In need of some motivation...

[Lazy_moo]

Well, I completed couch to 5k Christmas Eve and now it's march! I kept it up for a few weeks but after getting cold after cold I decided that I needed to give my immune system a break and kept off of the treadmill for a while. I went back after a few weeks and got back up to 25 minutes after 3 attempts but then I fell ill again :(. So since the beginning of February I haven't been running and I'm really unsure how to get going again.

Has anyone got a any tips/tricks to kick start that motivation again? Any other similar stories would be greatly received also.

I want to get fit again

[con-brio Graduate]

I notice you mention a treadmill. How about trying to do the c25k programme again by running outdoors? Spring's just around the corner (fingers crossed) and so there'll be plenty of interest... The change in terrain should be good for your body too.

[parkbirdy Graduate]

Just think of when you began the whole thing - and laughed at the idea of ever being able to run 30 minutues - you've done it once and you can do it again.

I've been ill since christmas too - and the way i've kept going is to really listen to my body and sometimes I've had to walk for 30 seconds in the middle of runs - but just giving myself permission to do that has really helped.

I'd also signed up to a charity 5k run and asked people to sponsor me. But you could just look at park runs near you which are free and set a date in a months time to try one of those? Even if you have to walk a tiny bit of it you'll be chuffed.

Maybe you've been a bit hard on yourself - could you try some of the runs from weeks 5 and 6 to ease yourself back in. If you can get back into the habit of doing something 3 times a week you'll find it's much easier than first time round.

Don't give up - the days are getting longer, spring flowers are just appearing in the parks and if you can run outside pretty soon it's going to be a real pleasure.