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Original poster

I'm a lockdown runner but need help becoming a runner

45 replies

lightswitchmoment · 03/01/2022 09:54

Morning

I took up running in lockdown April 2020 using C25K. I needed to lose some weight and knew I wanted to be fitter. It worked and I loved it. It was massively helped by having the time to chose a time slot in the day when I felt most comfortable and for me it was around midday just before lunch. It gave me time to have a light breakfast and some coffee. I then went back to work full time in September 2020 and found it more difficult to fit the running in after work but a family diagnosis resulted in me completing a month of charity runs which gave me inspiration to run regular 5-6Ks.

I then had a rest (big mistake) after the charity event and let the running lapse as work took over. I began C25K twice last year but quit around week 7 both times for reasons I know weren't really valid.

I now want to get back into it properly for my own physical and mental health, no excuses but it needs to fit around work. Where do you get the motivation from? I'm not a morning person so it would have to be after work around 6ish. It's going to be dark and miserable. I do want to join a local woman's running group but have never felt confident (I am slow) but I need to get over myself, I know this would help. I would also love to do a park run but see the previous problem. I need a goal but I also need a schedule that others use that works. Can anyone help?

OP posts:
Timeandtune · 03/01/2022 09:58

I definitely recommend ParkRun. As you know you don’t have to run- you can walk and do it at your own pace. If you are unsure you can volunteer for a bit.
I took up running aged 60 and have found ParkRun to be welcoming and supportive.

NerrSnerr · 03/01/2022 10:00

My absolute biggest advice is go to the park run! No one cares if you're slow, many people walk it and it's a very supportive environment.

Some running groups put on beginner's courses this time of year, might be worth taking a look.

Every single person out running had to start somewhere- everyone was a nine runner once.

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 03/01/2022 10:04

Have a look at your local parkrun’s results pages. It is very likely that you won’t be the slowest. Then get your barcode go along to watch or join in some how (run/walk/volunteer). Once you are hooked on that then that is one run a week sorted. I can’t really advise after that as my other motivation goes up and down.

Sometimes I sign up for virtual running medals which helps. My DH does a weekly track session with a club which is very mixed ability and, like parkrun, at a set time. I don’t think I have time to do that but I can see it would really help.

If you sign up for a 10K race and follow a training plan that might be motivating? Again look back at previous years results and make sure there will be people going at around your speed.

Captainj1 · 03/01/2022 10:05

I did a mile a day July (my choice of month). Ran mostly in the evenings as I’m not a morning person. It literally only took 10 minutes give or take. I felt so good at the end knowing I’d run more than a marathon that month! Was hard to find excuses not to find ten minutes, and once I’d got halfway through I knew I couldn’t give up. I then signed up to do a virtual marathon over the course of December, which I did across a few longer runs (3k-12k) on a treadmill. Next up is a live 10k in April. I will never be quick, but I don’t care!

Thisladyisforturning · 03/01/2022 10:05

Definitely Parkrun. No one is ever last and everyone is supportive and happy you're there regardless of pace. Don't wait to join the group, they'll be pleased you're there and will have runners of all paces. I was waiting to get fit to join mine but was persuaded to just go and had to admit that I wouldn't have got round to it otherwise. What I'm trying to say is just do it don't wait, you won't regret it!

TheBiscuitStrikesBack · 03/01/2022 10:08

Join the running club and get to park run. Big girl pants on, you’ll never look back.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 03/01/2022 10:08

Definitely just go along to parkrun. You won't be the slowest and it is a really welcoming environment. As someone else suggested, you could volunteer, or even just turn up to the park and watch the first time to give you confidence you can do it.

Also I'd message your local womens running groups and explain what you've said above... That you have done c25k a couple of times etc and ask whether they have something at the right level. I'm sure they will be helpful

As for when...i made myself turn into a morning person. But if you can't, then I'd suggest having all your stuff laid out ready before work (or even change at lunch into running gear if you wfh) so you can go straight out when work is done

Redcrayons · 03/01/2022 10:10

Also dropping in to fan girl over park run. It’s brilliant. My local one is a ‘fast’ one or pretty flat and the last runner comes in around 50 minutes which is basically all walking.

Get in touch with the running club. We run a C25K follow on group that’s really popular for people wanting to improve. Nobody is too slow for us

TheVolturi · 03/01/2022 10:14

If you can afford and have space get a treadmill. It's not the same as running outside obviously but I have three young dc and it's the only way I can run some days.
I actually watch Netflix while I run it's fab!

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 03/01/2022 10:15

I listen to two parkrun podcasts a week which add to the enthusiasm. I wouldn’t miss a parkrun now without a very good reason. (not a cult 😉)

LizziesTwin · 03/01/2022 10:17

Park run sent out an email saying how pleased they are that the average time is now longer as it means more walkers/walk runners are taking part.

Original poster
lightswitchmoment · 03/01/2022 10:17

So Park Run then?? Grin

You're right about the big girl pants. I keep putting it off, just wait until I can run 20 mins, just wait until I can run 30 mins, just wait till I hit 5K, just wait till the 5K is faster. Constantly worrying I'll make a fool of myself. I think school cross country has got a lot to answer for.

