Have you ever fallen off the running wagon?

HS3

Have you ever fallen off the running/keep fit wagon? I don't mean had a bad race and taking a break knowing you'll get back to it eventually. I mean long passed htfu territory and falling off through some internal self destruct and struggled to get back on?

If so how long did it last and how did you get back on? Have you stayed on since?

Especially the unfit to fit folk. Has the unfit demon ever resurfaced? How did you fend it off?

For those who have never fallen off the wagon, what's kept you on? I'm sure everyone has that run they don't relish or a period in their training that lowers the head. How do you keep the head?

BeepBeep67

HS3 wrote: »

Have you ever fallen off the running/keep fit wagon? I don't mean had a bad race and taking a break knowing you'll get back to it eventually. I mean long passed htfu territory and falling off through some internal self destruct and struggled to get back on?

If so how long did it last and how did you get back on? Have you stayed on since?

Especially the unfit to fit folk. Has the unfit demon ever resurfaced? How did you fend it off?

For those who have never fallen off the wagon, what's kept you on? I'm sure everyone has that run they don't relish or a period in their training that lowers the head. How do you keep the head?

I fell off twice, once for 11 years and then for 10 years.
Jumped straight back in 2008, rejoined my running club, made commitments to race for the club and then started a log here in 2009.

Now it's part of me, one of my priorities and when I'm planning my week it gets planned alongside work and family commitments.

Krusty_Clown

Only running properly around 8 years, but have not fallen off the wagon. I put it down to diversity (training for different types of events), only doing what you enjoy, finding new and intetesting placed to run and running with good company. If you're not enjoying it, find something else that you do enjoy. Don't feel guilty about it. Life is too short.

HS3

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I fell off twice, once for 11 years and then for 10 years.
Jumped straight back in 2008, rejoined my running club, made commitments to race for the club and then started a log here in 2009.

Now it's part of me, one of my priorities and when I'm planning my week it gets planned alongside work and family commitments.

Do you think being part of a club helped keep you back on course or had you enough of not running that that was your influence to keep on track? Hah! Puns not intended.

Making it as a priority in your week is pretty hard though. Unless you have a main focus that you can fend people off with. I've had a year of 40ths that last year I would have been able to work round because I was working towards a hm. But this year I've no incentive and people and their 'ah go on' keep convincing me to go on!

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Only running properly around 8 years, but have not fallen off the wagon. I put it down to diversity (training for different types of events), only doing what you enjoy, finding new and intetesting placed to run and running with good company. If you're not enjoying it, find something else that you do enjoy. Don't feel guilty about it. Life is too short.

I wouldn't say I'm not enjoying it. Because I'm not working towards a target I'm playing it pretty fast and loose with the routes which has really made me happy. When I'm 4 miles into a run and every step feels great I love it. Since your easy pace advice it's become so much more enjoyable. I've done a couple of routes I've always wanted to take a crack at. I just have lost that 'just say no' to outside distractions.

Itziger

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Only running properly around 8 years, but have not fallen off the wagon. I put it down to diversity (training for different types of events), only doing what you enjoy, finding new and intetesting placed to run and running with good company. If you're not enjoying it, find something else that you do enjoy. Don't feel guilty about it. Life is too short.

Says the chief wagon driver supreme.

Krusty's head this morning: "So, yesterday I ran a pb for the Half, what could I do today? 42.3k Easy you say?? Sounds good

Krusty_Clown

HS3 wrote: »

I wouldn't say I'm not enjoying it. Because I'm not working towards a target I'm playing it pretty fast and loose with the routes which has really made me happy. When I'm 4 miles into a run and every step feels great I love it. Since your easy pace advice it's become so much more enjoyable. I've done a couple of routes I've always wanted to take a crack at. I just have lost that 'just say no' to outside distractions.

