Good morning VRBs, how’s it going? I hope you’re enjoying your running, regardless of the weather, and that not too many of you are languishing on the injury couch.
I've been doing a lot of hiding from the sun and not much running recently. However, when I went to see the men's Tour de France the other day I coated myself in factor 50, walked a few km to the top of a Category 3 climb (see photo), and jogged back down most of it post-race, despite temperatures in the upper thirties.
Although I'm not a cyclist, I’ve been to Le Tour several times and love the roadside atmosphere, at least in the relatively quiet areas where I’ve experienced it. (I would happily exterminate the mindless wanna-be-on-TV-get-a-selfie-me-me-me muppets who jump into the road or run alongside the riders like demented chickens, flapping all over the place and caring not whether they block the road or cause a crash.)
It's about chatting to complete strangers, and waving skywards like kids at the first sight of the helicopters. Then it's the arrival of the police and TV motorbikes and cars, then finally the first racers, or occasionally one racer. They're greeted with a cacophony of cries of Allez allez allez !, often accompanied by air-horns or quite possibly cowbells. There’s wild excitement for a few seconds, or minutes if you’re lucky, then whoosh, they're gone.
It’s ironic, really, that I enjoy it, because personally I hate being stared at and cheered on. I can’t cope with walls of noise, and I panic if surrounded by too many people. Audio coaching stresses me too, as it’s out-of-context and sometimes patronising and absurd – why tell me I’m doing really well if it’s blatantly obvious that I’m not? For me, if I can’t find my own motivation, no outside intervention is going to fix things.
However, I recognise that many, perhaps most runners benefit from support from crowds and having words of encouragement in their ears. So let’s share our top motivational factors! What helps you to run – do you revel in others‘ support and lap up race magic, or would you rather go your own way?
Whatever your approach, wherever you are, happy, safe running to you all!
What an experience! I would go too if I lived near. I do like the guided audio runs but often realise they are just background noise and I don't really hear. I'm now a lone runner and have learnt that's what I enjoy most, but parkrun has recently grabbed me and I quite like being part of a group, albeit still mostly running alone while the gazelles race on together at the front.
I saw your posts about parkrunSueAppleRun , they were really evocative of your experience and I'm really pleased for you that you're enjoying it.
Interesting point about audio-guided runs becoming background noise; I think I'd struggle to tune them out like that. How are you getting on with your bone conduction headphones btw? Which did you eventually go for? Hope they're working well for you!
Love my bone conducting headphones, I went shopping the other day, talked to a few people and it was only when I got home I realised I still had them on..I went for a medium priced pair with a funny name, didn't receive an email receipt,, got a bit worried and impatient so ordered a cheap pair from Amazon which came the next day, fell in love, then the others turned up so I have 2 pairs for less than a pair of Shokz, when they give up on me I might invest in the posh ones but for now have a much better listening experience than in ear buds, and feel safer out on the roads.
I found on longer runs having someone chatting every so often makes the time flow past without keep checking my watch to see how long I've been out.
I found when I was walking and running every day with my neighbour and we chatted I didn't feel I'd had my unwind me time so have cut that down to a couple times a week.
You're definitely selling me the idea of trying cheapy bone conduction headphones just to see how I get on. Not sure whether I should thank you or not, I've been doing way too much comfort spending recently!
I can totally relate to the lack of "unwind me time" when running with your neighbour. As soon as someone else shows up my default mode is to try to fit in or keep up with them, which doesn't work well for me at all. I really need my own space when running!
Hi Cmoi! I run solo 90% of the time, only experiencing running with others at parkrun or races. I enjoy both, and I equally enjoy running in silence or with music/NRC coaching. I mostly have Coach B and pals for company, with one of my embarrassing 80s/90s playlists in the background. 🎶
I get mildly irritated by people elbowing through, or if I’ve made the effort to catch someone up who’s walking, only for them to start running themselves the moment I draw level. 🙄 Really? 😅
I can’t say I benefit the help of crowds in races because my pace is my pace and nothing much can change it! But it is fun to hear them shouting my name! I always grin back (or maybe it’s a grimace!). 😵💫
One of the benefits, I find, of being a slow runner is that your mates finish before you and are then on the run into the finish shouting encouragement for you. I just love that.
I think I know what you mean Cmoi. I usually run on my own but I have been wondering, if I should ever participate in an organised run (race?), whether I should do so under an assumed name.
