It’s Monday again, and somehow it’s also July! I seem to have completely lost June this year having been in something of a fog for the last two months, but finally I feel like I’m ‘landing’; things are feeling more normal and I do believe I’m finding a spark that has been well and truly buried for a while! That feels good!!!
But even while feeling stressed and down, the one thing that hasn’t once wavered is my desire and enthusiasm for a run - even the quarantine ones that had to be done on the dreadmill. I looked forward to each and every one. Even the tough ones couldn’t put me off the next run!!! Don’t get me wrong, I can (and do) ‘faff’ just as well as anyone else, but I’m always going to go for that run (with the obvious exception of injury stopping play - to anyone currently resting because of injury, I send my heartfelt sympathies and very best wishes for a speedy recovery).
On one particularly low day I chose to listen to the NRC ‘Running on Empty’ guided run; it sounded totally appropriate for how I was feeling, but in fact the chat spent a great deal of time assuming it had been a battle for me to get out for the run in the first place!!! Not so. Rarely ever do I struggle to lace up and get out of the door.
Which got me to wondering ... Why? What is it about running that is so appealing for me? I couldn’t come up with a simple explanation, I suspect it’s not just one thing, but I do think it has something to do with taking control of my life. In the moments of the run I am in charge of so much, both physically and mentally, and that in itself gives me such a sense of achievement. Regardless of how well or badly the run goes, it has the power to lift me out of whatever is happening in the rest of my day and I always feel better able to face the day afterwards.
Do you struggle to get out there (I know many people do) or is a run your ‘go to’ when things get tough? What is that gets you out for a run - or is it a bit of a mystery for you as it is for me! How do you 'trick' yourself when it's just not happening?
Don’t forget, if you’re currently training for a HM we’d love you to join our autumn HM Group - you can add your name here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
Please share your half marathon progress each week, either here in the Chat or write your own post and tell us more!
Whether you’re on the IC, or getting out there for a good run (or a bad one), have a fantastic week everyone!!!
I don't struggle to get out running (usually, see below), although I also faff about a lot 😂 I think running is so much my thing these days I can't imagine not doing it. I also really like the feeling of having got it done, a very nice buzz!!
This past week I have mostly NOT been running though, been having a spot of bother with my left calf! I'll be testing it out later today with an easy run, fingers crossed... I've been going out for short dips in the sea quite a lot, trying to toughen up my open water game. My nearest target is the London Triathlon in August, which I'm not taking all that seriously, but I do want to finish it and have fun!
Windsurfing is off at the moment despite the return of the wind yesterday. Lagoon Watersports is closed due to a positive Covid test, which is a pity but I'd rather people stay Covid-free! 🥰
I used to run for the after buzz alone I think, but these days I mostly love the whole process - and feel very lucky that that's the case. Swimming in the sea? triathlon? nope! I'm afraid you can keep those - I will watch on in respect and awe!!! Hope the watersports reopens soon, with everyone safe and well.
I spend a lot of time ‘thinking’ about going for a run and it’s always easy to use the excuse that I just didn’t have the time.
Having had quite a few weeks off though, I am now getting back out there a bit more regularly. I am particularly shocked at how quickly the stamina for duration and pace diminishes. I think once I’m back up to speed and distance that will be one of my biggest motivators - not losing it again!!
Seems strange to target another half marathon and to be training using such short runs but give it a few weeks.........
I do a lot of thinking about it too, but always find the time somehow. Whole different story when it comes to cross training though! It's good to see you back out there - those short runs soon ramp up and your fitness will be rebuilding with every run. You know you can do this!
Hi Linda. Great post. I am glad to hear that things are improving a little for you. Agree that running is one constant that we need to hold on to. Even when I hate it, I’m glad to get out there.
I would certainly be lost without running these days. If we run often enough, I think we eventually realise that a hated run simply means the next one will be better and is certainly worth waiting for 😊
I'm like you, rarely if ever do I find it a struggle to get out the door because I know I want to do the run. I'm not quite sure why either - I don't think it's just one thing. Being in control is important, but also having me time is a rare and precious thing at the moment. Knowing I will feel better for doing it is a great incentive and feeling myself get stronger and faster is addictive. And then there's the discovering and running through beautiful places that never seems to grow stale even when constrained to the local area, as the places change so much with the weather and the seasons and each run is different.
