The people on MFP want me to do it!

dmw45

Hi everybody! I havent been able to do my C25K as often as I'd like but I still try and fit it in on days I'm not doing other stuff. I did my w6d3 today after about a week and a half off. Don't worry I was doing other stuff that kept me active and burning calories, but a 25 min run without stopping seemed a little scary.

It was hard!

I kept searching my mind for some motivation. I'll lose weight, Ill look good in clothes, ill look sexy for the boys, ill be able to run 5Ks like its no big deal.... but the thing that really kept me going was the thought that when I was done, I could post here that I'd done it and you'd all tell me how wonderful that is!

I wanted to stop at the 15 min mark but kept going thinking to myself, my MFP pals want to read that I did it!! Because I knew you'd tell me it was a mental hurdle and because I knew you'd tell me to slow down instead of walking.

I didnt' slow down either (but i go pretty darn slow in the first place)

I ran 25 mins! and no one looked at me like I'm not a *real* runner. I felt really self conscious about that in the beginning. Not sure why. Seems no one really pays that much attention to what anyone else is doing.

kriskris92

That's great! Congrats, that's a huge milestone and I can't wait to get there! I completely agree with the self conscious bit, too - I think everyone's so busy concentrating on themselves, they barely even notice anyone else.

jessiekanga

ROCK ON!!! Nicely done.

I totally anticipate folks' judgment of me, the fat girl trying to run, before I even encounter my potential juror/judge. I've had to challenge myself to grow a lot. The mid-40's super-athlete...how the hell can he really run what seems to be more than twice my pace. That toned runner with great form? He's saying, sometimes to himself and sometimes even directly to me, "rock on, keep going, you're doing awesome."

Since I've been out there for a while, and in a somewhat predictable routine, I see the same folks, and more of what's in their heads is said to me directly. Couldn't believe that it was really only my head that was talking smack, thinking that I'm the fat girl that will never complete it and don't deserve to be out there pretending to be a real runner. She's the one I need to have a chat with. Talk about a wake-up call for me.

It may be useful for you, it may not be, but positive self-talk the **** out of yourself. You're doing fantastic! And you're right... we do want to read it, and we will tell you how fantastic you're doing.

mamakira

That is awesome!
And you are right, we want to read that you did it because we know you can! :flowerforyou:

dmw45

LOL yes! and i want to read your posts telling me you did it too! Its really motivational I think this group has made the difference between me not giving up at the very prospect of w5d3!

I remember years ago when I used to speed walk in this park with a track around a little man-made lake, a gym-rat looking guy who was going the opposite direction applauded me when we passed each other the 4th time.

Seems like folks should encourage each other.

I've never once had an experience where anyone looked down upon me or otherwise upset or intimidated me for making an attempt at working out.

likitisplit

You are completely right, I DO want to read how great you did. It's inspirational to me too. And YOU DID GREAT!

But more than that, I want you to see what you are capable of. To know that C25k is a means to an end. That you - with the same skills you used to complete W6D3 - will complete a 5k, a 10k and beyond. That you have it inside yourself to transform anything you set your mind to. Nobody looked at you like you aren't a *real* runner because you are, in fact, a real runner. Those legs that carried you for 25 minutes...those were your legs. You did it.

AglaeaC

OP was written in April. They struggled then the way we are struggling now. Difference is they're done because they started before us and kept going. I love the message of OP!

likitisplit

Isn't it cute? I hadn't even run a 10k yet...and look at jessiekanga! She's lost 78 pounds now, how many of them between them and now?

jessiekanga

How wild it is to have this post pop back up in my news feed Thanks AnglaeaC, I owe you a big thanks. That was before my first 5k by just a couple of weeks; and one week ago I completed my first 10k. Wild ride this is. As to the pounds Varda... probably 16 between April and now, give or take. 16 pounds, capable of about 50 extra minutes, and more humble today than ever by how amazing this ride is. Awestruck.

So yes, keep running on. There's a reason so many of us who've "graduated" still hang out in this group. We once thought 60 seconds was gonna kill us too. We once just knew we'd never make it. And we're still running. If we can be a nudge to you to get out there, and another nudge to slow down, we've passed on a gift or two we desperately needed not too long ago.

likitisplit

Plus the inspiration for me to get up and get out there. YOUR runs can be more challenging than mine. Though last night was 9 miles...

AglaeaC

jessiekanga, it's a win-win situation then

jessiekanga

Plus the inspiration for me to get up and get out there. YOUR runs can be more challenging than mine. Though last night was 9 miles...

Yay!!! You are awesome!

I tend to say it stays just as hard. My 6.2 miles today was just as hard as week 1 day 1, but it wasn't harder. We keep it hard by continuing to challenge ourselves. The mind games get a whole lot better though