You should want to go out and run. Not all of the time, but certainly a lot of it. There are lots of runs where you know it's necessary, but you'd much rather be doing something else. Unfortunately, it's those necessary runs that make the other runs so enjoyable. By 'finding something else', I mean hit trails, try a track race, try a mountain run, join a club, Parkrun, race, podcast, whatever. Make it enjoyable, as you'll improve a lot more when you're enjoying it and will have less reasons not to run. Not being preachy; rather I'm saying, find what you enjoy about running (or whatever else) and go do it. It's a hobby not a curse!

Krusty_Clown

Itziger wrote: »

Says the chief wagon driver supreme.

Krusty's head this morning: "So, yesterday I ran a pb for the Half, what could I do today? 42.3k Easy you say?? Sounds good

Perhaps there's enjoying yourself too much!

BeepBeep67

HS3 wrote: »

Do you think being part of a club helped keep you back on course or had you enough of not running that that was your influence to keep on track? Hah! Puns not intended.

Personally for me I enjoy being part of a club, I've met some life long friends and with running being an individual sport for a lot of people, I do relish the XC and road team events.
It's also an opportunity to give back to the sport (I'm on 2 committees).

HS3 wrote: »

Making it as a priority in your week is pretty hard though. Unless you have a main focus that you can fend people off with. I've had a year of 40ths that last year I would have been able to work round because I was working towards a hm. But this year I've no incentive and people and their 'ah go on' keep convincing me to go on!

Planning is the easy bit, sticking to the plan can be harder.
I had a big mileage week planned last week, but also 3 days work travel, so I front loaded my week, got out of bed before 6am each day and committed to meeting a few others early on Saturday, the result was I ran more than my planned mileage.
Tuesday should be my 300th consecutive day, so it can be done.

The Muppet

I've fallen off the wagon twice since I started running in 2013 from a zero fitness base. I was out for 4 months at the start of 2014 and five months at the start of 2015. Went back when I noticed the benefits I had worked so hard for reversing. I've ran consistantly since May 2015 on average 5 days a week

It suits me best to run to a plan now as I'm one of those people that feels guilty if I miss a run, That said I don't feel I'd stop now even without a plan as running has become such a big part of my daily routine and I really enjoy it.

HS3

Itziger wrote: »

Says the chief wagon driver supreme.

Krusty's head this morning: "So, yesterday I ran a pb for the Half, what could I do today? 42.3k Easy you say?? Sounds good

I shall log that in my 'things id like to be posting in the future ' catalogue and use it as an incentive :pac:

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

You should want to go out and run. Not all of the time, but certainly a lot of it. There are lots of runs where you know it's necessary, but you'd much rather be doing something else. Unfortunately, it's those necessary runs that make the other runs so enjoyable. By 'finding something else', I mean hit trails, try a track race, try a mountain run, join a club, Parkrun, race, podcast, whatever. Make it enjoyable, as you'll improve a lot more when you're enjoying it and will have less reasons not to run. Not being preachy; rather I'm saying, find what you enjoy about running (or whatever else) and go do it. It's a hobby not a curse!

Not preachy at all. Am open to all advice. I'm still trying to cling on to the 'consistency' advice I got at the beginning of the year, which at times has been the only thing getting me out the door lol.

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Personally for me I enjoy being part of a club, I've met some life long friends and with running being an individual sport for a lot of people, I do relish the XC and road team events.
It's also an opportunity to give back to the sport (I'm on 2 committees).



Planning is the easy bit, sticking to the plan can be harder.
I had a big mileage week planned last week, but also 3 days work travel, so I front loaded my week, got out of bed before 6am each day and committed to meeting a few others early on Saturday, the result was I ran more than my planned mileage.
Tuesday should be my 300th consecutive day, so it can be done.

Maybe I can combine your advice and Krusty's and plan a treat of a run at the weekend, which I'm only allowed do if I get the finger out and do a decent week's work.

The Muppet wrote: »

I've fallen off the wagon twice since I started running in 2013 from a zero fitness base. I was out for 4 months at the start of 2014 and five months at the start of 2015. Went back when I noticed the benefits I had worked so hard for reversing. I've ran consistantly since May 2015 on average 5 days a week

It suits me best to run to a plan now as I'm one of those people that feels guilty if I miss a run, That said I don't feel I'd stop now even without a plan as running has become such a big part of my daily routine and I really enjoy it.