I assume that any races that include your name on your race number generate it from the name in which you register Leotigris . So if you use an assumed name for that, you could be in all sorts of hot water re insurance etc! Totally understand the temptation though, would make life so much easier.
It also strikes me that putting someone's names on their race number makes it really easy to track them down. Not that desirable a result, I'd have thought.
Of course. However, it's already perfectly possible to track people down using race info, and having their first name just facilitates that.
Personally I'd rather not disclose my name to hundreds or thousands of strangers just so they can do something I dislike, i.e. shout at me. I'd prefer race organisers to give people the option to refuse name on bib - easy enough to include that in the data that generate the race numbers.
Oh the idea of people shouting my name when I'm running just makes me want to run away and hide cheekychipmunks ! When I was approaching the finish line of the Trail du Gévaudan, they announced my name, and I reacted like a complete dipstick, shouting back (uh?) trying to run faster (on a cobbled uphill) and waving my arms about (obviously). Utterly cringeworthy.
I deliberately don't put myself in running situations where someone might be elbowing through! As for the catching up thing, I can see that would be annoying, but what if the person you're catching up is actually using a particular jeffing ratio?
I love running on my own. I do love park run though as I don’t particularly enjoy running at 5k pace & other people help me do that. At park run on Saturday someone tried to sprint up behind me as I got close to the finish & I’m ashamed to admit I hit a silly pace for me to allow that not to happen🤣
Another glorious run photo from you RunWillie , thanks!
Totally get why you sped up at parkrun, though at least it has a positive effect on you. I find myself feeling obliged to try to run faster if the neighbour's going past in his tractor, which is just ridiculous. The other day I had to slow to a walk not to spook his cows, which he was herding back into the field. They were safely behind the wire behind the time I arrived, so I felt I absolutely had to run up the hill at a much faster pace than normal, despite the heat!
You can watch Le Tour des Femmes instead Shake-and-run ! My excuse for lazy afternoons has been temperatures regularly into the upper 30s and lower 40s, though it finally rained here today and cooled things off.
I just love running; but I like to have a goal to work towards…..a bit further or a little bit faster or a bit fitter. I use CB et Al too, because that helps me to make progress. I enjoyed the one massive race I took part in (GSR 2022), but that experience was enhanced by lots of amazing VRB meet ups, including Her Royal Highness roseabi! Overtaking was definitely fun!!
I also enjoy the countryside through which I run; lots of birds, animals and flora….and I rarely return home feeling anything less than much better than when I set off.
You're a great role model for seeing the positive side of all sorts of runs Beachcomber66 !
It sounds to me that you're encouraged by the sorts of external factors - audio coaching, being with VRBs, people cheering you on in races - that I find unhelpful.
You threw me completely talking about CB et Al! I worked out that CB must be Coach Bennett but I was baffled by his mysterious sidekick Al, since you clearly weren't talking about a forum member. Dawned on me eventually that you were using Latin, whereas I was reading et in French and Al in English...
I like running on my own without any noises in my ear too Cmoi, in fact until I discovered NRC, every run matched that description. The “et Al” comes from proof reading academic papers for our daughter ….I didn’t even think about it…just part of my vocabulary. Could have been AlMorr of course 🙂.
I've been doing all my recent runs without any audio at all recently, but that's because I had to change headsets and I don't like the tone of the new earbuds, too tinny. Must see if I can fiddle with the phone settings to make them
While I'm familiar with Latin et al. if I see et my brain defaults to French!
Did you have the caravan come through too CMoi? Throwing all their trashy giveaways at the crowd? Le Tour came through Cordes a couple of times when I was there, people were practically throwing themselves under the vehicles for a free chocolate bar, or cheap hat.
I'm pretty much a lone runner too, I joined a club where "all speeds and abilities" were welcome, then of course they all just ran off and left me. I knew it was going to happen when I told someone in my group that I expected a 5K time of about 45 mins, and he said, yeah I'm really slow too, best I can manage is 22...
I did C25K in France, and never saw another runner during my whole summer. Everyone told me I'd love parkrun when I got home, but I was completely fazed by the sheer number of other runners. I do go occasionally, mostly to support my "5KYourWay" group, but I always start at the back, and wait till the pack thins out before I make any attempt to go a bit faster. Same with the very few races I've done, I'm scared someone will trip me up.
Motivation? I like the NRC guided runs, if left to myself I will do the same route over and over, and rarely go further than 4K...
