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Original poster

When running what do you feel/think about?

67 replies

Boringusername444 · 22/06/2018 18:56

I do really love running, especially the high when you’ve done it. But during running I feel like I’m constantly on a battle to breathe properly and mentally getting myself through the Miles.
Like, “oh my god 2 Miles left I’m never gonna do this, if I wasn’t in a group I would so be walking right now”.

And it makes me wonder. Are some of you like that? Or are you loving every minute? Are you thinking about what you’re having for dinner or what you will do at the weekend?

I’m still new to running so I talk to me, tell me everything about how you feel, think, get on with it, mentally prepare yourself etc.
If you don’t mind of course.

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
dancemom · 23/06/2018 11:17

@NotARegularPenguin as is mine but I am actually seeing him 😆

thenewaveragebear1983 · 23/06/2018 09:09

If I run outside I think of all sorts of stuff, my mind just wanders. I do intervals of focussed technique/speed work and then relax back into the zone. Decent music helps. I just do a Spotify playlist and just throw loads of random stuff on there. I have only been running 6 months but I have a pretty high level of fitness, amazingly, so I can do 10km pretty easily now. Sometimes I need to give myself a pep talk about how hard I’ve worked etc. I use Fitbit tracking so I get little chimes about how far/fast I’m going, and I like to focus on maintaining my pace.

On the treadmill I get so bored. It’s soul destroying. I count the seconds. I do weird ‘treadmill maths’ such as: if I run at 11km an hour, how long to run 1km? How many km at that speed to the end of this song? How far in 1 minute? I am rubbish at maths, particularly mental arithmetic so I end up getting all antsy as I can’t work the
Sums out.

EmpressOfSpartacus · 23/06/2018 08:22

I listen to music though audio books sound like a good idea. I spend most of the first k thinking about how I can't actually do this, then I get distracted by views or a song & my brain wanders off, then the next I notice, I'm halfway.

grafittiartist · 23/06/2018 08:13

Love running in my own so I can daydream, or plan stuff for work. But- I also love running with someone- chatting make the miles fly by!

Waitingonasmiley42 · 23/06/2018 08:02

I think about wanting to stop with bursts of feeling like a superhero. Going to try an audiobook after reading this!

MagnifyingGlassSearch · 23/06/2018 07:56

Could someone recommend good headphones for running please?

NotARegularPenguin · 23/06/2018 07:52

Grin. Mine is very easy on the eye.

dancemom · 23/06/2018 07:23

@NotARegularPenguin I hope you don't have the same PT as I do 🙈

emummy · 23/06/2018 07:19

I listen to podcasts and sometimes my mind goes for a wander - yesterday I was imagining the podcast host interviewing me about my running! If I had to run without headphones, in a race at, I try just to look around and enjoy the experience. Now I have bone conducting headphones I can always have my podcasts plus talk to other people so that's win win!

Original poster
Boringusername444 · 22/06/2018 23:20

Some very funny replies, thank you.

And I will look into those bone conducting head phones and some podcasts or audio books.

On my run tomorrow I am going to try extra hard to not think about how hard it is and how long until I get to stop

OP posts:
TheClitterati · 22/06/2018 23:10

Seems I do Japanese slow jogging! Never heard of it before though.

I jog slowly. Some days I am
Higher energy and go a bit faster.

I prefer audio books for jogging. Sometimes music. Sometimes I just repeat "can I stop yet?" Over and over.

MissMarplesKnitting · 22/06/2018 23:00

Actually, there's also a lot of rural road stress about whether there's a car about to mow me down/tractor in road based hedge diving.

Then 'oh bollocks i hate these hills, they go on for EVER'

A lot of admiring nature.

And in between all that, gin and cake. But j don't run far. Or fast. I potter about in the country lanes, Japanese slow jogging style, whilst wondering when I'm going to be thin....which considering the gin/cake thing is never Grin

Jeffjefftyjeff · 22/06/2018 22:52

When can I stop? Should I check my watch yet or will it not be long enough since I last checked and demoralise me? This song must be a 5 minute long one maybe I’ll check after that. I hope I don’t see anyone I know. Why do I live in a place with so many hills? Oh great someone overtaking me; I’m so slow. Can I just stop and lie down?

dootball · 22/06/2018 22:52

Think about maths!

lineyturner · 22/06/2018 22:49

@Boringusername444 what about bone conducting headphones? They sit outside your ears(on cheekbones) meaning you can still hear hazards like traffic but music/pod casts are clear. Weird but true!

Original poster
Boringusername444 · 22/06/2018 22:46

Oh god I love these replies.
I’m not the only one.
But also I really need to get around to getting a good playlist and some ear phones that don’t hurt my ears.

OP posts:
lineyturner · 22/06/2018 22:46

@bluetrampolines it's like having children. You sort of forget the bad bits Grin

bluetrampolines · 22/06/2018 22:38

So how do you make yourself do it?

whatsmynametoday · 22/06/2018 22:32

How much I hate running.

That is literally all I think about.. sometimes for 26 odd miles

bluetrampolines · 22/06/2018 22:31

Great thread.

MissMarplesKnitting · 22/06/2018 22:30

Mostly cake. And gin. And how hot I am.

floradora · 22/06/2018 22:28

I think of my mum struggling back to health after a cancer operation and kind of chant a mantra in rhythm with my steps "healthy heart and healthy lungs..(and maybe a pound off my bum...")

mistermagpie · 22/06/2018 22:23

I've just come back from a 12 mile run - I listened to an audiobook the whole way! For shorter or faster runs I listen to music. No way in the world could I just run with my thoughts going round in my head, I probably don't have enough of them anyway...

lineyturner · 22/06/2018 22:09

I think very smug virtuous thoughts. Like what I'd post on fb if I was that way inclined.

Like my own PR machine 'smashed 5k at Parkrun this morning, now off for a starbucks'

I think about before and after pictures. They're always like those slimming world ones holding out massive trousers.

I have quite the imagination!

Oh and I also think unsavoury thoughts about other people, and arguments from years ago that I should have won.

Lottapianos · 22/06/2018 21:49

'I have decided it will always be a struggle for me and I will never be fast, but I’m out there and doing it and that’s ok with me'

Good for you. I'm the same, I find it extremely tough but it's completely worth it