All in all running is definitely a wonderful thing! I can identify with everything you've said there. The 'me' time has maybe been important this last few weeks for me too. I've had a lot of 'me' time, but running 'me' time is so much more productive than 'sitting me time' I think 😀
🤔 I'm not sure it's the desire that's the trouble. Faffing, and generalised anxiety or sometimes low mood are what I have to fight. I always know I'll feel better after I get out, happier and more relaxed but it's more like the gremlins are all hanging off me making me drag them over the threshold until finally as I pick up pace or momentum, they give up and slink back to their dark hovel...
I don't think I have any tricks, just a terrier-like tenacity, no one is taking my bone with stubbornness thrown in. If I'm feeling really, really, can't breathe right, hand shakingly bad I'll be more gentle and promise myself that if I just do 1 mile we'll review how I'm feeling again then. Then 1 more and 1 more etc. Sometimes it can take 4 or 5 miles for me to start feeling OK but I've not yet turned back after just 1.
'No one's taking my bone' - love that!!! i used to think it was just stubbonness that got me through the door, but I honestly had no fight the last few weeks and that's what made me realise something has changed since I first started running. My 'don't go' gremlins have gone. My 'I can't do this very well' gremlins are as healthy as ever unfortunately 🙄 It sounds to me that you have developed a great strategy there though. I don't associate you with short runs that's for sure, so it seems you're very skilled at fighting those gremlins off! I hope you can remember that next time the gremlins come a chuntering!
Actually my successes do help, it makes it much easier to believe when I say "I know I can do this". It's so ridiculous at times though, I can look back with frustration, and empathy; at times I'm in tears with misery yet I still manage to get out and am always "cured". I just wish there was a way to switch all that nonsense off. It's so tiring and can take a lot out of me 😔
Your I can't do this very well gremlins need a reality check, you're so far from "not doing this well" as to be on the next plane!! Next time just imagine me running up and drop kicking the little blighters over the nearest fence! How dare they!? 🤣👍🏻😁
I'm the same with claustrophobia. Each time I get one of those long haul flights and get off again without incident, well it gets a little bit easier next time (thankfully). But it's still exhausting. I'll take you up on those drop kicks - for now I've just been ignoring them, looking the other way. They can do one!!!
I’ve only been running just over a year but I never struggle to go for a run even when it’s freezing cold, pelting with rain and wind like today. There was a few of us out there this morning battling the wind so good to know I’m not the only crazy. I was planning to run 8 miles but called it a day at 6.5 miles 🤣
Ooh well done you! I may have rescheduled run days on account of bad weather ... but only VERY bad weather 😀 6.5 miles in rain and wind is a major achievement- great stuff!
It’s my first Winter in Western Australia and apparently the rain comes in for most of July/August. Most of the time it’s beautiful so just got to keep 🏃♀️❤️
I run in all weathers which is something I never envisaged i’d ever be doing. Running makes us do lots of stuff we never dreamt of back in our non-running lives
Oh to be able to escape to run 🙄😤. lumbered with dogs at the moment so nothing doing 😕. I’m worn out! Up with the larks and walking so much it’s ridic. I walk them separately quite a bit as it’s just less faff.
They both go home later today 🙏😁
The walking will keep me ticking over nicely though. My first run will be grand. Can’t wait 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️👍
I’m doing a NRC half marathon plan which leads in to my marathon plan I guess I should join the HM group. I did have a race in mind but it’s now been reduced to 10k 😟
So tomorrow's the day! It'll be worth having waited for! Time for a cup of tea and someHM race searching in the meantime maybe? Are you going to use the Nike plan for your marathon training too?
Nike half marathon plan which leads in to marathon training. Nike doesn't go further than HM training plans. From 13 miles I’ll just increase each week to 20 miles.