Yes, I was there for the caravan too Curlygurly2 . In a protected zone, though, so no chucking of freebies. Leclerc now send a van well after the main caravan to dole out polka dot caps, which provoked a cynical observation from the guy next to me about the price of their groceries. As a main sponsor they must have spent a fortune this year - I also saw loads of t-shirts, and raincapes too, which I spotted (groan) when watching the Tour des Femmes on TV yesterday.
That club experience must have been so disheartening. Surely any club that only wants fast(er) runners should just say so, instead of pretending to welcome everyone?
I'm with you on running in large groups - it feels way too intimidating to me, even photos of mass events look scary, not appealing. Still remain to be convinced re audio-coached runs though!
The chap who boasted about his "not fast" time was a complete plank, we did a lockdown relay where he was meant to message me on Facebook when it was my turn to take over....eventually he phoned me to say "where are you? I've been messaging you on snapchat" or some other app I don't have,,,maybe he felt a bit stupid (he was) I've never been back to that club, it must be very obvious why...never mind, I'm happier on my own.
The guided runs won't suit everybody, and I would imagine they are particularly of no use to you on your trail runs - if I've understood what you do correctly. I do them on paved paths and roads, you are out in the hills and forests aren't you? Probably no use at all...
Literally laughed out loud at the "complete plank" Curlygurly2 !
Yes, while I don't spend all my time in the forest getting scratched and bitten and balancing on logs, the variety of gradients and surfaces round here is one of the reasons why I don't get on with guided runs. Varying pace to order is all very well if the route is reasonably similar throughout, but mine rarely are.
This evening's 5.6k was nothing out of the ordinary, almost all on road and tracks, but included 141m elevation gain on a mix of surfaces including uneven tarmac, loose sandy gravel, loose stones, dried mud, compacted soil and grass. In that context it would be stupid of me to follow a voice in my ear telling me what to do, rather than using my own judgement and common sense.
Oh, I miss those kind of runs! There was nowhere at all that was flat by my house in Cordes, I find running on the flat as it is in Cambridge rather relentless and boring...
Yes, running in and around Cordes must have been really lovely, varied too.
Like you I find flat terrain monotonous, and I don't know how to cope with it. On holiday last year I ran in drizzle along a flat, tarmaced voie verte. Hedges on either side, so no views. All I could see was the damn thing stretching ahead, with the odd bridge overhead and occasional cyclists. I hated it. Was so glad when I heard rumbles of thunder and could justify turning round and running straight back to the campsite!
On my last visit to Cordes, I finally ran up all the hills, all the way to the top! Some were monstrous, I couldn't walk up them when we first got there...we had 50 MTs of elevation just to pop to the shop for a baguette! Of curse, I didn't know then it was to be my last visit, I'm glad I finally ticked them all off!
Yes, if we visit Cordes again, I'm going to have to do as many of the hills as possible. From the aire de camping-car up into the town then around and up and down a bit!
I think the biggest monster is between the Presse and Moulin (the bakers), also from the town up to the clock tower, that's cobbled and rough too, if you need a bit more challenge! The best view is from the hang gliding point, really super.
Visited Cordes a couple of times, it's about 260km and nearly 4 hours from us. Very pretty, reminds me of the old town of Le Puy en Velay, much closer to me.
When I did the Trail du Gévaudan the finishing straight was on the rue des tables up to the cathedral. All cobbles and rough! There again, I got off lightly - UTMB has now taken over the race, and this year they made finishers run all the way up the rue des tables, up the cathedral steps, and round the little cobbled streets at the back of the cathedral to the finish. Slightly OTT, I feel!
'Why tell me I’m doing really well if it’s blatantly obvious that I’m not?' I really know what you mean 😊 The coaches on NRC really vary and some acknowledge that your run could be going one of several ways, much more realistic.
I have found since my injuries that meant no running at all, [after my August 2020 fall, I couldn't even walk], I just so appreciate being able to run. Running before breakfast when few folk are about, exploring different routes and spotting different birds, plants and animals all add to the pleasure. Currently enjoying listening to BBC Changing Lives. At times when motivation is lacking I just go with that running is an investment in my health and that is what I do. No argument allowed! But currently I just want to run, my various injuries continue to let me know that I need to hold back, so both in terms of pace and total distance, I will have to try and interpret what my body is saying.
Happy running to you when it is cool enough to do so. 🏃🏻♀️😊
Glad someone agrees with me re random encouragement over61andstilltrying ! I can't handle the disconnect between what I'm experiencing in reality and what I'm being told. I dislike satnav for the same reason - don't tell me to go down that street when I can see it's closed!
