Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new month and another step closer, to Spring!
Here I am, bright eyed and … err... fluffy tailed, ready to pose a question !
About seven months ago... Yesletsgo posed a great one... Why did you start to run?
My reply?
“ I began to run at the behest of my daughter and son in law... way back in 2015... they had started running across the fields and around and about. They invited me to join them one day and I felt I may not survive that first run.”
It then went into some detail, and it was mostly about feeling sluggish!
Well... my question today builds on that.. and is particularly pertinent for our new friends here on C25K...
You are here now, you have begun the programme.... you may be at the beginning, or mid way or nearly at the podium.
You may be finding it is not what you thought it would be... You may be finding it a bit if a struggle.... You may even be thinking... this was a big mistake...but, you are still here and I want to know..
What is going to KEEP you running ?
What is it, that keeps you going whatever, and stops you throwing in the towel?
My reasons have changed, over my nine and a bit years... they have evolved and developed. I began for a few reasons...but as I have carried on those reasons have become more defined and clearer. There is more than one reason, but they are all linked by a common denominator...
I am going to leave you here, on a bit of a cliff hanger here and NOT tell you what reasons KEEP me running, because I and we all want to hear from you first.
No hints or suggestions... but, maybe after a run... on your walk cool down, thinking of the run you have just done, ask yourself the question.
What is it, that will keep me running?
The first thing that enters your head... and then, please, please, pop a reply here asap!
Simple !
Looking forward to hearing from you, very soon !
Oldfloss x
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Good post from you Oldfloss and pause for thought of what keeps me running, 🏃🏾?, well it goes back to the very start that if I could complete C25K which as you know I did on 18th June 2018 I will continue to run.
What keeps me running is that I enjoy it, 3K, 5K,. 8 and 10K runs have been my favourite distances, I will keep running as long as I can run 5K in under 40 minutes, irrespective of age, (I am 79 in May) however, if I struggle to get sub 40 minute 5K's I might "call it a day" regarding my running,
I think it is certainly true that different individuals have different comfortable paces (I remember the OT pointing out to her friend the SLT that asking my son to walk beside her would be causing him pain (consciously or unconsciously)
It is a massive learning task to adjust to old age or disability. I have spoken here before about my father's last ever run, when he was almost 85 and had metastatic prostate cancer. He'd been in a research programme which involved him in a lot of travel and a lot of vigorous exercise which meant he had no energy for anything else. His time on the trial finished and he was a bit lost. A friend came up with what looked to me like another vigorous programme and he was berating himself for not sticking to it, nor even really getting going with it. So I took him out to do a Week 1 C25K session. He zoomed off into the distance, me calling out 'slow down' in vain, and ran out of steam at the half way point...
Interesting post from you GoogleMe regarding your father's last run when he was 85 and had metastatic prostate cancer then doing Week 1 run 1 of C25K but running too fast, I am sure reading that reminds most people here on their very first run as well.It's all up to a invidual runner, for example a runner who runs sub 20 minutes 5K will be disappointed if at any parkrun he/she runs it over that time OR another runner who usually gets sub 40 minutes will also be disappointed if he/she runs over 40 minutes, of course it's a run which I am sure they enjoyed but nevertheless the runner will be a little disappointed time wise, I admit I am a little disappointed if I get a +35 minutes 5K time at parkrun, I think I've only had two plus 35 minutes at parkrun, one when it was icy and the other when I had a sore hip, I wish you all the best for your future runs✅🏃
morning Oldfloss …my friends on here keep me running..i have my ups and downs but when I read the tonnes of inspiration on here it always keeps me going out for more, always on the search for those robot legs
What keeps me running? The fear that if I stop I'll just grind to a creaky, arthritic, stationary old lady blob.
Since I started running I've developed a new relationship with my body, learning to respect all the unexpected ability that's been hiding there this last 60+ years. My whole attitude has changed, C25K has shown me that by making small consistent improvements anything is possible. I've always been an optimist, now I'm unbearable 😂😂😂
I love it... honest to a fault ! What a great reason!
You say too, that your running relationship has changed... interesting , isn't it? Who would expect running to open up and highlight so many hidden skills and attributes?
Learning so much about yourself, as I feel many of us do, is so heartening, and you have every right to be so optimistic... and yes, unbearable with it ! Thank you!
hello Oldfloss , as a 2018 graduate, I’ve always said that couch25k got me running at age 60, and parkrun kept me running. To meet some of the lovely people on these forums at parkrun around the country has been amazing. The support on here also encouraged me to safely increase distance too.
At 67, I can’t imagine not being able to run anymore. I keep my fingers crossed that I will keep going.
Hello and thank you so much for the reply! I wonder how many other folk may be saying similar...? So much comradeship. friendship and joy on the Park runs...all folk with a common joy. I know that you, , and of course UTS have run and visited so, so many!