There is a nike marathon plan online - pdf version rather than part of the app. I have a post about it for later in the week but if you google Nike marathon training plan I'm sure you'll find it 😊
That is such a good question. For me it seems to be a quiet determination that gets me out the door. That and how brill I feel afterwards! That’s not to say there aren’t days when I’d rather not do it, but for the most part I drag my butt out - and ask myself what’s the worst that could happen?! Mind you I did 10k earlier today and it was honestly one of the hardest I’ve ever done, I have no idea why - there was some serious mind over matter going on! Just one of the ups and downs I guess. Oh, and let’s not forget, this brilliant community gets me out the door every time too 😊🏃♀️👏🏼👍.
Determination is a wonderful thing! That hard run? ... probably means there's a great run just around the corner. What goes down must come up .... or something like that 😀
Great post Linda! I very much go in fits and starts. Sometimes I have no problem in getting out and look forward to it and, at others, I really have to force myself. Then sometimes I can’t even persuade myself and just don’t bother - I didn’t do (not) parkrun on Saturday for the first time. I feel a bit guilty now, but I just couldn’t!
I expected more replies like this to be honest. I thought most people struggled to get out, at least at times - in phases like you say. The one (non) parkrun you missed only goes to show just how many you have done though, right? You keep coming back to running too, so it must have you in it's grip after all 😊
It would have been 55 but my target was only to get to 50 before it comes back, so smashed that one. I’ve got a real race tomorrow evening - 5 miler at Watermead Country Park near Leicester, which I am really looking forward to (despite a dodgy weather forecast). One of the key things, for me, is that I only have a handful of routes that don’t involve a main road so it gets a bit boring. Can’t wait for parkrun, parkrun tourism and real events to be able to see people again. Mind you, hopefully off to France next week and a summer of running with Shake-and-run 😃😃
I only rarely feel I don't want a run. Most of the time I'm mentally champing at the bit for the next one and have to resist the temptation to run on rest days.
I'll go out in most conditions, excepting torrential rain. You really don't notice light rain when you're actually running.
Like others I do spend a lot of faffing time before a run, getting kit together, checking the weather forecasts, remembering where my keys and headphones are, doing warm up exercises, etc.
My current plan towards the HM is on track. I did 15km the previous weekend and 16.4km (10.2 miles) yesterday evening (see last night's post on Bridge to 10K forum). My plan is to do 18km next weekend (exactly 10% increase) and about 20km the weekend after (with an option to extend to the HM).
The following weekend (the last in July) should see the resumption of parkrun, so I'll treat that week as a little break from the distance runs and do my first ever "in person" parkrun.
That sounds fabulous - bang on track! Yesterday I got caught in torrential rain and it really wasn't too bad at all (although my t-shirt did feel very heavy!), but going out the door when it's actually raining like that is a much tougher challenge! Good luck with the 18k - enjoy!
Loads of normal routine stuff.I am left wondering how I ever managed to get out and do my job.I would not pay me with washers now.
But I love to run.Been poorly all of June,only managed 11k, my wife has had her hip replacement ,gets home tomorrow and is doing brilliantly.I am going to slip out for an hour this afternoon.Got all my jobs lined up and more importantly good folks to knock them off.
So support my wife with her recovery, oversee my guys doing the jobs and make them tea and get back to achieving my first chunking marathon.
Should say the magic of this Forum, your post Linda and the folks on here are just what the Doctor ordered in sustaining and supporting the joy of running.
Ah, best wishes to Mrs Tbae - I'm glad the surgery wasn't postponed any further. And enjoy that run! I love how life keeps throwing you curveballs but still you come back for more. There's no keeping you down! run and enjoy!!!
Aww thank you Linda.What a way to celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary today.Covid rules, no visiting, but home tomorrow with a car load of aids.She has done amazingly well since op day Saturday,on her feet same day,crutches and stairs on Sunday,I am pleased she did not take her golf clubs.🙈😂Women rule Linda,Poor males, must be something to do with child birth.🏃♀️🌟👏👏❤️💪🙏💫⚡️
Lovely post Linda and interesting to read the replies. Reasons not to run: Weather - too hot (don’t mind cold or rain) and tiredness from work (emotional and physical) and sometimes just too much to do! BUT having a plan really is a great incentive! I love ticking off my runs and making notes in my running diary. Today was probably one of the hardest ever - started late so 🥵 and humid, feeling a bit weary (general end of term tiredness) and back still sore - that’s another story 😂. But I plodded on, very slowly and managed the 11k that was on the plan! Glad to hear things are looking up for you 😊
You did a great job there. End of term fatigue is very real and as you say the humidity is a real killer. I love writing on my plan too - such a sense of achievement, and great to be able to look back on.