OP posts:
eurochick · 03/01/2022 10:29

It's interesting reading all the love for Park Run. I got back into running after a break during lockdown. I was easily running 5ks when Park Run restarted. It was much more competitive than I had expected from reading about it. I'm not super speedy but thought I was doing ok (around 35-36 mins for 5k on muddy not completely flat terrain) but I was very near the back and didn't sense any of the camaraderie mentioned. I did it a few times but I'm back to running by myself now. Maybe my local one is not like others!

BobbinThreadbare123 · 03/01/2022 10:46

We don't have a local Park Run but there is one in a neighbouring village and it's full of fell runners. Really off-putting.
I did the C25K, trashed one ankle and now I'm back to square one. If I'd been able to carry on, I'd have done one of the C210K plans, I reckon.

trulyconfuseddotcom · 03/01/2022 10:47

Hello - I've completed C25K once back in 2017 and gotten to week 6 or 7 twice since then - a local running club is starting a C25K group in Jan where you do 2 evening runs with the group and 1 run whenever works for you. I'm joining this to try to keep myself motivated! Is there anything like that near you maybe? Good luck!

emmathedilemma · 03/01/2022 21:02

Another vote for parkrun if you have one locally! I ran on New Year’s Day and spent the 2nd lap chatting to an 8yr old (and his dad) who was doing his first 5k parkrun (and smashing it!!) and I passed the tail Walker just setting off on their 2nd lap as I was leaving with an old boy who was shuffling along in his “250 parkruns” top and when I looked at the results it took him just over an hour but he was in the 90-94 age group!!! It really does take all abilities! If you go to parkrun you’ll meet people and potentially find a club or friends to run with.

Gonnagetgoing · 05/01/2022 15:06

I personally am not keen on Park Run (too many early starts), C25K just isn't me and I just wanted to run and be done with it. Sprained ankle last year which put a stop to things.

However from late November onwards I've been running every other day or every day around the local recreation ground which is approx 1 mile all the way round in length. I complete it in approx 15/20 minutes with a 5 minute warm up and warm down at both ends. I only do 1 lap for now.

I also do cardio (Body Project) and Pop Sugar workouts every day or every other day, sometimes a Mr Motivator 13 minute workout.

I also walked (god help me!) 40km from 12-4.30pm with only very short stops on Monday. Yes, I paid for it the same and next day with aches but had sauna and massage yesterday.

However, have also eaten rubbish recently so really need to get off that!

For motivation for my lunchtime park run I just put on trainers and kit and do it. Have lunch or not and just do it. Feel so much better afterwards. I am I admit, going a way where I have a short incline to run up and then a lovely longer incline to run down and a steepish hill to run down too rather than the other way round.

If you do run after 6ish then maybe ensure you have a route planned and stick to it. Maybe have a coffee and then straight out on the run and back.

BlueChampagne · 05/01/2022 15:24

If you have kids you could persuade to go, you could start with Junior Park Run, which is only 2km and might not be quite so early in the morning?

rookiemere · 05/01/2022 15:40

Try joining This Girl Runs on Facebook. It's a series of monthly challenges where you get act shirt or similar at the end ( and they are fairly decent ones) and you sign up for a set distance for that month. You can then post pictures of your run to keep you accountable also good to see where others are running.

Plus obvs parkrun Wink.

Isonthecase · 05/01/2022 15:49

I also recommend parkrun as something regular to keep the habit. However, it doesn't need to be an official one - really any time and day and distance you pick every week will do for the habit building. You won't set the world on fire running once a week but once that baseline is set it's much easier to throw in another jog when you get a chance and the improvement in times you'll see on your set run can get quite addictive!

mamakoukla · 05/01/2022 15:59

Give the local running group a try. It’s the best thing I did! Runners come in all shapes and sizes, ages and go at all sorts of speeds. The important thing for me was having somewhere to be and being held accountable. So lucky to have a group where it’s not competitive but it’s about being outside and running together. The group sometimes breaks up according to speed (faster ones loop back) or we go at the speed of the slowest that day. We also have planned run-walk intervals which makes sure the group can keep together. It’s different from most groups; really enjoy the all runners welcome approach,

Gonnagetgoing · 05/01/2022 16:25

@rookiemere

Try joining This Girl Runs on Facebook. It's a series of monthly challenges where you get act shirt or similar at the end ( and they are fairly decent ones) and you sign up for a set distance for that month. You can then post pictures of your run to keep you accountable also good to see where others are running.

Plus obvs parkrun Wink.

@rookiemere - I'm definitely joining This Girl Runs - sounds good to give me incentives.
Gonnagetgoing · 05/01/2022 16:26

@Isonthecase

I also recommend parkrun as something regular to keep the habit. However, it doesn't need to be an official one - really any time and day and distance you pick every week will do for the habit building. You won't set the world on fire running once a week but once that baseline is set it's much easier to throw in another jog when you get a chance and the improvement in times you'll see on your set run can get quite addictive!
@Isonthecase - I might set up a local running group myself - nothing too intensive - just casual.
emmathedilemma · 05/01/2022 16:40

junior parkrun is the same start time as 5k parkrun @BlueChampagne

BlueChampagne · 05/01/2022 16:49

Not round here @emmathedilemma - or at least not when I last took my kids