Games people play..

[handstand]

Ok, Just finished week 6! Yahoo! My biggest struggle is with my mind... focusing on the time, doubting whether I run for all those minutes... Well in order to distract me, I played a stupid game, (almost hate to share it here) but it got me thru those 25 minutes pretty easily without focusing on how many more minutes were left. As I ran, I looked around for things in alphabetical order.. Three things that began with the letter A, then 3 with the letter B, etc. I know, really dumb, but it worked for me. I completely forgot about the time and just focused on finding things around me as I ran- (Pink skyline, Pretty park, Police patrol car..) Next week I will have to come up with another game. Anyone else found an effective way to distract yourself from the clock?

[Hidden]

Its not just you, I play a game with number plates, making up words with the letters or seeing it the letters match the initials of anyone I know.

Though sometimes I dont run near the road so cant play it then.

May try out your game next time I'm out.

[teamgreen Graduate]

Another c25k person posted about counting backwards from 60, doing this very sloooowllllyyy could take them over 3 mins. I have used this to distract me and will probably use your idea on a run when I need to distract myself.. Small things make all the difference. Well done on completing week six and thanks for the tip.

[Hidden]

I am a bit food fixated so I imagine the bowl of porridge I'm going to eat when I get home. I see myself getting out the box, measuring it out, adding milk, cooking it in the microwave and pouring maple syrup all over it. I think it makes me go a little faster too so I can get home and eat it.

[PatButcher Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I love this

[shelleymcb Graduate]

when Im on the treadmill I look at the distance & try to picture where I would be if I ran outside

[AliB1 Graduate]

A friend of mine just counts to 100 slowly and when gets there starts again...I've tried that on tough days and it's helped.

[PatButcher Graduate]

I am definitely going to try the alphabet game, boredom is my biggest bugbear, so cheers

[suerob]

I've just started Week 4 on my second time around (got to Week 8 last time) and know that when I get to the longer runs will do what I did last time, and that's listen to the radio or audiobook. Distraction really does help and transporting one's mind to somewhere else takes the focus off the physical effort.

[tweekala74 Graduate]

Glad to know other people have felt bored. I've just done Week 7 run 1 and even though I'm lucky enough to be running in beautiful countryside, for some reason I find it hard to enjoy it as I'm so focused on getting to the end of the run (usually head down to avoid squishing members of the slug army!) Will try the alphabet game to distract me and podcasts / radio. Thanks for the tips!