Boo: The trail marathon is only a few weeks after the London 2 Brighton 100k I was planning to do, and so it looks as though L2B will now have to be a 2023 thing 😂
Oh no! There just aren't enough weekends in the running seasons!!! The trail marathon looks right up your street though(hmm, that's not quite right). I'm a bit worried that my 100k night ride (postponed to 2022 from lord knows how long ago) will clash with the ultra I'm deferring (date still to be decided).
What a lovely post. There was a time when I first started running almost 3 years ago now that it didn’t take much to discourage me from running. Weather mostly (wind and rain). But now I love the rain torrential or otherwise. After all it’s only water and I can get warm and dry when I get home and feel all glowy (not sure that’s a real word but I like it 😊). However last year I realised I really do not like running in hot weather particularly when there is direct sunshine as I hate getting so hot! 🥵. So this year I decided to take advantage of my freedom to run whenever I like and go out early before it gets too bad. Yes it disrupts hubby as he likes to track me whilst I’m out. So he gets a cuppa before I go and has to get up early too😂. I do remind him but he always forgets!! But that’s not stopping me.
The sheer freedom of feeling my body run is enough to make me want to go and of course it allows me to have cake occasionally. 😉🍰🏃🏻♀️
Freedom is a great word to associate with running! I've thought of it as taking control, but maybe it sets me free .... interesting! I agree, getting out early is the only way when it's hot ... poor Mr KR though 😅
I’m glad you’re finding your spark again Linda and your running routine hasn’t changed 🙂
Like you, I rarely struggle to get out for a run. Icy roads is probably the only time I’ve hesitated and ended up on the treadmill instead - but it’s still running 🙂 I just do it now, I love the faff and preparation too and I think I need my little routine before every run to feel “right”. And running has kept me sane through tough times in the past although I’m also aware that stress can play a part with my tendency to injury. So easy gentle runs are the way for me if I’m going through an emotional time.
Which leads me nicely to chat about my HM plan 😂 Ticked off week 1 and easy runs so far. And….. I’m super proud of myself for this ….. I’ve stopped running at the required odd number and not kept on to round up, so I stopped at 4.8 and 9.7!!! (It was hard though 🙄)
I’ve just come back from seeing my podiatrist who has adjusted my orthotics. I’m praying to the running gods that they’ll be ok and I don’t need to keep getting them adjusted as this will really put out my training 🤞Tomorrow’s little 6.4 will test them nicely.
Have a good week everyone and good luck to all in training x
I confess ... 6.4 became 6.5 for me (probably with another 0.01 that I can never avoid 😀). You're right, it's not easy 😅 Hope the orthotic tweaking is the answer to your niggles, fingers firmly crossed for you 🤞
During the runs I kept adding up all the “odds” for the 12 weeks and wondered if it would make much difference overall 🙄 But in the end I thought I’d stick to the plan, my logic being if I got injured it would be because of all those pesky odds 😂
I love my running routine and find myself thanking my lucky stars it’s in my life all the time. 🙏🏻 If anyone asks me to do anything, my immediate thought is, will it affect my run that day, or the next morning?
On a running morning (always morning), I get out the door fairly pronto. Limited faffage unless it’s raining hard and due to dry up during the run. Jacket or no jacket? It’s usually no. I love getting wet, but not so much on the warmup walk.
We were away for a few days last week and since Dartmoor is hills and more hills, I wasn’t that disappointed that a heavy cold sidelined me from running. I took the week off with no regrets, and got back to my HM plan this morning. Luckily it was a gentle short recovery run to get me back into the swing of things. Yes, I’d missed it!