The support here is priceless as you say...without it, many of us would simply, go under. Thank you again and ... many more happy runs!
Overall health! I’m physically inactive just once per week and when I’m not running I’ll throw in other stuff, from martial arts and gym to tennis (we also run when playing tennis right? 😉). I can do physical strains that l couldn’t when l was way younger, my cardio is as good as it can be and being in a shape that l like seeing myself at 60 simply convince me that l cannot stop unless l absolutely have to. Is all this exercise always enjoyable? Absolutely not. Last runs were cold and miserable, tennis this morning was bleak, gym is almost always a medieval torture, but my end target (being in the best possible physical and mental condition) remains the same regardless and that view will not change.
Sounds good to me... and... shhh... another of my original reasons too !
You sound as if you have it all in hand? Lots of great stuff going on... !
Despite the pitfalls of wind and weather etc.. you are still determined, to keep on keeping on...and at 15years older than you.. I encourage you to keep on keeping on...
At nearly 75... I like the way I look too ( although a tad more weight on me would be good... ) and I am working on the build back to good shape !
The best physical and mental condition... sounds good to me ! Thanks for sharing!
Just so wonderful to be out there in nature free, being able to have thinking time it’s just so good for our well being. Don’t worry about what you look like or how fast just do it is my advice 🌳💚
Hi OF, my reason has changed for what is keeping me running because at the moment I’m going to be starting week 5 of 16 of the marathon plan for Manchester this April and I certainly know that I would not have been running in the snow, fog and ice at the start of Jan if I wasn’t signed up. It’s taking up so much of my spare time I know I won’t commit to one again so I’m just going with it. It helps that a few of my running buddies are doing it too. ☺️
Hi OldFloss, what keeps me running? Well when I think about it quite a few things… mainly to keep my mind ok, I love being outside, running gives me a sort of purpose to the day, I’m very proud of how far I’ve come.
I started Couch to 5K on day 1 of my retirement 4 years ago. I run alone & run the same route mainly, seeing familiar faces, watching the seasons change, being aware if my body & pleased with how I am.
It’s actually quite difficult to put into words why I run, I’ve been ill with a bad cold for 2 weeks! And really miss my runs, can’t wait to get out there tomorrow!
And can I say how much I love these forums I often think about you all when I’m running, it spurs me on.
Thank you... for sharing this with us... you have a few wonderful reasons for getting out there. All linked with joy... nature, well being and a soothing balm for a busy mind . Those reasons are I feel, ones that many of us echo.... the sheer pleasure and the horrid waiting time when we cannot get out there.. I got out today, first time on days and days..
It was bliss! I do hope you enjoy yours as much as I did mine... it was gentle and short and very sweet! x
Good question... to which I am not entirely sure I really know the answer and perhaps, besides having changed over time, it is different day to day.
I'm thinking about this a lot though - next week I go to the surgery for a test that I've not had since just before I started C25K. It was a very bad experience - not the test itself but all the baggage the practice nurse brought to the encounter... but it did partly prompt me to start C25K as I wanted to reduce avoidable risks to my health. Brisk walking *hurt*... and one of the reasons I run now is for pain relief. It seems to loosen things up (rather like me needing to get up in the morning and walk about for a bit even if I then have to go back to bed for the rest of the day). I also like the much better cardio workout, even from my very gentle pace. Although it feels slow, I seem to be able to go much further than on a walk and I enjoy satisfying my curiosity about what is round the next corner or what seasonal sights there might be.
The running forums here also keep me running - the wonder of the new runners is infectious and the different things people do with their new skill.
And I have to admit, over the last couple of years, when I have been worried about pressure of caring commitments squeezing out running, I've found medals a wonderful motivator, so that last year and now this year I've got a monthly medal subscription set up - I know I'm going to get at least one 5K in and I've found it motivates me to get even a 10 or 15 minute run or two in besides.
I started 6 years ago because I went to my brother’s ruby wedding do and everyone there, young and old, seemed to be a runner. My nephew showed me the C25K app so off I went. It’s not been plain sailing but I’ve stuck at it, even though I can rarely say I actually enjoy running. What keeps me going is the health benefits. Every article I’ve read on aging well starts with ‘exercise like you mean it’ and this is the one that works for me. My cardio fitness is excellent and exercise even supports brain cell production, needed to stave off the dreaded dementia. I’m now 67 and, even though it’s not the enjoyment thing it seems to be for others, my feet get really itchy if I don’t run. And this forum is the best for kindness and helpfulness. Thanks for all you do xxx
This is great... you started and here you are...You clearly have your own goals and the reason for running.., and running for physical and mental well being? Well what could be a better reason... and running although you are not massively enjoying it... that is commendable.
Be nice if I could actually run! But post stroke stability issues combined with being partially sighted and an almost phobic fear of falling over jas kinda put the mockers on it.
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