Does running get easier? Feeling pathetic and don't want to give up again....
aussieems
Posts: 14 Member
So the title pretty much says it.... I've tried and failed for years to "become a runner" I love the idea of running, but the practice of it makes me sick. I've started off with intervals, but as I'm running, all I can think about is my failures and if I hadn't given up, then I would be somewhere by now.... I feel like this every time I start again, and give up soon after.... How can I find the enjoyment in it? I really want to do this... I really do... Just tell me I'll get there and Itll get easier... Lie if you need to 
anyone else starting out? I'm currently running (I relate my run speed to that of a tortoise) a 6km loop, in 3 mins run, 2 walk. It takes me about 55minutes to complete. I've tried C25K and it didn't work for me.... Any tips or thoughts?
Thanks
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anyone else starting out? I'm currently running (I relate my run speed to that of a tortoise) a 6km loop, in 3 mins run, 2 walk. It takes me about 55minutes to complete. I've tried C25K and it didn't work for me.... Any tips or thoughts?Thanks
X
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Replies
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Physically it doesn't sound as if you have any issues really, being able to run for three minutes demonstrates that you've got the basis to extend that. I'd ask the question of what you mean by it making you sick?
Given the pace that you're talking about I'd suspect that in your running intervals you may be going far faster than is useful. It may be that you need to ease off on the pace until you've got longer continuous running going on.
It's just a question of continuing to stretch yourself, pushing the threshold of what you can do, either by increasing the periods of running or reducing the periods of walking.0 -
It sounds like you are being too hard on yourself to me and there's too much negative talk going on in your head when you are running. I know when I go out and I'm not in the right mindset the negative self talk can almost have a physical effect and I don't run as well. You need to find a way to be proud of yourself for getting out there and giving it a go and then the sense of achievement will start to come from the small victories, e.g. shaving a few seconds off your 5k time, less walking breaks etc.
Also it defintely does get easier, I started as someone who couldn't run for a few minutes and I now do half marathon's0 -
i allow myself to walk and never view my walking as a failure, cause regardless if i walk half a block, the whole 5 miles, or run the entire time, it is far superior to sitting on the couch and at least i got up, got dressed and laced up. i didn't care for my first c25k app, but fell in love with the zombie one. Also, some days I don't enjoy my run, but i always enjoy the fact that I went.0
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I started and stopped 4 times now; so let's keep it simple. For now, increase your walk cadence. You are in the Middle East so temperature would play a major role for me in terms of when I do cardio. After the first kilometer your body ought to be ready for a little increase in cadence during the 2 minute walk. Slowly get to where you run 4, walk 1. Before you know it, you are running 80% of your minutes. Good luck.0
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Thanks everyone for your replies so far. It's comforting to know that others have been there before. I meant by "making me sick" not physically, but more mentally. I think I beat myself up for past behaviours the whole time, I'm shattered before I've even started. I will take all your advice, and run positively tomorrow. And yes terrapin, temperature does play a huge role here, but some winds have started to cool us down, we have gone from 116F to around 90F... Hence why I've tried to start over
thanks again all. X 0 -
Maybe you're not a runner... Maybe you're a biker or a hiker or a swimmer.
Or a dancer or _____________0 -
Yes, it does get better.
I really got into running when I started running outside this spring. I honestly ran only when it was BEAUTIFUL outside. When the focus was on enjoying the weather/sunshine I was much happier doing it. This also let me figure out the right speed. Go slow - good old talk test works for me.
Also get some good running music to drown out the negative thoughts. Sounds dumb but I always have a better experience when listening to songs about being stronger. The app Rockmyrun has some good mixes that you can download (for free).0 -
Babysteps! Agree with above posters that predominantly negative focus is not good for progress. Allowing yourself to be happy and grateful for the mini-goals that you do achieve is better.
The body needs to gradually be persuaded to perform more. So focus on the process, not the prize:)
I'm a carrot person, rather than stick. But we all respond differently. To me, it's important to not feel pressured into a corner. Just like you, I reckoned myself as "not a runner-type". Last month I have done powerwalks with bursts of light jogging in between. So whenever I feel like I can run, I do it. No pressure. Each week I widened the goals. "Run for 200 meters longer" or "Run that hill full length". This week I finished 5k! Mind you it's not fast...about 8 km/hour. So I'll stay there until I feel I can run faster.
It's easier to run more if you can be happy being in a steady pace that is comfy for you. And just keep widening that running window/bursts as you please.
