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BunnieJ

Hi, beginner here :wave:


Question: how do you keep yourself motivated? I'm really struggling!

I downloaded a C25K app a few weeks ago, bought myself some running tights/armband for my phone/earphones that clip onto my ears for about £20 altogether. I thought if I got into it I would invest more money in my gear, however since then I have only run twice!

A friend of mine (lives in another part of the country) started running using the app and is doing a 5k run in June. Last year we walked the Race for Life 5k, so I thought if I took up running too we could run it together this year. We've signed up and she's coming to stay with me for the weekend of the race, but I have done no training whatsoever! :eek:

It's not till July so I think I have enough time to train. I just want to be able to finish, I don't care how fast I am!

After my first session of C25K I was practically dead. I didn't realise just how unfit I am! I spent the next few days with my legs in agony after 20 mins of jogging. It just seems so boring! I live in the city centre, so not even any nice scenery to look at!

Any help/advice appricated

Syman

BunnieJ wrote: »

Hi, beginner here :wave:


Question: how do you keep yourself motivated? I'm really struggling!

I downloaded a C25K app a few weeks ago, bought myself some running tights/armband for my phone/earphones that clip onto my ears for about £20 altogether. I thought if I got into it I would invest more money in my gear, however since then I have only run twice!

A friend of mine (lives in another part of the country) started running using the app and is doing a 5k run in June. Last year we walked the Race for Life 5k, so I thought if I took up running too we could run it together this year. We've signed up and she's coming to stay with me for the weekend of the race, but I have done no training whatsoever! :eek:

It's not till July so I think I have enough time to train. I just want to be able to finish, I don't care how fast I am!

After my first session of C25K I was practically dead. I didn't realise just how unfit I am! I spent the next few days with my legs in agony after 20 mins of jogging. It just seems so boring! I live in the city centre, so not even any nice scenery to look at!

Any help/advice appricated

I did my first C25K session on sunday morning. Still aching, so the session i had planned for today may take a hit, I may however just go for a stroll as i used to.

Motivation is a personal thing. I don't really have any real goals to aim for so just trying for the sake of it. you however have a 5k to aim for.
As for boredom, my plan is to join a "running" club in the future, so will then have company. In the meantime, i just tune into local radio, or play some music. I use the time to switch off to the pressures of work.

BunnieJ

I did my first C25K session on sunday morning. Still aching, so the session i had planned for today may take a hit, I may however just go for a stroll as i used to.

Motivation is a personal thing. I don't really have any real goals to aim for so just trying for the sake of it. you however have a 5k to aim for.
As for boredom, my plan is to join a "running" club in the future, so will then have company. In the meantime, i just tune into local radio, or play some music. I use the time to switch off to the pressures of work.

I've been using Spotify to play music. If you put in "running songs" it has some pretty good compilation albums for running/exercise.

I think I'm just being lazy! I finish work at half 2 today, so I might try and go for a run this afternoon.

I also find that I feel very self-conscious when I'm running. I think it's because I know how unfit I am.

Syman

BunnieJ wrote: »

I also find that I feel very self-conscious when I'm running. I think it's because I know how unfit I am.

this is the thing that stops me. where i work i see lots of local people. I'd rather them not see me puffing like a steam train.:o

Alias_Omega

The local kids jest me when i go for a run, they sprint along with you..but they soon fall away..."hare and tortoise etc.."

I would run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays. Every run was a minimum distance of 5kms. I had a loop which was out and back, measured using Mapmyrun. If i did not run it, i would walk it... if it was raining...i would get wet..or i could run...

Once i could complete the 5km loop without stopping (28mins ishy), i would start to add in extra loops. They would be "around the block once more", i would add them in and out as required depending how i was feeling during that run...

Eventually...3miles became 4.5miles, then 6 miles. I remember my first 7mile run, Mrs AO dropped me off at her parents house which was 7miles away measured in the car, she went with the kids to her mums and i ran back. I was about 1mile from home when the kids passed me in the car waving..

After that...i enter the Great North Run, that was my goal. I pushed the distance by adding more and more loops in, i was never far from home and could turn back if required. Mrs AO knew where i would be, she knew my loops and would often drive my routes to provide me with bottles of water...

Eventually the 13.1 miles came, and now i can easily run 7-8miles without any extra training, as its all mental now i think...

BunnieJ

Wow! That's great Alias_Omega! :T

I'm not looking to run REALLY far, but if I can I will! 5k is my goal for now. I work the early shift on Tuesdays and Fridays (finish at 14:30) so I think I'll use these as my running days plus one day at the weekend.

I have a Samsung S4 and bought a cheap armband online, but even with my hoody on it slips down my arm. Any suggestions for making it smaller?

this is the thing that stops me. where i work i see lots of local people. I'd rather them not see me puffing like a steam train.:o

I was told doing the first few weeks of C25K in your garden would help if you're feeling embarressed, but sadly I don't have a garden! I'll have to run around the backstreets and try and avoid people :rotfl:

Alias_Omega

I have a small iPod, it fits into my shorts and i route it up inside my t-shirt. On some tops, i have cut a small hole in the arm-pit area to feed the cable down...

I dont use a GPS watch, i just wear a normal digital watch...i know the distance of the routes..as i have mapped them and run them often. I know roughly what time i should be somewhere.

I see people running who think its a fashion parade, you dont need a massive phone, stuck to your arm. You could have a cheap little MP3 player or iPod Shuffle, tuck it away somewhere and run free.

Does it really matter that you were 30secs slower this week than last week? Its all about quality, not quantity.

Many a time i have been out, reached the end of the road and turned back. Maybe an arguement before i went out, or just that little bit of random sick you get in your mouth. It just gave me more boost on the next run...

Distance...that will come. Your goals will be further...then next year you will find yourself standing in the Starting Pen for the 2015 Great North Run.

BunnieJ

So I didn't go for a run yesterday (big suprise!) I just can't seem to get motivated!

This weekend we're having family to stay so I've got a huge list of things that need to be done before they arrive. I really need to stop putting it off and just go out and run! I've been under a lot of stress recently, so I know running will help.

Hopefully I'll burn quite a few calories with all the housework that I need to do in the meantime

Alias_Omega

Bunnie,

If your not feeling it, your not feeling it. Remember..its about Quality not Quantity.

Your friend will not notice if things are not done, however if you do go for a run...you can talk about it...and maybe throw in...."this did not get done, as i went for a 5k run...etc.."

fufu_banterwaite

I'm training for my first ultramarathon, so I'm doing around 60miles a week now and it is difficult to stay motivated.

But to anyone having this problem I'd suggest you'd read about Cliff Young. Cliff was a 61 year old potato farmer who won the 1981 Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon (544 miles) despite never having run a race before.

• The remarkable story of Cliff Young

And watch this YouTube clip - is very inspirational I think:

• Cliff Young - the runner who never gave up