I'm not sure I could give it up totally. I need it too much to keep me from going off the rails altogether :pac:. I'm so glad (sorry lol) to read some one else fell off but got back on... not once but twice. Good on you! More importantly that all isn't necessarily lost, which is why I'm trying to get back on lol

eoinín

I've fallen off and am still off. In 2012-14 I used to run ca 35 - 40 miles per week, and race at least once a fortnight. I'd like to think I was motivated purely by the enjoyment of the run itself but I guess I was always pleased with a pb, and I supposed this pushed me on to try to get faster times. But I collapsed near the end of the Dublin Marathon in 2014 chasing a fast time on a hot day after probably not having as much pre-race food as I should have. While I had no physical damage from that, I was psychologically scarred and would never really "race" again - by that I mean I entered races but never really tried to push my limits chasing a time - I'd seen the cosequences and didnt want to repeat them. I'd previously done some mountain running and really enjoyed that, so I set my target on the Wicklow Way Ultra in March 2015. I loved training for that - out in the hills in the winter on my own, without worrying too much about having to hit a certain pace. I completed the race and was really proud - I'd definitely found where I wanted to be with running, just enjoying myself in lovely surroundings. I entered the Ballyhoura Mountain Marathon a few weeks later and loved it also. Ominously though my ankle was sore afterwards. The pain got worse and I was diagnosed with a stress fracture. The doctors estimated 2 months to recovery, 3 if I was unlucky. But time dragged on and recovery was slow, eventually taking me 7 months to get better. 7 months with no running is not the end of the world, but 7 months of quite painful walking is really no fun at all. My mood changed from optimism about returning to long distance running before the end of 2015 to just resenting running altogether. Every single step I took made me question whether all the highs I'd had from running were worth my 2 really negative recent experiences. Inevitably I lost all my running fitness and had to start, nervously, from scratch in March this year. I thought I'd love the experience after being off so long, but getting back was a little underwhelming at first. I'd forgotton how tough it is to be a beginner runner! Physically even running 1km was a challenge - my muscles and breathing were just not used to it! Plus I was paranoid about my foot injury returning. But what surprised me the most was my lack of motivation - I thought something, some future race or event would really excite me about returning to running and give me a target. But nothing did - I had no desire to try to run fast due to my marathon collapse, nor had I the desire to do a long trail run due to my stress fracture. The only racing* I wanted to do was going to some parkruns as I always enjoyed them. Now I'm running 3 times a week, never more than 5-6km and enjoying it. I may even get back to (carefully) trying a shorter IMRA race - I miss the fun of them. But I really can't see myself wanting to run anything longer at the moment. Maybe my attitude will change with time, but running has gone from being one of my favourite hobbies, taking up maybe 6-8 hours per week, to just another hobby, taking maybe 90 minutes of my time. Sad I know, but when a hobby let's you down so dramatically a couple of times you really have to question whether its for you.
I'm not really sure if this is the kind of (gloomy!) answer you're looking for!

*timed running, I know!

Amadeus 2014

I raced XC at school but was no great shakes (representing the school at County level is as far as I got). Always had a hankering to do a marathon though as I felt distance was where I would be stronger and in my early 30s I went from nothing to the Dublin marathon in something like 10 weeks.

I never really enjoyed running. Speed sessions hurt. Long runs are such a time sink and I had to really screw myself into a ball to do them. But I had dogs and time and it became a habit, this site helped to keep me interested and I broadened out to include mentoring and pacing. Racing I liked. The banter with other runners I liked. The feeling after a run I liked. Running itself... meh. Still I ran 13 / 14 marathons and got to a standard I was happy with and kept at it for 6 or 7 years.