Good luck:)0 -
But I want to be a runner (insert 2year old tantrum here, complete with stomping foot)
Thanks for the app recommendation, will check it out now:)0 -
I have been doing the C25K app. I seen that someone didn't like it. Can you tell me what you didn't like. This is my first time starting to run. Im getting ready to start week 4 and Im a little nervous. Week 3 was not easy for me.. I to am not sure I am a runner, but would sure like to try...0
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I too tried C25k and did not like it, the jumps are just too extreme. If you can already run 3 minutes the plan I'm currently following may be for you. It has a smoother learning curve (no jumps from 5 minutes straight to 20) and starts out at much shorter runs but takes you all the way up to a 10k (if you follow it up with level II of the program.) The "long run" section (saturday) is supposed to be in miles, but I do it in kilometers.
What I like about it is that with 4 levels and roughly 20 weeks each (with the possibility of needing to repeat a level before advancing to the next) you are looking at about 2 years of structured running. Having structure may give you a certain goal to keep in mind, and starting low and slow may give you confidence that you can do it.
Even after you finish all the levels of the 5/10k program, you can start the 3 levels of half marathon program, then another 4 levels of marathon, again, each level of each program can be done in 20 weeks.
During my runs, I listen to audio books. It makes it fun. You may also want to try the app "zombies, run" to inject more fun into your run.
Also don't worry about your pace for now. You can work on it later once you build the endurance. I run at 6 km/hour (of pure running, walking breaks not counted in), and I'm not bothered one bit about being possibly the slowest runner in existence. That will come later.
Try it out:
http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic/RunnersEdge/5K10K1.html0 -
I think I beat myself up for past behaviours the whole time
Just run each run for itself. Sometimes they're bad, more often they're good. And in some ways it might be worth thinking about what you want from your run. As well as just the fitness side, for me it gives me headspace, it's almost meditative when I'm out there for an hour or two.
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Hi Kelle, I found, like amusedmonkey, that the jumps were huge, too big for me, and I get demoralised and gave up when I couldn't do it. My own fault I guess.... And thanks amusedmonkey, will have a look at it . 0
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Like others have said, focus on your successes. I'm doing C25K using the RunDouble app. after each run I can go into the website and compare and look for improvements. That's what motivates me, being able to see that I am getting better. Maybe my pace for one of the intervals was better than the previous day that week. Or I made it running (however slowly) for the full interval. That and having music to distract me from how far I have left to run that interval/day is what keeps me going. Figure out what motivates you. And even if you do have to walk more than you had wanted, at least you're out there and trying. Keep it up and good luck0
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You have to get into the actual act of running - i.e. while you're doing it. My best moments during a run are when I kind of get into a rhythm and zone out and think about other things and forget that I'm running, and then it starts to feel easy and natural and effortless. Music helps a lot with this. Maybe stop doing intervals and just jog, very slowly, for as long as you can each time, and see if you can extend this by a few minutes each session?0
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Maybe you're not a runner... Maybe you're a biker or a hiker or a swimmer.
Or a dancer or _____________
This - I ran for years, completed 10 half marathons and even did some of the distance training with my friend for a marathon. I always found it a struggle and never enjoyed it, I just did it because it was the easiest way to fit in time with a friend. I eventually decided running just isn't for me and I'm much happier. I still use the treadmill for intervals as part of my overall program but other than that unless the Zombie Apocalypse hits and I need to get out quickly I'll not be running any kind of distance again. Life's too short to do exercise that makes you miserable.
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Do any of you do this on a treadmill? Or all outside?0
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I've been trying to run for months now. The C25K didn''t work for me either, I've looked at other 5K plans also but I get to a few mins run then have to walk the rest of a 5K. Doesn't help that I haven't been running 3 times a week some weeks not at all.
My aim is to continue with what I'm doing and improve my pace over time. Run for as long as I can then walk up to a 5K distance. Looking to add 1-2 min run week till I'm finally running a full 5K.0 -
I do some on a treadmill, some outside. It's easier to zone out on a treadmill, but I feel like a bit of a hero when I run outside, for some reason.0
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Do any of you do this on a treadmill? Or all outside?
I do this on a treadmill. Although many dread that, I seem to enjoy it more than having to pay attention to bumps on the road, cars, trees.. etc. I get to totally phase out and enjoy my audiobooks.
A note if you do it on a treadmill though, if you decide later to move to running outside you are in for a surprise. You would be conditioned for treadmill running so running outside will prove different. Not being able to watch your pace, having to move your body in a different way and such will make things harder so it will take some getting used to after you make the switch.
I for one do not plan to. I REALLY enjoy treadmill running.0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »Do any of you do this on a treadmill? Or all outside?