Another gentle run tomorrow - a slightly longer one is on the plan - then are some speed runs coming up. Believe it or not I can’t wait! The euphoria of completing them is second to none, and I want the NRC coaches to be proud of me! (I know, I know! 🤦♀️)
I always admire your early starts on strava! I still in the early satges of faffing when you set out, and often still faffing when you press stop!!! I bet those NRC coaches are super proud of you ... I suspect they've even told you so more than once 😍
Thanks IP, yep I feel pretty much back to normal now. They had a segment on Jeremy Vine this morning about people coming down with heavier than normal colds at the moment. Yep, that would be me! 🙋♀️
Lovely post linda9389 and great to hear You’re starting to feel ‘more normal’ again.
I don’t have much problem getting up and out for my 3runs a week I really like the focus and freedom it brings. In fact I get quite cross if something gets in the way of my morning runs - just like today when I had to run this afternoon and in humid conditions which are my least favourite happy to run in most other conditions. Other than that I’ve probably been in a slight rut these past few weeks for one reason or another even though I ran 3 runs throughout. Last week I started to think about a HM again and did 14 k to start me off last Friday and I’m planning 16.1 k this Friday so I’m now feeling I have a plan and a focus and that makes me happy.
So overall I love getting out and running and all the great feelings of health and well-being along with all the achievements too, long May it continue.
There's that word 'freedom' again - I do like that idea. It's easy to get into a bit of a rut isn't it, but on the other hand there's no end of ways to spice things up - and another HM goal is a great choice! Good luck and enjoy!
I am so pleased to hear you are starting to feel that fog beginning to lift. So much of what you have said resonates. I was just starting to get my running back to some kind of normal after a stint on the IC when a fog of a totally different nature descended.
During a torrid two and a bit months which left me feeling totally drained - physically, mentally and emotionally - the desire to run never left me. And, despite my runs being shorter and much less frequent, being able to lace up and get out there saved me and was a truly healing and restorative experience.
You are so right when you talk about control. My runs are the one thing that I am in control of, and when I run it's the one time when I feel totally free and can just live in the moment.
A weeks break in North Wales came at the perfect time, following on from all of the formalities. Being able to precede it with a short visit to see step-daughter and the grandkids for the first time in 18 months was an added bonus. Two runs during this time - one much more enjoyable than the other - in truly magnificent surroundings kick-started the journey back to a bit more normality.
I'm hoping to get back up to 10k again before the end of the month. And then let's see.
Spot on and good to hear you'resetting out on the path back to normality too! I have just received permission to go back into Canada for our formalities (delayed because of Covid travel restrictions), but this time I hope to make a more pleasant break of the trip as well ... maybe a week of serious business and a week or so of properly catching up with people and enjoying the surroundings - with some lovely runs (and rides) thrown in of course! Take care.
Lovely to read that you’re getting back to normal Linda. What gets me out the door is running in a new pair of shoes 🤔😂Seriously though, I am an awful faffer and hate that part most of all. Sometimes it can take as long as the run itself 🙄 and I won’t lie, the choosing of the shoe to don, does take a little time 😬😅
Once I’m out it’s fine and I love it 💪👍😃, usually.
Hello Linda,What an interesting post. I think for me its about peace and control. Lots of problems get resolved on a longish run. Perspective returns, imagined issues reveal themselves as just that. Balance comes back. All sounds a bit zen but there we are. The real delight even in later life is attaining a level of fitness such that the question is not " can I go that far?" but instead "shall I try for this speed or that?" and " how do I maximise my enjoyment?"
Pleased things are returning to a bit of normallity for you Linda
I enjoyed reading your post and everyone else's comments. 😍. Some interesting stuff and view points... And I think I've felt similar to most of them at some point.
Freedom, control, peace, headspace, head clearing, escapism, fresh air(some of the time) exploring new areas, sense of achievement and sometimes improvements.... Are a few of the things that popped to my mind.
Usually I don't have much problem getting out, afer faffage. 😂 I used to prefer mornings (want to get back into that zone) but since working from home my run times can be anytime without any real plan in place, which can be good and bad I guess, as sometimes it just doesn't happen.