After rain yesterday evening it's actually cooled off significantly now, only around 21° early afternoon, and with quite a strong cool breeze, so I might run this afternoon or evening. Will be such a welcome change!
Hey Cmoi and all VRB s 😁That sounds fun to watch the Tour de France, and soak up the atmosphere 😀
Well I'm still on IC but foot much improved though still puffy!
Have an unrelated hospital procedure tomorrow, eek. So currently only allowed drinks, no food til teatime tomorrow so thats a bit miserable! 🤬
Motivation wise my main reason to get up and out are the running buddies I've made at various running clubs over here, we have a brilliant community of runners! I love trail running the most so my Wed's night runs with a group of a dozen or so who like to go splashing through puddles etc keeps me happy!
There's a great 11 mile run I doubt I'll make this year as its only 2 weeks away, but if not will do the winter version. In the Summer one everyone jumps in the sea at the end as it finishes at the seaside!
Hope the hospital procedure went well aliboo70 and that you're soon able to leave the IC and go puddle-splashing again! Your idea of fun running sounds much closer to mine than most people's. Must be wonderful to jump in the sea at the end of a run - bit difficult for me as the nearest coast is a 3.5 hour mainly motorway drive away!
Yes it was better than I feared luckily Cmoi and staff were all really lovely. 🥰Very happy with tea and biscuits afterwards after 28hr fast! I love that run, be good to get back out there! Xxx
I’ve only seen the Tour once when it literally went past our road end and we then walked in the rain for 3k to Monbazillac to watch them go past again. Shake-and-run and Mr Shakes, being huge cycling fans, came to stay with us for the first time, fell in love with the place and bought their own house! Now we have our running club here too!
As for motivation, when in the uk, I struggle because there are not that many interesting routes from home and pretty much all on road, so I go to running club to have people to chat to, as well as leaders who do recce different routes and parkrun. When I’m away I love exploring on my own, either with music or podcasts or just in my own head. If there’s a seashore or lake or river, even better!
Hadn't realised that was how you and Shake-and-run ended up in the same area of France Sandie1961 , that's quite a story! I keep hoping that one year Le Tour will cycle the forest road by us; apparently they did several decades ago.
I'm spoilt for choice here when it comes to routes - even if I'm sticking to roads I can do lots of variations around 4-6k. The thought of having to run them with someone else, unless it were my brother, just doesn't appeal though. Same old concerns about having to keep up and fit in with them. Funnily enough though I'll happily wave, say hello to and chat with anyone I meet when I'm out running - but that has to be my decision!
I’m a solo runner but do like running with the niece and her kids when the opportunity arises. Races give me the chance to run with others, which makes a pleasant change. I only do small events as a rule so supporters are often few and far between. That’s not to underestimate the power of a supporting crowd though . It’s a real uplifting boost when the going gets tough 😀💪
Having a supporting crowd is exactly what freaks me out if I'm finding things tough misswobble . Doesn't matter that people are there to encourage, the last thing I want is to be noticed and have to respond positively to what I perceive as distracting extraneous noise. What I need is to stay inside my own head and concentrate!
Cycle race atmosphere is fun! We had a glorious few years when the Tour de Yorkshire was going and also some great occasions round Europe. Our local park also hosts triathlons (including the World Tour a few times) and that's great too. In fact on reflection, I'm not sure which is better: cycle races or the crowds round maras and HMs. Totally agree re the Muppets though.
Regarding motivation; it's other runners that I really appreciate. A spectator might get me to stretch out a bit / keep going / to look like I know what I'm doing, but there's nothing like a real person running by your side saying "keep going", "you can do this" etc. I find it so good and useful so try to do this to other runners (and hope that I'm not irritating them!). It's lovely when at the end someone comes up and says that it was positive for them.
One of the best experiences I ever had was being paced the last 2k to the stadium at the end of a HM by a fellow club runner. I was really struggling at that point but the memory of the support still makes me so happy.
As for the audio stuff - strangely perhaps given the above - I find it does work. It was a nice progress marker on the C25K app and having Michael Johnson telling me "you're a runner now" made me giggle.
You're obviously a kind, supportive person RunSkippyRun and I'm glad that interacting with other runners works for you.
I used the C25K podcasts, and the disembodied voice of Laura was more useful than not. However there were times when I informed her that she was an expletive-deleted whatever!
