Juneathon 2009 Day 25 – Might as well give up
I seem to have lost what little running ability I once possessed and can’t even manage two miles now and so I might as well either a) go back three years and do a run/walk program; or b) move back to London where there’s proper places to run; or c) give up completely.
I don’t like running in the countryside; I can’t have my iPod up loud, the roads are full of holes so I have to look at the ground all the time to avoid them and then there’s the traffic of which there isn’t much, admittedly, but I can’t just switch off, otherwise I’ll get run over.
So, on what may well be my last ever run, I managed .96 of a mile before stopping to walk, then running a bit further to the tree, went around the tree and came back the way I came, stopped to let a tractor pass, ran down the road towards the house where an old lady said something to me; I wasn’t sure what she said as I’d turned my iPod up loud once I’d reached the safety of the pavement so I assumed she said morning and so I said morning back and then she said something else that was drowned out by Devo so I just smiled and carried on walking (I’d stopped running about half a mile back) until I got back to the house where I spent longer getting the rowing machine unfolded and ready to use than I spent on the stupid thing.
Stats Juneathon day 25 (running)
Distance: 2.19 miles
Time: 28:44
Pace: 13:06 m/m
Calories: 186
Tractors: 1
Old ladies talking to me: 1
Juneathons completed: 22/30
Stats Juneathon day 25 (rowing)
Distance: 736 ft
Time: 10 minutes
Count: 355
Calories: 20
Must be something in the air today, I had a horrible run too. But don’t give up quite yet, you have a 10k and a half marathon on the race calendar yet, then you can quit running.
Don’t feel down. Have faith that things will come good.
Run/walk is a good strategy. it is not just a beginers thing to get you going. It is something that can make runs easier, and anything that does that is worth a try.
As for routes there must be soem alternatives you can try. What about footpaths or cycling to a different starting point? There are bound to be places where you feel at home.
We all have gloomy days but if you compare the times running makes you feel lower to the times it lifts your spirits you know you have to continue. Overwhelmingly running enhances your sense of self.
Anyway take care
I also think that Juneathon and the thought of HAVING to exercise each day can take away some of the fun as it becomes compulsory rather than optional. Try some alternatives like Highway Kind suggests. Or have a break from exercise for a while and see if you feel a bit more motivated once you’ve had a few days off.
i love juneathon… i have run every day for the last 25 days (apart from day 2 but did exercise) – i would never have done this if it wasn’t for juneathon – it has given me discipline beyond what i thought i could do 🙂
jb – you were my inspiration to start to try and run two years ago and you have the funniest running blog on the web – you can’t stop!
if you want – come to my canal- side gym on the hackney borders as a guest when you are in town – that’s sure to make you appreciate the countryside again! ….best wishes
Don’t stop, we all love your running anecdotes and you have inspired people along the way (even if it doesn’t feel like it right now). I think the run/walk is good too and, as Highway Kind said, it’s not just for beginners (I did something like that when I came back after having a baby). It sounds as if you are just a bit unsettled after losing your familiar – lovely – routes and maybe a bit stale. You need to shake it up a bit. And the Juneathon thing can be an inspiration/motivator on the one hand, but make it all feel like a chore on the other! Keep going x
“Keep on Running!”
We could do the run/walk thing together.
I dont seem to be able to manage 2 miles any more either.
When I moved my running went downhill too – literally, as it was the hills round here the put me off (stop laughing – I know I live in Suffolk which is completely flat, but there are some hills, and they all seem to surround my house). Since I picked flatter routes I’ve started gradually increasing the miles, so maybe, like Highway Kind said, you could find some other routes too, or footpaths? You can’t give up completely or I’ll have nothing to laugh at on the Internet anymore!
I am sure you won’t give up. we won’t let you 🙂
I agree with all of the above comments and can’t think of better way to say what they all say. Especially what londonjogger said about the aceness of your blog.
Keep it up chuck!