The only weather I'm not fussed on is when it's slippy icey and I'm like bambi.
The last month or so tho I did loose my mojo. No definate reason really, just felt a bit down and lost, with stuff getting on top of me. But when I did get out, I always felt better.
Had to self isolate a few weeks ago (first time inside a pub since last March and I got pinged) anyway the fact that I couldn't go for a run made me want to go sooooo much more. But in those days in the house I read about HM plans etc...updated my running notebooks, read some running mags.. And mojo came back 😊 still no decision on a HM plan tho, I'm messing about with the garmin plan. But most of all I'm just pleased to be back in the groove
Some great reasons to run right there - and I can identify with them all! Nothing like being stopped from doing something to make you absolutely want to do it!!! Glad it brought back your mojo ... happy messing about 😍
Oh I wrote a full reply bit it’s disappeared! Oh well. This gist of it really was to say I’m so happy your spark is back and I’m with you. No issues for me either on getting out; it’s more of an issue to not go out! I am managing some minor (hoping) strains on the right side. Taking an extra rest day here and there but still trying to maintain my 4 day weekly run plan. It was around this time last year when I was couch bound. Looking to not repeat that. Still working on my hills block now. But have eased a bit to offset possible overuse injury, so yesterday’s hills was on a softer gravel hill and less intense than before. Loving the short weekday woods runs too. Mentally they are good for my soul I think. Especially when I see some surprise wildlife. A couple of weeks ago a large buck crashed out of the bushes about 10 ft in front of me. It was such a great moment and it’s these ones that I remember best. I also have bad mental days but the runs do help manage those too. On days like that I often do out and backs to force myself to keep going. It’s been the rare time when I’ve not felt at least a little better afterwards. When I have bad or tough runs I usually have a sense of why, as it usually comes down to me forcing progress to fast or because I am stressed on other fronts. These last few weeks have been enjoyable and for this I am grateful. Happy running Linda and all!
Hope those strains disappear fast! I don't think there's anything like running in nature for feeding the soul - I love it! It's easy to get hung up on hard runs, but definitely worth taking time to be thankful for the good ones 😊
Hello Linda, I'm glad running has been so positive for you through your tough times. I was just thinking about how I've changed through running. I feel much more confident, so empowered and the knowledge I'm fitter makes me happy, but not as happy as finding the community I'm finding through running too! I do sometimes struggle to go out, but probably more because I go through phases of feeling less confident going out alone or I feel guilty for time I'm taking out to go..... (I have no reason to, they're all behind me here...I'm just a worrier!) And sometimes I just faff so much I lose the time or energy to go 🤦🏻♀️😂 However mostly, in my head, I'm planning my next run!! That was a mixed up reply!
I agree! Running really does change your life doesn't it. Wonderful that you can see that - missed days, bad days, they don't matter when you can see the bigger picture. Keep planning those runs 😊
Linda, have I totally missed this amazing post?I'm so with you..on the one thing that we were able to focus on.., however hard it was through lockdown month's..not visiting with my family..
Getting out for a run...
I'm amazed from Graduation last November I've ran 3 times every week, to I have a chart on my Kitchen door..my recent achievement of
20k just pulls my need even more..
I never really struggle to get out..I love lacing up.. it's definitely my go to 🙏
A 5k.. is wonderful now.. slow,or trying for a PB
A 10K.. great feeling to be able to run a comfortable pace,
Challenging myself is so satisfying,
Maybe for me it's because my kid's have left home..I'm on my own... And I've found its something just for me.. I can be proud of?
Isn't it amazing? Like you there is something in having something that is just for me. For 20+ years my achievements have been pretty much for or through the children, but this one is all for and by me, even though I started C25K with my eldest and initially stuck at it for her 😀 - she long since gave up). May the enjoyment continue for many years to come!
I too find it easy to head out for a run (and a lot harder to motivate myself to do any cross training). I suppose that the need to keep active to keep diabetes at bay and preparing for upcoming events helps but it seems to be more than that but I don’t know what.
I do sometimes feel a bit apprehensive about longer runs but I’ve found that it helps to approach them with an attitude of “just take it easy and see how it goes”.
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