Not one step over 5k......

[Souki]

.......can I do!

When I started this my aim was to run 5k, I wasn't looking to be the next marathon queen or anything, so I wasn't that bothered. Since graduating I didn't have a plan to move onto b210k or the speed podcasts I just thought I'd continue with my 5k's and see how it goes. Well I've done 5 or so now and like clockwork as soon as the woman on my run keeper announces 30 mins done and 2.6 miles done everything just goes into struggle mode with .7 miles to go I'm counting every second, usually another 6mins, and as soon as 5k is done I just have to stop not another step can I take.

I know I started off being happy with the 5 but...... Kinda want to move on a little.

And I've got a pain in the ball of my big toe

[Bilby Graduate]

Same thing happens to me! I think it's a mental block. What I did a few times was run by distance instead. So I mapped 5.1k on a totally different route to normal, put on just some music and ran it without any voiceover. Then 5.2k. I don't want to go too high, but it means that then going back to 5k means I find it slightly easier.

I've also tried it by time (31 mins, adding a minute a week or so) but that, as you say is tricky as I get warned near the end.

[Souki Graduate in reply to Bilby]

Yes I think as soon as you hear that 30 min warning mentally your done, I like the idea of setting a distance and running to my own music, think I focus too much on when that next 5 min reminder will come instead of just getting on with it x

[RainbowC Graduate]

Ouch - sympathy for the toe!

For the distance, have you tried changing your route, or using a different podcast? If you've not had a play with the 5k+ set, maybe try using them once or twice a week, just to bring you some variety. I'm sure the problem is as much mental as physical - your mind now knows that 5k is the time to stop, so tells you that that's it. Changing your routine a little bit could be enough to break that cycle... Or maybe try one slower run each week, but see if you can add two minutes on to the end of your usual time. Ok, if you're going slower then at least at first that might not get you past 5k, but doing a longer, slower run and increasing it slightly every time is supposed to be one way of building up to longer runs.

Good luck!

[Souki Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Yes last night was the first time I ran that route, my daughter went to guide camp, my husband dropped us off and I ran home, nice route I'd do it again. I agree it must be mental I'm deff focusing too much on those 5 min count downs. Thanks ill try the 5+ can't hurt x

[OlsBean]

I've not progressed on to any of the post-grad podcasts that are available either, like you opting to do my own thing, which has worked for me in as far as I've upped my distance/stamina.

All I've been doing is pushing myself a little further each run, I've mainly been gauging this whilst running by pushing myself to the end of the next song on my playlist not very scientific but it seems to work for me I've also been using the Zombie Run App which I've found to be a pleasant (probably not a fitting description given the nature of the story) distraction from the painful part of running, my music playlist integrates into it.

Hope your toe feels better, I've got a painful right achilles tendon at the moment which is worrying me.

[Souki Graduate in reply to OlsBean]

What the.. Is zombie run??? That sounds as painful as my toe I've got to try running to my own music you all sound much happier with that, I did down load a radio 4 comedy once, didn't help!!

Watch that Achilles x

[OlsBean in reply to Souki]

It's an app for Android and iPhone which basically tells a story about a post zombie apocalyptic world in which you become a runner for a camp of survivors. The missions/runs tell a different part of the story each time, the great thing about it is that it incorporates your own music playlist into the story, it works for me, the story is great distraction from the pain part of running There are a number of options you can set also, mission length, whether you want to get chased by Zombie Hoards (sprints) etc...

If running on the Treadmill I used to watch Jeremy Kyle but I used to get so wound up by some of muppets oops I meant sadly dysfunctional characters on there that it used to raise my heart rate too much, Zombie Run is better

[dottiemay Graduate]

It's almost certainly a mental thing. Can you change your route? Or try running without any sort of commentary. Use a new playlist if you prefer to run with music. I stopped because I found myself constantly gauging time/distance by how many songs had played and how many to go, and I really struggled to get beyond a certain point.

Since I began running without any distractions, I find the time seems to pass much quicker (well, certainly before my injury...not so much at the moment!) and I'm not so aware of distance. I tend to keep going until I feel whacked, check my stats and decide 'another 6 mins', or 'only 0.4k' more or whatever gets me to a round figure, then having done that, 'well, I'm sure I can do another...'. I hate stopping short at 5.47 or 33.39 or something. Really annoys me when I know if only I'd gone for another few steps/seconds etc..etc..., so I always try for a round figure in either time or distance! But then I'm strange like that....

Even if it's just another few steps or another minute, it will break that barrier and hopefully you'll overcome it and start increasing your distance.

But take care of that toe! It's quite important for running....

[Souki Graduate]

Haha I don't think your strange at all, I also wouldn't stop short of a full .k, I have been known to run past my house to the end of the road turn around to lamp post and go back n forth 'nutter' but that was to get me to 5k. I haven't tried no music at all, have listened to radio 1 podcast radio 4 comedy was thinking of audio books or putting my own playlist together, so far I've mainly been listening to Laura x

Blooming toe keeps clicking