Then I moved to the UK, changed jobs and just stopped. In truth I'd been drifting away anyway but the move was a great excuse. Ran every now and again, even looked at races but just CBA. But I did a lot of other really cool things with my spare time that just wouldn't have been possible had I continued to run.

I've now moved again and having gained a little weight (I got as high as 73kgs!!!) I started to run again, have entered a half and am training properly - last week was 60kms with a LSR of 25.

I still don't like the actual running. But the quiet thinking time on the LSRs I like. The disappearing belly I like. That ache in your legs after a hard session I like. And I will run a decent time in the half and feel good about that.

Meandering reply... TL/DR version - if you stop running that's not the end of the world because running isn't going anywhere and will be waiting when you get back. Just try and make sure that you are getting personal value for the time you aren't running instead of throwing it away on the couch with X Factor or whatever

jamule

I raced XC up at school & club up to 18, always loved it, eventually drifted away from all sports as drink, drugs, sex etc took over for a few years. The party ended around when i was 28 and had to get a real job, started back running because i needed to do something to do. Ran DCM twice and also Hamburg, done a bit of IMRA. Had kids and running drifted aimlessly along for a few years, going months without any running but always wanting to, eventually Park run arrived 2 yrs ago and I got hooked. Unless I change job again or something goes badly wrong I can't see myself falling off again.

The Muppet

eoinín wrote: »

I've fallen off and am still off. In 2012-14 I used to run ca 35 - 40 miles per week, and race at least once a fortnight. I'd like to think I was motivated purely by the enjoyment of the run itself but I guess I was always pleased with a pb, and I supposed this pushed me on to try to get faster times. But I collapsed near the end of the Dublin Marathon in 2014 chasing a fast time on a hot day after probably not having as much pre-race food as I should have. While I had no physical damage from that, I was psychologically scarred and would never really "race" again - by that I mean I entered races but never really tried to push my limits chasing a time - I'd seen the cosequences and didnt want to repeat them. I'd previously done some mountain running and really enjoyed that, so I set my target on the Wicklow Way Ultra in March 2015. I loved training for that - out in the hills in the winter on my own, without worrying too much about having to hit a certain pace. I completed the race and was really proud - I'd definitely found where I wanted to be with running, just enjoying myself in lovely surroundings. I entered the Ballyhoura Mountain Marathon a few weeks later and loved it also. Ominously though my ankle was sore afterwards. The pain got worse and I was diagnosed with a stress fracture. The doctors estimated 2 months to recovery, 3 if I was unlucky. But time dragged on and recovery was slow, eventually taking me 7 months to get better. 7 months with no running is not the end of the world, but 7 months of quite painful walking is really no fun at all. My mood changed from optimism about returning to long distance running before the end of 2015 to just resenting running altogether. Every single step I took made me question whether all the highs I'd had from running were worth my 2 really negative recent experiences. Inevitably I lost all my running fitness and had to start, nervously, from scratch in March this year. I thought I'd love the experience after being off so long, but getting back was a little underwhelming at first. I'd forgotton how tough it is to be a beginner runner! Physically even running 1km was a challenge - my muscles and breathing were just not used to it! Plus I was paranoid about my foot injury returning. But what surprised me the most was my lack of motivation - I thought something, some future race or event would really excite me about returning to running and give me a target. But nothing did - I had no desire to try to run fast due to my marathon collapse, nor had I the desire to do a long trail run due to my stress fracture. The only racing* I wanted to do was going to some parkruns as I always enjoyed them. Now I'm running 3 times a week, never more than 5-6km and enjoying it. I may even get back to (carefully) trying a shorter IMRA race - I miss the fun of them. But I really can't see myself wanting to run anything longer at the moment. Maybe my attitude will change with time, but running has gone from being one of my favourite hobbies, taking up maybe 6-8 hours per week, to just another hobby, taking maybe 90 minutes of my time. Sad I know, but when a hobby let's you down so dramatically a couple of times you really have to question whether its for you.
I'm not really sure if this is the kind of (gloomy!) answer you're looking for!

*timed running, I know!

