Once A Runner, Now A Depressed Pathetic Manic...LR Help ME Get Back Into Running

Pretty simple dude. Start running more.

But is sucks so bad. It's depressing and demotivating to know where my fitness once was and then to think about how long it's going to take me to get it back. Running hurts now.

you have to do this on your own. no one else can help aside from encouraging you to make smart choices.

...eventually you'll hit a point where you hate yourself so much that you'll do something about it.

You have to run because you love running. If you don't like it, don't do it. Ask yourself, why are you doing it? Slow down and enjoy your progression.

You sound like my friend from college that ran once but won't run ever again because he believes he can't run like he used to. Runners like Geb still run because they love it.

Lostman wrote:

I haven't run more than 10mi a week in 2 years. I used to be consistent 50mpw and chasing dreams of trail ultras. My life took a turn once I had a second child and began working 80hr weeks. Slowly stopped running so much. Work is stressful, and I've been smoking a few cigs a day for a couple years. I still workout a few times a week, doing circuits and slowly running a couple miles every now and then. Someome lift me up, help me stop smoking and begin running more again.

The main thing you should focus on is your true obstacle: training injuries and muscular imbalances. If you are sound of body and don't have these you should be grateful, giddy as a lotto winner and jumping for joy. Run rinse repeat and reap joy until it's time to visit a physical therapist or Providence's favor runs out.

Lostman wrote:

It's depressing and demotivating to know where my fitness once was and then to think about how long it's going to take me to get it back.

You are aiming at the incorrect target. You are trying to beet a former you, try to beat the current you. If next week/month you can run a faster 5k than you can now, then you have improved. Keep focusing on beating the current you.

Avoid running with any kind of watch. Just go out and run. Stop if you feel the need to. Sprint if you want to. Just get out the door

you should run every day on a schedule. run walk would probably help as you start up. when i started up again i ran a few miles every day and had to work through a lot of injuries for a year until my body got strong enough, but I maxed everything out and got better quickly... until I got hurt fairly bad 6 months in.

I think you are better off starting gradually and combining:

situps

planks

atg squats wo weight

deadlifts

something else for hamstrings

I've done this. Go to some beautiful singletrack. Jog until you need to walk, then walk. The goal is just to be there for about an hour. No high heart rate, just move your legs. Finish with a fun reward, but not cig. Repeat a couple times per week. It will trickle back

If your only motivation to run is to be better than you were then i wouldn't suggest trying to get back into it. I would suggest quitting smoking and getting some exercise though.

If you want to do it to get healthier and fitter and enjoy running then just start doing it.

If you really want to start running again, I highly recommend you forget you were ever a runner. Comparing your current unfit self to your younger fit self is a losing game.

Pretend you've never run before in your life. Every run is a new PR.

A runner dude wrote:

Avoid running with any kind of watch. Just go out and run. Stop if you feel the need to. Sprint if you want to. Just get out the door

This is the best advice. Do not compare your previous times and paces. Absolutely run by feel. I bet that is how you first started out running.

Maybe pull the watch out to get a baseline of time and pace then put it away and then just run. Then in a month or so after consistent training check times again. Seeing those gains can go a long way providing motivation to continue to get out the door and log miles.

Your actions show your priorities.

It's gonna be hard to run 50 mpw with an 80 hpw job (seriously?) and two kids. Make the conscious decision that running is the third priority after family and work -- higher than tv, reading, surfing the web, posting on LRC, reading about other people running. Higher than sitting around feeling bad for yourself (I've been there). Sometimes higher than sleep or hanging out with friends.

If you live with a partner, talk to them about setting these priorities, and ask how you can still be present for your family and splitting the housework while spending more time running.

Running will be a priority when you decide to make it one.

Just do it. I have had two babies and was unable to so much as walk any significant distance during either pregnancy. I spent a lot of time in bed. I lost all, and I do mean all, of my fitness. When the kids were babies, I was running maybe 10 miles a week, just like you, and pretty much hated running. Then, when my youngest was two, I signed up for the Tough Mudder of all things, and was scared into getting back into shape.

That was about a year ago, and I feel GREAT. Seriously. I'm a minute or so off my high school PRs and hoping to get there in the next year. I'm hoping to challenge my half marathon PR in a few weeks (set 13 years ago).

Yes, getting in shape is annoying, but it really doesn't take that long. Until recently, I just started thinking of post-baby PRs. And it's very satisfying to start again and see your times drop and drop as you get back into shape.

My own policy is to exercise 6 days per week, usually running, but sometimes swimming or biking. No matter what. They say it takes 3 months to form a habit, and nowadays, I've gotten used to getting up early and running in all kinds of weather. Worth it.

You need to sink so low that you completely forget that you once were good. Let go of the past; You'll never get back there. Trail running is a good place to start because who gives a F%$# about times in trail races.

I am in the same boat as you man. For two years after college, I was training really hard. Ran around 2:20 for the marathon at 23 and thought qualifying for the 2016 trials would be easy. went through another full marathon cycle and was in the best shape of my life but pulled a muscle around 19 miles and haven't run a race since. got married and our first kid is now almost 2 and i'm just now starting to run again with a little bit of consistency. probably haven't run more than 10 times a year for three years in a row.

running is definitely not fun when you take that much time off, but it seems to come back fairly quickly for me. i've run 4-5 days a week for the past two weeks and kind of feel like a coordinated runner again. The hardest thing to fight is thinking about how fast you used to run because that will only make you want to say f**k it and do something else. there's a reason most former college runners just stop running almost altogether once they're not in good shape or training at a high level. it's just really not fun to run when all you can think about is how much slower you are than you used to be. if you haven't gained much weight, you can probably scrap to a decent 5k time on under 40 mpw. that's where i'm starting anyway.

Hey man - I've been there too. You can't think about where you have been and how fast you used to be. You aren'y that same person anymore for better and worse. Like other posters have said, if you want to get back into it, you have to be self motivated, but you can help yourself by focusing on small task every day as opposed to jumping right back into 50mpw.

My suggestion is just tying up the shoes and getting outside for at least 5 minutes every day. Do that for a couple weeks and you will start building the habit. No excuses, because everyone has at least 10 minutes in the day to be able to put on shoes and get outside. daily exercise will help with the stress and the cigs, but that might take a little longer to get out of habit.

Start there. Don't worry about the big picture right now. You aren't going to build a strong wall all at once, you have to build it brick by brick.

Me - a random internet stranger believes in you, so you sure as hell can believe in yourself.

I wish I could pity you. But I've had an annoying glute strain that hasn't allowed much running at all in the last few months. If I was healthy and could run, I'd still be doing it.

I was an overweight smoker before I started running. I would never go back. Sure I get depressed a bit at times and/or don't feel like running some some days. I remember taking 3 days off once and just eating whatever I wanted. But I always got back to running.

It's my savior from stress. Running made me never want to smoke again, which I haven't as it kicks smoking's ass any day.

Don't think about it and get out there and run a little everyday.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I think the idea of forgeting I ever ran before is good. Start over and keep going. I enjoy running the trails and I know it brings me peace to have a quiet run in nature. Here goes nothing...4a.m. wake up call tomorrow for 15min of running before work. Wish me well.