague couldn’t run together maybe?I’ve just completed week five which I was a little worried about but the training really does seem to be working! I’m about your age too and haven’t got all the running gear (apart from reasonable shoes) so goodness knows what I look like, old man in a hurry probably!
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