Thanks for sharing that, I,m one of this years novices and it's not going well the last few weeks but that post has just put everything back in perspective for me, we can all lose focus get too caught up in times when really whats important is enjoying the experience as much as is possible when running 26 miles.

Firedance

eoinín wrote: »

Every single step I took made me question whether all the highs I'd had from running were worth my 2 really negative recent experiences. Inevitably I lost all my running fitness and had to start, nervously, from scratch in March this year. I thought I'd love the experience after being off so long, but getting back was a little underwhelming at first. But what surprised me the most was my lack of motivation - I thought something, some future race or event would really excite me about returning to running and give me a target. But nothing did
Maybe my attitude will change with time, but running has gone from being one of my favourite hobbies, taking up maybe 6-8 hours per week, to just another hobby, taking maybe 90 minutes of my time.

Thanks for sharing eoinín, I've edited your post a little, all of the above resonate with me right now as I struggle to 'get back' to running after an enforced break. It broke my heart to have to stop but now that I'm allowed to run again I'm finding it very hard to motivate myself and find the joy again. There's a small part of my brain saying it's time to let it go and move on but your post has given me hope. You can't beat parkrun for bringing joy into running that's for sure

clickerquicklic

I start running in about March every year do the race series up to half marathon then do little or nothing until March again (maybe a couple of parkruns). I have no desire to run in the cold or dark nights or to run for hours on end. Once March/April comes I get addicted again and start running 3/4 days a week , feels great around now when I am peaking and back able to run sub 20 parkruns. I think I need to join a club to keep the interest , have to really push myself to do intervals on my own i'm guessing that be much easier in a group, it's hard to make time though young family and I cycle a lot also.

IvoryTower

Nope :cool:

dna_leri

Fell off the wagon as a teenager, found it again over 20 years later. Only time off since then has been enforced through injury. Usually after injury I come back with a new 6-12 month target. During holidays or end-of-season break I scale back but still keep some running going.

Variety has been important in keeping my interest alive. I have raced over sprints, middle-distance track, road 5-10K and now on a first marathon cycle.

Being able to run solo and with groups works for me. Having at least one group/club run a week maintains the social element and the regular reminder messages help keep focus. Even doing my own training at the same time and place as others gives a reason to turn up on a wet November evening. But it would not be good to only depend on group runs so that if others stop, it gives an excuse to stop also. Besides, the head-space of solo running is a big reason to keep going.

Being flexible with time of runs also helps. I used to be "only able to run in the evenings" but now fit it in where I can - early mornings, during kids football etc. While flexibility is good, probably the biggest reason for not stopping is having a defined plan. I have 2-3 runs a week that are marked in my schedule and do not get missed without good reason. If my family found me at home during these times, they would assume I was injured.

So do whatever works for you but plan it, be flexible, change it up, enjoy it.

rainbow kirby

Started running 8 years ago due to being a fat lump and wanting to no longer be a fat lump.

Built up relatively quickly and ran DCM 2009 15 months after I started running. Had an absolute howler at DCM 2010, channelled it into training for Barcelona 2011 and broke 4 hours (which I'm still surprised at 5 years on). Got injured in the process and that started the downward spiral. I had barely come back from the injury and got ill, it took 4 months to feel right again. Limerick half 2012 I fell at the mile 1 marker and landed very hard on my left hip, I didn't run pain-free again until early 2014. Decided to change things up at that stage and do a few triathlons even though I'm the world's worst cyclist. I found the variety good, stayed injury free and got into decent running shape again by the summer of 2015 - broke 24 minutes for a 5k for the first time in years in early July. Of course no good run lasts forever and in the week that I was to have a cracking at a sub-3 Oly we found out I'd be racing with a little passenger on board :pac:

First 5 months of 2016 off the road, I've about 8kg of baby weight lingering like a bad smell, trying to build endurance while nursing is so so hard. I have a deferred ballot spot for the London Marathon 2017 though so eyes on the prize and squeeze in the training when I can! I'm picking up a running buggy this month, there will be run commutes once I'm back in work, treadmill in the work gym at lunch etc...

wrstan

My advice is to get into exploratory mode, try lots of new things, places, people to run with, types and styles of events etc. Stick at it until you find what Ryan Hall called "running with joy", for sure you will.

