Self confidence running

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Madsocks
Madsocks Posts: 54 Member
in Motivation and Support
Anyone struggle with their self confidence affecting their exercise? I'll go to the gym (on the rare ocassions I get chance to) and use a treadmill, cross trainer etc but when it comes to doing road running or going out on my lunch for a run, I just can't do it. Many times I've drove to a place to do a run, and I've just not been able to get out of the car and do it, I just end up going back home. :-( I'm in a perfect location with work; on a circular business park and 3 and a bit laps is a 5k, but I don't have the self confidence to go out because I just think people will be watching this fat chuffer plodding down the street out of breath (because I haven't been the gym for a few months, my stamina has gone down quite a bit).

I just need help to get over it and to just have the confidence to get out there and get on with it. I have done parkrun many times, but that's only because there are several hundred other people doing it and I can blend in, but it's different when I'm doing it on my own. I see people posting runs on my Strava from between 2-3 miles to 16-17 miles and I just wish I could go out and do it.
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Replies

  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
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    Just do it.

    It's as simple or as difficult as you want to make it.
  • orangegato
    orangegato Posts: 6,570 Member
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    You do you.
    Why not start waking and build up to running? And wear earbuds/listen to music so you can tune everything out.
  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
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    i hear you. especially the gym, when i went it was a university gym and all the pretty girls were there in their fancy workout clothes looking like a milliion dollars. And all the cute guys. But, i just ignored it all and got in my zone. Screw them. Mind over matter, force myself to go.

    for running...well i guess i learned from the above. I started running on a treadmill in a much smaller gym so maybe that helped. Then I just naturally transitioned outside. I think going with my dog helped a ton.

    two more hurdles were running at lunch at work (so having to change at work) and then running with a group of strangers (running group). Baby steps. At this point i'll stop to run errands (grab a coffee or something from pharmacy) after a run :P I don't care.
  • kdbulger
    kdbulger Posts: 396 Member
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    Yes. So, I'm fine with running, but for me it's weightlifting. I want so badly to start lifting heavy at the gym, but I'm just so scared of being stared at while I fumble my way through the first few sessions, trying to learn how to use the equipment and figure out my starting weights and use proper form. I find it very intimidating and would love for someone to teach me properly, but that's costly.
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,466 Member
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    This is an opportunity. Don’t let it slip by.

    To change we have to push ourselves out of our comfort zone. I wouldn’t have lost weight without becoming more assertive. Just like negativity feeds negativity, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will strengthen your resolve in ways you can carry into other areas.

    As suggested, get out and start walking. Walking easily becomes running if that’s what you want to do. Something I learned from exercise was the power of incrementalism. Incrementalism is the foundation of weight loss. Lots of good stuff to be had in this.

    As to what others may think, push back against your brain’s negative thinking habit with some facts. Think it through. What makes sense to me may not work for you. But consider that about 25% of people are just crazy. Of the remaining 75%, a vast majority have their own negativity habit and spend most of their time looking for a negativity fix. Driving a car, politics, internet lunacy of the day, family, coworker, strangers on the street are all potential outlets for various grievances, real or imagined. Going around trying to get approval from the world at large is a fruitile undertaking.

    Last thought. Start easy. You don’t have to run a mile or run at all. Everybody thinks there’s big benefits in pushing all the time. But there’s also risk of injury. Give your muscles plenty of time to adjust. Protect your feet and knees. Work smart. Good luck.
  • Madsocks
    Madsocks Posts: 54 Member
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    Thanks all. I did a long walk yesterday on my lunch, so I'm going to try and get out and do a run. The last time I did one, I only lasted about 2km before I went back inside, so I'll see how I get on. :)
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,268 Member
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    No matter what people "think" they are watching you run. You are lapping those who are sitting there doing nothing. Only you can motivate you but remember that people don't "think" about you as much as we think they do. Most people are in their own world and couldn't care less, so exercising is about you and making you better, so do what you've got to do for you.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,967 Member
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    Sometimes we just have to force ourselves out of our comfort zones. No one really cares what you're doing. Something that helps me to to mentally switch the places of me and the person driving or walking by. If I was in their situation and I saw someone running, what would I think? Nothing.
  • funjen1972
    funjen1972 Posts: 949 Member
    edited August 2018
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    Madsocks wrote: »
    Thanks all. I did a long walk yesterday on my lunch, so I'm going to try and get out and do a run. The last time I did one, I only lasted about 2km before I went back inside, so I'll see how I get on. :)

    Great job on your walk!

    2km is a great start. There are days I only run about 1/2 a mile and walk the rest. Sometimes I jog, walk, jog, walk just because it feels good to not run allllllll the time. Do what works for you (and dont worry about the others).
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
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    Most people don't really care what other people are doing or judge them, its really in your mind. If they do then they are @$$holes anyways. Just get started and you will soon gain confidence. I know its tough but you got this.
  • Becoming_A_Butterfly
    Becoming_A_Butterfly Posts: 2,536 Member
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    When I have almost not gone for a run somewhere because I am self-conscious about being fat, people watching me, etc., I thought to myself "This is MY workout." It's my time to do something for me. If someone wants to watch me instead of doing their own thing, that's really their concern, not mine. I just refuse to do or not do something, based on what someone else may or may not think.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    Madsocks wrote: »
    Today, I decided I needed to snap out of it and go for a run, especially after weighing myself this morning. I was so nervous about it all day, more so when I was getting ready. It might sound pretty sad to some people, but it's just the way i am and the way I struggle with things. :( I was wavering, but I stuck with it, got some nice words of encouragement from the girl on reception and went out and just did it; I had Tiesto in my ears, sunglasses on and just tried to block everything out......

    ......and I managed to do it. The full 5K. Without stopping. :) And in a decent time as well. I thought I would be a lot slower what with it being the first one I've done in about 3 months but it was 31:21. And I feel so much better for it. So I'm going to try and do it again tomorrow. And then the next day, and the next day after that.

    Just a shame there are no showers in work.

    Well done.

    I would suggest you ease into it though instead of going from not running to running 7 days a week.

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