Generally speaking I'm not interested in being a spectator at cycling or running events, Le Tour is an exception. It's come within an hour or so of where I live several times in the past few years, and although it's such a huge race, the atmosphere remains pretty laidback. I wouldn't go near those horrendously crowded climbs in the Alps though!
I was reading that thinking it sounded so unlike you - noise, crowd, cheering 😍.I love running alone but I definitely speed up in a group situation like parkrun or an event where I can run alone but among others. My worst is running with someone else - too much pressure (well, perceived pressure).
My three main motivators are feeling fit, improving and having time to myself to destress; not terribly original I'm afraid.
I am back running again, albeit shorter and slower so as not to aggravate my hip. It's really lovely be out even if the runs are a bit on the short side. I dropped down from my HM entry to 10K for the beginning of October so there's no pressure; I can simply enjoy what I can do 😊
You're actually right linda9389 that noise, crowds and cheering aren't like me. I pick my Tour viewing spots carefully! That photo was taken roughly two hours before the riders arrived, and although people were lining the barriers at that point, there was nobody behind me, so no crowding or being hemmed in. The noise can be intense, but it doesn't last long at all, and because it's in the open air it dissipates immediately, so I don't get time to panic.
Great that you're running again - hope your leg continues to behave itself!
Oh, forgot to say - I think I've found a way to turn off the garmin suggested workout prompts. Will see if it works next time I head out. I never ever used them so I probably should've tried this sooner 🤣
How wonderful to be able to see a glimpse of The Tour as it flies by! But I do fear for the riders as the crazy spectators get so close.
Well you know me Cmoi , I love the community spirit of parkrun and running in races. Part of this may be the fact that I still rejoice in being a runner, having not attempted it until I reached the age of 60! If people want to cheer on this 65 year old in bright Lycra then I will soak it all up and smile back. I will chat to complete strangers if we happen to be running alongside at the same pace, at the same time. And, although I am not a competitive person, my best distance times have been when running at these events. The official photos are usually the only disappointment - I have yet to see one with flying feet!
I love that I can talk about running with my niece and her hubby, even though they are in a totally different league with their triathlons and duathlons.
Our HU buddy meet ups are great too. Even though we rarely run alongside each other, we cheer each other on , have a great laugh before and after, and have become great friends.
Sometimes when running alone I need the playlists and chatter of NRC coaches to get me to the end, and other days I just enjoy taking in everything around me.
So, there are many incentives, but at the end of the day, the main reason I started running was to improve my fitness, health and longevity, and that is still my main motivation.
Your approach is so different to mine Dexy5 , as I think we've said before, though we started running at a similar age - I was 59.
For me running is very definitely selfish me-time, a welcome contrast to pretty much everything I've ever done in paid employment and in voluntary roles. I'm actually very driven and competitive in many contexts. However, I'll never be amongst the leaders in races and timed events, so see no point in making myself miserable just to be a fraction less mediocre. I know I can run 10k, so doing it over and over again just to shave a few seconds off seems really odd to me. If I'm going to challenge myself it'll be by doing something that's new, different or difficult.
Maybe motivation was the wrong word, as I guess I'm interested in what drives people on when they're actually out for a run and perhaps finding things tough. For me personally, the capacity to keep going has to come from within, and for that I need to be able to focus and concentrate, I don't want external noise and interference. Wonder if Tour de France riders ever feel the same?!
I run because I can 😁 I worked so hard to complete C25K and am so proud that I can now run, that I don’t want to lose it. I also love running, and timetable in a couple of runs a week in my busy life. I enjoy running alone for the most part. I’ll do a virtual event every now and then and invite others to run with me. I have no desire to run in races or events. I am surrounded by kids and people all day and have lots of deadlines and stress placed on me daily. I spend a lot of time on the computer writing educational reports. Running is the opposite of all of that; it’s outside, physical and reduces my stress. Signing up for an event would add deadlines and pressure. I like to feel that I’m completely free from that when running. It’s bliss. I do like a plan to give me some structure and I do like the NRC guided runs but I often tune out and don’t actively listen to most of it. I used to need music in the background as I couldn’t stand to hear my foot strikes and huffing and puffing 😂 I think it reminded me how hard work running was. Now I’m more comfortable, I enjoy the empty spaces between the comments. I can let my mind wonder and just be in the moment. So that’s a long way of saying I like to run solo and in my own sweet way and time, as freedom and stress relief are my 2 biggest motivating factors 😊
As a recently-retired teacher, tutor and trainer, and having worked in PR, communications and marketing before that, I can so identify with all that you said about being surrounded by people all day, deadlines and pressure Frizzbomb67 .