I've recently been forced to lay up totally, having coped with a dose of PF for the last few months it has eventually got the better of me. Right now there's little light making its way from the end of the tunnel, and it looks like I could be on a long road.

I've been trying to practice what I have previously preached and give my rehab/recovery the same level of commitment as I would be giving my running. I'm currently trying to work through a mix of stretching, swimming, aqua fupping jogging, pilates, spinning, cycling to work - I'm not planning on continuing all of these, just trying to find the combination that works best for me. I've even considered starting a log dedicated to rehab!!

I know the OP wasn't asking about enforced layoffs, but I'm at a stage where jumping off the wagon is starting to look like a more tempting option. I don't think I will ever feel any passion for those other various activities. A worry for me is that I will only want to try and get back on the wrong wagon

HS3

Sorry for the late replies bit of a mare with my login

eoinín wrote: »

I've fallen off and am still off. In 2012-14 I used to run ca 35 - 40 miles per week, and race at least once a fortnight. I'd like to think I was motivated purely by the enjoyment of the run itself but I guess I was always pleased with a pb, and I supposed this pushed me on to try to get faster times. But I collapsed near the end of the Dublin Marathon in 2014 chasing a fast time on a hot day after probably not having as much pre-race food as I should have. While I had no physical damage from that, I was psychologically scarred and would never really "race" again - by that I mean I entered races but never really tried to push my limits chasing a time - I'd seen the cosequences and didnt want to repeat them. I'd previously done some mountain running and really enjoyed that, so I set my target on the Wicklow Way Ultra in March 2015. I loved training for that - out in the hills in the winter on my own, without worrying too much about having to hit a certain pace. I completed the race and was really proud - I'd definitely found where I wanted to be with running, just enjoying myself in lovely surroundings. I entered the Ballyhoura Mountain Marathon a few weeks later and loved it also. Ominously though my ankle was sore afterwards. The pain got worse and I was diagnosed with a stress fracture. The doctors estimated 2 months to recovery, 3 if I was unlucky. But time dragged on and recovery was slow, eventually taking me 7 months to get better. 7 months with no running is not the end of the world, but 7 months of quite painful walking is really no fun at all. My mood changed from optimism about returning to long distance running before the end of 2015 to just resenting running altogether. Every single step I took made me question whether all the highs I'd had from running were worth my 2 really negative recent experiences. Inevitably I lost all my running fitness and had to start, nervously, from scratch in March this year. I thought I'd love the experience after being off so long, but getting back was a little underwhelming at first. I'd forgotton how tough it is to be a beginner runner! Physically even running 1km was a challenge - my muscles and breathing were just not used to it! Plus I was paranoid about my foot injury returning. But what surprised me the most was my lack of motivation - I thought something, some future race or event would really excite me about returning to running and give me a target. But nothing did - I had no desire to try to run fast due to my marathon collapse, nor had I the desire to do a long trail run due to my stress fracture. The only racing* I wanted to do was going to some parkruns as I always enjoyed them. Now I'm running 3 times a week, never more than 5-6km and enjoying it. I may even get back to (carefully) trying a shorter IMRA race - I miss the fun of them. But I really can't see myself wanting to run anything longer at the moment. Maybe my attitude will change with time, but running has gone from being one of my favourite hobbies, taking up maybe 6-8 hours per week, to just another hobby, taking maybe 90 minutes of my time. Sad I know, but when a hobby let's you down so dramatically a couple of times you really have to question whether its for you.
I'm not really sure if this is the kind of (gloomy!) answer you're looking for!

*timed running, I know!