I do this on a treadmill. Although many dread that, I seem to enjoy it more than having to pay attention to bumps on the road, cars, trees.. etc. I get to totally phase out and enjoy my audiobooks.
A note if you do it on a treadmill though, if you decide later to move to running outside you are in for a surprise. You would be conditioned for treadmill running so running outside will prove different. Not being able to watch your pace, having to move your body in a different way and such will make things harder so it will take some getting used to after you make the switch.
I for one do not plan to. I REALLY enjoy treadmill running.
Yep I did most of my running on a treadmill before I moved and could run for a mile, have a rest then carry on etc, would run outside once a week at most. Now all my running is outside (I live by the sea) but I find it completely different
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I dont run, but whats wrong with running a bit further or faster each week? Beating your targets and bilding on endurance and speed.? More worrying is your expectations of yourself, disappointment ending in beating yourself up.
Be patient, be realistic and be kind to yourself. It will end up in you achieving targets and happier which will encourage tou to reach new targets.0 -
Yes, I would say it gets easier the more you stick at it! Here are some things that have helped me improve both for time/distance:
- Vary your route and distance. Don't run the same route; change it up! SOmetimes I'll even drive to the waterfront for different scenery.
- Vary your running workouts. Sometimes I'll run an easy 3, other times it's a hard 6. Some days I'll warm up and do a series of track sprints. I rarely do the same distance in a week.
- Stick with it. I run between 3-5 days a week. In the last 6 months I've gone from running over a 10- minute mile (usually closer to 11 minutes) to clocking miles under 9 minutes at roughly the same effort. I think this is persistence.
- Watch the self talk. SOOOO much of running is in the head. If you were to run next to me, you'd frequently here me talk out loud to myself. I have phrases like "you've got this," "let's go," "you're strong," etc. While this sounds silly, it's something simple I do to reinforce the fact I AM a runner.
- Get yourself some running gear/clothes. I dunno know why this is, but LOOKING like a runner helps me FEEL like a runner. In the last couple months, I've ditched the oversized cotton t's for fitted tanks, capris, running sleeves, and a runner's cap. (Now maybe this is just motivating for me, but hey - it's helped!).
- Cross train. I incorporate a few workouts a week that have nothing to do with running. Right now, my favorite is to build strength through heavy weight lifting. However, I also enjoy yoga and about a workout per week of another form of cardio.
Phew! Sorry that was so long - it's just a topic I feel passionate about. Personally, I used to dread running a single mile but I've managed to now complete a few full distance marathons and other races, so what I've shared comes from experience here.
Good luck!
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I dont run, but whats wrong with running a bit further or faster each week? Beating your targets and bilding on endurance and speed.? More worrying is your expectations of yourself, disappointment ending in beating yourself up.
Be patient, be realistic and be kind to yourself. It will end up in you achieving targets and happier which will encourage tou to reach new targets.
The problem with that approach is that working on both pace AND duration at the same time is not realistic at best (bad progress on either) and can cause injuries at worst.
Her disappointment is understandable. I'm passionate about this topic because just a couple of months ago I swear I could have written the exact same post, it's eery! A program aimed at beginners, yet I struggle to make it past a certain week in the program? What's wrong with me? Why is it so hard for me when others seem to be able to do it easily? Does it ever get easier? Will I always fail at running when I want to do it so badly?
Turns out all I needed to do was understand what level my body operates at, and find a better approach to fit that. Even that approach I had to modify to fit my own needs (doing kilometers instead of miles and doing 90 second walks instead of 1 minute). When I first struggled to run 3 continuous minutes but succeeded, I felt like a hero. A champion. A small victory but the sense of accomplishment was worth a thousand days of trying to repeat a certain day in C25k and failing.. only managing to run a measly 3 minutes. Same accomplishment, but the motivation levels in both cases are phenomenally different.
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How fast are you running in the running intervals? You might be going too fast; most beginners do, especially in the heat. A good rule of thumb is the talk test: you should be able to talk comfortably when running, but you shouldn't be able to sing. If you can sing, you're not up to moderate intensity. If you can't talk comfortably, you're at or above your lactate threshold and you're entering high intensity. High-intensity intervals can be useful but I wouldn't recommend it until you're comfortable covering your 6 km loop.
A lot of inexperienced runners also have too low a cadence (steps per minute) and take strides that are too long. A good target cadence is 160-180 steps per minute (counting each foot separately). A high cadence ensures that your stride isn't too long, which means you're less likely to have excessive heel strike, and it keeps you from bouncing up and down too much, which reduces the risk of injury.
You can measure your cadence by counting the number of times your right foot hits the ground in 1 minute, then multiply by 2. If it's under 160, try increasing by just 5 steps per minute on your next interval and see how that feels. Don't try to increase your cadence quickly; you want to adapt.