Like you, the very last thing I wanted after a day at work of noise, rushing about, and trying to keep on top of a whole range of responsibilities, all the while attempting to remain encouraging, helpful, professional and positive, was to add more random shoutiness and obligation to perform. I just don't need that.
That must be so thrilling Cmoi but blink and you’d miss it completely 😂 I’m sure the atmosphere is special, similar to running events too.
I’m pretty self-motivated and don’t need any technology, or another person, to tell me to do something. I’ve tried running a couple of times with friends but didn’t enjoy that at all. I want to run or chat not both at the same time. For the same reason I left a running club. I just prefer running on my own.
Having said that, races are different. I love the atmosphere and the emotion of standing at the start line feeling proud and feeling part of the whole group of runners there. And of course, it’s always encouraging (to me) to hear a voice from the crowd shout your name and urge you onwards. The first time this happened to me during a race I wondered how they knew my name and then realised it was printed on my bib! 😂
I do like a bit of epic orchestral music in my ears if I’m on a hard run and find it very motivating because I just imagine I’m starring in my own action film 💪😂
What a lovely photo Irishprincess ! And it's a forest minus waist-high nettles!!
The first time we went to see Le Tour we ended up on a fairly gentle downhill between bends, and it really was blink and you've missed it. Now I try to pick spots where they're riding uphill and visibility's better. My husband, meanwhile, stays at home and watches it on TV.
I like the idea of your doing your very own super-hero universe-conquering thing while out running, complete with soundtrack! I definitely find that the right listening helps me when I'm running, as long as it's not someone telling me what to do! I don't do bpm playlists either.
We'll have to agree to differ on races, but you knew that already! 😉
I try to avoid areas with nettles in the summer (nettles and shorts are not good together 😫) but the narrow country roads are the worst because when a car passes I have to stop and let it pass and there is nowhere for me to go but the roadside which, at the minute, is usually abound with nettles 😧 I have to very quickly search for a little gap. Luckily, they are mostly very quiet roads and there’s not much traffic.
They're all narrow country roads round here, though on most I'm less worried about roadside nettles than falling down a ditch or, worst case, a properly steep forested slope. Normally there's very little traffic indeed, and most drivers are great, though I have been known to get sweary on Strava at those who use me as target practice.
Definitely a solo runner here but I do love a running event too - there is something very uplifting about running amidst a mass of people!
Still no running here, I’m afraid. I tried a short run last Friday and it was clear pretty early on that all was not right, so I am now having a proper break for at least a week to see if things settle. I can’t work out whether the niggle is caused by my sacroiliac or piriformis, after initially thinking it was my hamstring! I am hoping that a period of rest along with magnesium baths and the occasional ibuprofen and ice pack will help things. Annoying as I am now have the long school holidays in which I had planned to do so much with my running! Hey, ho - I am sure it will all fall in to place…🤞🙂
Sorry to hear that you're not able to run at the moment Sandraj39 . Niggles, especially when it's not clear what's actually going wrong, are so frustrating. Have you had advice from a physio or similar? (Says she who has never been near one in her life...) Hope things improve soon. When they do I shall very happily leave the running amidst a mass of people to you. Even the thought of it makes me shudder!
A good question for a woman who never ran until four years ago. Well… it’s a challenge and something that follows a plan (if I’m training). It gives me headspace- my own time- when I run alone. I like getting kit ready the night before and sorting music, pod cast etc. You guys VRBs have motivated me. From day 1 of C25K there was always a high five 🖐️ or a hand clap. People who understood. I ran for a minute, five minutes and then 20 minutes. And then when I became confident enough to be seen in public 😩and why do we all seem to have to go through this, other runners at club.
I’m returning to running next week and I feel fat and sluggish. So I’m going to read this a few times and get my NRC podcasts ready. Couch Bennet- what a guy! I want to be the woman from last year; training for a marathon. I think I can and that’s my biggest motivation.
Wishing you every success and loads of fun with your return to running Comfortnotspeed !
The concept of getting everything ready for a run the night before is alien to me, not least because I only run first thing in the morning when I have to, I don't bother with audio-coaching and I avoid training plans like the plague! While I usually have a minimum distance in mind, my decision re which shoes to wear is often made as I'm about to go out of the door, and I frequently don't know where I'm headed until I'm actually out there and running. I am a very bad runner indeed!
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