Thanks for such an honest reply. Certainly puts my non running into perspective. I would imagine collapsing at the end of a race is a real shaker. It's only been 2 years though. Sounds like the hobby is for you tbh, you're still making efforts to crack on with it. It must have been pretty scary standing at any start line after DCM 2014.

HS3

Amadeus 2014 wrote: »

I raced XC at school but was no great shakes (representing the school at County level is as far as I got). Always had a hankering to do a marathon though as I felt distance was where I would be stronger and in my early 30s I went from nothing to the Dublin marathon in something like 10 weeks.

I never really enjoyed running. Speed sessions hurt. Long runs are such a time sink and I had to really screw myself into a ball to do them. But I had dogs and time and it became a habit, this site helped to keep me interested and I broadened out to include mentoring and pacing. Racing I liked. The banter with other runners I liked. The feeling after a run I liked. Running itself... meh. Still I ran 13 / 14 marathons and got to a standard I was happy with and kept at it for 6 or 7 years.

Then I moved to the UK, changed jobs and just stopped. In truth I'd been drifting away anyway but the move was a great excuse. Ran every now and again, even looked at races but just CBA. But I did a lot of other really cool things with my spare time that just wouldn't have been possible had I continued to run.

I've now moved again and having gained a little weight (I got as high as 73kgs!!!) I started to run again, have entered a half and am training properly - last week was 60kms with a LSR of 25.

I still don't like the actual running. But the quiet thinking time on the LSRs I like. The disappearing belly I like. That ache in your legs after a hard session I like. And I will run a decent time in the half and feel good about that.

Meandering reply... TL/DR version - if you stop running that's not the end of the world because running isn't going anywhere and will be waiting when you get back. Just try and make sure that you are getting personal value for the time you aren't running instead of throwing it away on the couch with X Factor or whatever

13/14 marathons in a sport you feel meh about! Lol. I think running has brought so much to me thats why I'm so desperate to try keep it going. Like you, the weight loss I like....the feeling hen you get back from a great run I love. The pressure of having to hurt in a race i don't like, and that's what turns me off! Good luck with the HM!

HS3

I best try multi quoting ot I'll get into trouble for constant thread bumping lol

jamule wrote: »

I raced XC up at school & club up to 18, always loved it, eventually drifted away from all sports as drink, drugs, sex etc took over for a few years. The party ended around when i was 28 and had to get a real job, started back running because i needed to do something to do. Ran DCM twice and also Hamburg, done a bit of IMRA. Had kids and running drifted aimlessly along for a few years, going months without any running but always wanting to, eventually Park run arrived 2 yrs ago and I got hooked. Unless I change job again or something goes badly wrong I can't see myself falling off again.

I'm trying had to stay off the road if you 18 year old self lol.

Firedance wrote: »

Thanks for sharing eoinín, I've edited your post a little, all of the above resonate with me right now as I struggle to 'get back' to running after an enforced break. It broke my heart to have to stop but now that I'm allowed to run again I'm finding it very hard to motivate myself and find the joy again. There's a small part of my brain saying it's time to let it go and move on but your post has given me hope. You can't beat parkrun for bringing joy into running that's for sure

Hah! FD very sorry to hear you're struggling motivation wise! One of the things keeping me going this year was a race report you did . It was a xc race where you were in a club Jersey and that inspired you to fight tooth and nail in pretty harsh conditions. I thought that was pretty cool.

clickerquicklic wrote: »

I start running in about March every year do the race series up to half marathon then do little or nothing until March again (maybe a couple of parkruns). I have no desire to run in the cold or dark nights or to run for hours on end. Once March/April comes I get addicted again and start running 3/4 days a week , feels great around now when I am peaking and back able to run sub 20 parkruns. I think I need to join a club to keep the interest , have to really push myself to do intervals on my own i'm guessing that be much easier in a group, it's hard to make time though young family and I cycle a lot also.

What?! How can you get away with that?? :pac:

HS3

dna_leri wrote: »

Fell off the wagon as a teenager, found it again over 20 years later. Only time off since then has been enforced through injury. Usually after injury I come back with a new 6-12 month target. During holidays or end-of-season break I scale back but still keep some running going.