Finally, if you can run 3 minutes, walk 2, and repeat 11 times, you're doing well! In that case, I'd advise trying, in your last interval, to run 3:30 and walk 1:30, instead of 3 and 2 minutes. If that works out OK, then do it in your next-to-last interval too. Repeat until you're running 3:30 and walking only 1:30 for each interval. Once you can do that, you know what to do: go to 4 minutes running and 1 minute walking for the last interval, and gradually work up to 4 to 1 for the whole workout. At that point you can begin to increase the running time, and keep 1 minute rests. Some coaches like Jeff Galloway recommend the run-walk-run method for recreational runners even after they don't absolutely need to walk, in order to reduce the risk of injury and improve speed in the running intervals.
Good luck! You can do this!0 -
Come up with a mantra and don't let negativity crowd it out! Mine is "I'm a machine" and I just keep chanting it in my head until I feel well oiled and hit my stride. For me, when I ran daily, it took about 3 months to work up to a few 9 minute miles. Eventually I was running six miles a day. That took me a year. I fell out of the habit and now that I'm no longer in my twenties I'm finding it nearly impossible to reconnect with that same motivation. I saw the doc about my popping knees (had an x-ray) and was told I shouldn't run anymore. So, I fell in love with the elliptical. Recently, my elliptical broke, I started a new semester in college and I've become pretty sedentary:( So, does running get easier? Yes and no. The biggest obstacle to running being rejuvenating and stress relieving is the thinking that accompanies the action (I think that could be said of most things). Keep at it or find something that fits you more (maybe an elliptical while you watch your favorite episode of something or listen to your favorite music). Just keep on moving!0
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So it took me 14 months to build up to running 5k without walk breaks. And my time was not impressive, about 40 minutes. C25k was extremely hard for me. I had a young child in daycare who was bringing home all kinds of illnesses and i have asthma so i couldn't fight them off. I had strep throat 3 times in 2 months among other things. And each time I had to take a week or two off, it would set me back with running. Eventually I realized taking walk breaks wasn't working for me so I switched to finding out how long I could run without walking (10 minutes) and i would round out my time with 20 minutes of walking. Once every 8 days i would extend my time by 2.5 to 5 minutes depending on how well I was doing. But the trick is to run slower than you think you need to. Without walk breaks i was running 13:30-14 minute miles.
So did this work? I would say so. It took from 2011-2012 for me to run 5k. But since then I've run 7 half marathons, and I've got my first marathon scheduled for next Sunday and I was able to get my weekly mileage up to 47 average with a peak of 58 mpw. My speed has improved a little too, my 5k is down to 26:04 and dropping.
My advice to you is keep at it. If i can do it, anyone can. Just slow down and stop putting pressure on yourself. You can get there, it just takes some people longer than others.0 -
If you're worried about the walking, consider this: I "ran" a half marathon yesterday in intervals of 30 seconds run, 30 seconds walk. I was passing people who were only running and I finished with a pace of 12:30/mile. Not too shabby for someone who technically walked half the race!
In all seriousness, just get out there and go. Running is a mental game. Slow down and put the miles on your feet, you will improve. Get a running buddy or join a group. Make a plan, and get out there! You can do it!0 -
Number One: Don,t worry what other people think. I was running too fast and not being able to go far because I worried what other people thought about me jogging slow. When I let that worry go, I was able to slow down and pace my self.
Number Two : Positive thoughts like ( I got this ) or ( I can do this ).
Number Three : Music
Number Four; Go Slow, But also make goals and push yourself a little at a time.
YOU GOT THIS AUSSIEEMS !!!!!0 -
I've only read a few other posts so sorry if I've repeated myself. Why continue to do something that you really don't want to do. You're just wasting your time - and its a limited resource.So the title pretty much says it.... I've tried and failed for years to "become a runner" I love the idea of running, but the practice of it makes me sick. I've started off with intervals, but as I'm running, all I can think about is my failures and if I hadn't given up, then I would be somewhere by now.... I feel like this every time I start again, and give up soon after.... How can I find the enjoyment in it? I really want to do this... I really do... Just tell me I'll get there and Itll get easier... Lie if you need to anyone else starting out? I'm currently running (I relate my run speed to that of a tortoise) a 6km loop, in 3 mins run, 2 walk. It takes me about 55minutes to complete. I've tried C25K and it didn't work for me.... Any tips or thoughts?
Thanks
X
If fitness is your goal then consider: weights done in circuit fashion. You will get fitter, stonger and its a lot quicker and more fun then running.
Just my perspective
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