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

[lightswitchmoment]

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?

It is @BlueChampagne it's standard across the country - 9am in England & Wales, 9:30am in Scotland and Northern Ireland for both Saturday and Sunday mornings!

OK well it has been a while. They must have standardised it in the interim.

To be fair, the junior park run local to me is on a Sunday morning and in a different, flatter park. I don't think it's been going all that long and I think it's led by a different person, though they all know eachother in the running circles!

Although juniors can run a normal park run if they want the actual Junior Parkrun events should be on a Sunday morning (the 2k instead of the full 5k of a normal park run)

@eurochick can you get to a different Parkrun? I'm lucky in that I have a few near me (north London) and I don't like the competitive ones either. I know they say that no one comes last but there's definitely a feeling at some of them that is less encouraging. I did Hackney Marshes a while back and didn't enjoy it.
My regular one is now Valentine's Parkrun in Ilford, which is brilliant. Lots of walkers and about 200 people with a real spread of times. I'm still very slow. My first Parkrun was almost 50 minutes. I'm around 38 minutes at my best now but I'm still a good way from the back.
Parkrun tourism is good fun also. I've done a bunch of the London ones and if we go away for a weekend we usually try to do the local one. Keeps it interesting. We've done Ely and Lichfield recently. It's also worldwide pretty much so we did one in Stockholm when we were there.
It's completely addictive. There are t shirts at milestone runs...I'm just coming up to 50 and volunteering is great too.

I’ve just finished C2 5K for the umpteenth time. I like running in the evenings, I sleep really well when I do. I tell myself that if I go now, I can be on my way home in 15 mins….

If I’m WFH, I dress in a sports bra when I get up. That’s the hardest bit of getting changed !

@Gonnagetgoing I'm glad I've encouraged someone to join This Girl Runs. I did a lot of the monthly challenges during lockdown but have been going to the gym instead for the last few months, so I've just rejoined for January.

@emmathedilemma

It is *@BlueChampagne* it's standard across the country - 9am in England & Wales, 9:30am in Scotland and Northern Ireland for both Saturday and Sunday mornings!

I'm the event director of my local junior parkrun and we are a 9.30 start (England). They have since standardised to 9am but some of the ones which started in the early days are still at different start time. Worth checking individual event websites for start times. I may be biased, but I wouldn't have run anywhere without parkrun, it really is a lovely supportive community and as a family we've made so many friends there. As others have said, just go along to the park and check it out one Saturday so you can see for yourself before you sign up, it might feel a bit less intimidating if you've seen it in action.

Do it! It's so much nicer running with other people and makes it feel a lot safer after dark and on routes you wouldn't do alone.

@Gonnagetgoing above was to you, quote fail!

Definitely parkrun. I find going very motivating. I'd also agree with junior parkrun if you have youngish children. I used to run with ds & it was helpful in getting a run done.

You could also try entering a 5k race for life and following a training programme aimed at that. Having something to aim for gives you a reason to run. There aren't many 5k races around unfortunately but you could enter more than one race for life or a normal 5k & a pretty muddy one too.

@lightswitchmoment I actually started because my mate said 'let's do race 4 life' when I was a 17st fat bastard size 20. I had also not long bought a puppy so I started running and then when she was over the 12 months started taking her with me. That was 7 years ago and I've not looked back.

Thank you for all the advice. My 11yo might do a junior park run with me and I'll definitely check out This Girl Runs. Like a challenge

Parkrun is a run not a race, but you have a range of abilities and some want a PB. For a club runner or intermediate / advanced runner doing a 5km in 23-25 minutes is not competitive, it’s an easy run. There will be others racing along doing sub 17 minutes, but lots doing 30 minutes plus. Parkrun is suitable for everyone and all abilities, I wouldn’t let the fast runners put you off!
I would suggest a running club though - strength in numbers in the evening, more of a reason to get out, you will make friends, and you will improve because they do specific sessions to develop you. They also cater for all runners - usually once you can run about 5km at any speed, but lots have beginner groups to get you to the 5km.
Good luck with it, I must dash, volunteering at Parkrun this morning and a cross country race this afternoon!

There is also great support on the Run Mummy Run Facebook, the main page is free or you can pay a small fee and join the club, which has a weekly training session, nutrition tips etc.

parkruns do differ in their 'feel', definitely worth persevering until you find an event that works for you. My local ones have hundreds of runners, and finish times range from 14/15 mins to 50 mins or more.
I'm also a big fan of the virtual challenges - I did a daily run throughout December and it transformed my plodding running & fitness and now I have the challenge of keeping it up, so am going to treat myself to a Conqueror virtual challenge - they're not cheap but you can set your own goals, you can follow your route on streetview and they do really cool medals!

Definitely parkrun! Both run and volunteer, you’ll meet lots of lovely people and maybe people to run with. Try the running group, I’d be amazed if it wasn’t full of lovely people and totally inclusive!

I've just started cautiously running after dark as it has become hard to fit it in otherwise. I really enjoy it. I stick to well lit residential streets, and take it slowly so I don't trip. Running first thing just doesn't suit me - like you, late morning works well for me, but think this after work slot is my next best as it is lovely getting home to bath, dinner, sofa.

I agree with pp that other people will be encouraging (or at worst indifferent) - I like running alone but have done plenty else in groups once I'd got more confident/lost my self-consciousness - it is very liberating

I started running about 8 years ago with a friend, I was in my early 40s. Up to that point I hated running, it was school cross country running in nylon shorts and an airtex that put me off. I found initially running/plodding with friends was the encouragement I needed. Rather than go for a coffee and catch up we went for a run.