Variety has been important in keeping my interest alive. I have raced over sprints, middle-distance track, road 5-10K and now on a first marathon cycle.

Being able to run solo and with groups works for me. Having at least one group/club run a week maintains the social element and the regular reminder messages help keep focus. Even doing my own training at the same time and place as others gives a reason to turn up on a wet November evening. But it would not be good to only depend on group runs so that if others stop, it gives an excuse to stop also. Besides, the head-space of solo running is a big reason to keep going.

Being flexible with time of runs also helps. I used to be "only able to run in the evenings" but now fit it in where I can - early mornings, during kids football etc. While flexibility is good, probably the biggest reason for not stopping is having a defined plan. I have 2-3 runs a week that are marked in my schedule and do not get missed without good reason. If my family found me at home during these times, they would assume I was injured.

So do whatever works for you but plan it, be flexible, change it up, enjoy it.

I think I need a plan too. And I will definitely adopt the 'run whenever I can' attitude. Thanks for the reply

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Started running 8 years ago due to being a fat lump and wanting to no longer be a fat lump.

Built up relatively quickly and ran DCM 2009 15 months after I started running. Had an absolute howler at DCM 2010, channelled it into training for Barcelona 2011 and broke 4 hours (which I'm still surprised at 5 years on). Got injured in the process and that started the downward spiral. I had barely come back from the injury and got ill, it took 4 months to feel right again. Limerick half 2012 I fell at the mile 1 marker and landed very hard on my left hip, I didn't run pain-free again until early 2014. Decided to change things up at that stage and do a few triathlons even though I'm the world's worst cyclist. I found the variety good, stayed injury free and got into decent running shape again by the summer of 2015 - broke 24 minutes for a 5k for the first time in years in early July. Of course no good run lasts forever and in the week that I was to have a cracking at a sub-3 Oly we found out I'd be racing with a little passenger on board :pac:

First 5 months of 2016 off the road, I've about 8kg of baby weight lingering like a bad smell, trying to build endurance while nursing is so so hard. I have a deferred ballot spot for the London Marathon 2017 though so eyes on the prize and squeeze in the training when I can! I'm picking up a running buggy this month, there will be run commutes once I'm back in work, treadmill in the work gym at lunch etc...

Hah! At least you've had successes RK! Congratulations on the baby and good luck with the comeback

wrstan wrote: »

My advice is to get into exploratory mode, try lots of new things, places, people to run with, types and styles of events etc. Stick at it until you find what Ryan Hall called "running with joy", for sure you will.

I've recently been forced to lay up totally, having coped with a dose of PF for the last few months it has eventually got the better of me. Right now there's little light making its way from the end of the tunnel, and it looks like I could be on a long road.

I've been trying to practice what I have previously preached and give my rehab/recovery the same level of commitment as I would be giving my running. I'm currently trying to work through a mix of stretching, swimming, aqua fupping jogging, pilates, spinning, cycling to work - I'm not planning on continuing all of these, just trying to find the combination that works best for me. I've even considered starting a log dedicated to rehab!!

I know the OP wasn't asking about enforced layoffs, but I'm at a stage where jumping off the wagon is starting to look like a more tempting option. I don't think I will ever feel any passion for those other various activities. A worry for me is that I will only want to try and get back on the wrong wagon

Actually I'm in the middle of an enforced lay off myself atm. Which is a bit of a blessing in disguise because now I'm chomping at the bit, promising myself if I can run again I'll take it really serious this time! I'm pretty sure MS started his log as a recovery from injury so I don't see why you can't do a rehab one.

Believe me I am equally worried about picking the wrong bandwagon so I've taken up a few fall back options. Im too slow to run with others. I like cycling and my swimming has come on leaps and bounds thanks to the strength the running brought. Unfortunately no matter what I do my leg acts up so I have to get that sorted first.

Hope I got everyone. Thanks for all the honest replies...lots of things here to try and keep things moving.