I can weight train easy but can't run for the life of me. Why?
Childfree1991
Posts: 145 Member
Well, I can run but only 30 seconds tops even when pacing myself, then I'll immediately burn out. Yet I can do resistance training/weights for 30+ minutes without getting burnt out. If I am physically strong then how come I can't run fast or that long? I'm 5'6 female 23 y/o and 123-125 pounds so I doubt it's a weight problem. I get plenty protein and complex carbs along with healthy fats and over 70 oz of water daily. I can lift no problem but I can't seem to run. There has to be something I'm doing wrong. I have a pacemaker in me but that can't be it otherwise I would quickly get burnt out from weight training too. Any help?
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How do you run?0
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Do you start out quickly? Do you warm up? How are you dressed?0
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try couch 2 5k (C25K)0
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If you've never ran before I would start out slow pace. Ensure your shoes are meant for running. Me personally I wouldn't wear the minimalist unless you're comfortable in running. Try running for a short amount of time then walk for a few. Do that until you feel comfortable0
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Ok, thanks!If you've never ran before I would start out slow pace. Ensure your shoes are meant for running. Me personally I wouldn't wear the minimalist unless you're comfortable in running. Try running for a short amount of time then walk for a few. Do that until you feel comfortable
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do you do your weight training before you run? If I do I'm beat. I have to do my cardio first.
Also I'd say make sure you do a proper warm up0 -
Childfree1991 wrote: »
I would say no. I try and do my warm up close to 10 minutes, although 5 is probably fine. First 5 I work up to a 3.0 pace, starting around 2.0. Second I ease into a swifter pace, 2 min at each speed before changing. I know it might seem overkill, but you have to build up your heart rate and give your muscles a chance to properly adjust.
I also found interval training helped me build my stamina. Random or hill, and adjust settings as I need to0 -
So you are stong but have very little endurance. It does not sound at all unusual. Can you walk? I would start by walking, several times per week and then follow a beginner's prgram, like c25k.0
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Is it just running, or is it all cardio? If it's just running (that's how I am), I look at it like, why can't I sing well like some people can? Maybe it's just not something I am meant to do well. As long as I can go on the bike, or elliptical, etc, then I don't need to run (unless the zombies attack, but I've already been assured that I can probably escape in the mass confusion before the running starts
) 0 -
The C25K programme will help you to build up stamina so that you can begin to run. It will also do it in safe way so that you do not injure yourself. But before you start even that you may want to first start timed walks. Set a distance and time the walk, slowly increase your walking pace over a period of a month and also monitor your heart rate.
That is how I started running (but didn't use C25K and fractured my ankle). But I did go from never ran in my life, because I couldn't, I would collapse in 30 seconds, to running my first kilometre in less than 10 weeks.0 -
I agree with do C25k if you want to start running.0
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The question above "is it just running or all cardio?" is important.
If it's all cardio you just aren't very fit.
If it's just running then it's probably your pace that's wrong for your current level of fitness.
I've never had an easy running pace or a jogging pace, I can walk or I can sprint but the bit in between is very hard for me.
I just can't jog or plod slowly for a 5k - it's either a proper run or nothing at all for me.0 -
The question above "is it just running or all cardio?" is important.
If it's all cardio you just aren't very fit.
If it's just running then it's probably your pace that's wrong for your current level of fitness.
I've never had an easy running pace or a jogging pace, I can walk or I can sprint but the bit in between is very hard for me.
I just can't jog or plod slowly for a 5k - it's either a proper run or nothing at all for me.
Same goes for me.0 -
I have it the other way, cardio is easy but I'm a big weak wimp with weights. Could it just be you're better at one thing naturally over the other? I have long strong legs which make running very easy!0
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Being strong is important for running properly, but people can run for 5km+ without any weight training (speaking from experience), it's a cardio thing. Just run for as long as you possibly can, then walk till you feel like you can try another run. Pacing is difficult, and it comes with time. I started trying to slow down and pace myself, once I realized if I just slowed down, I wouldn't have to stop for a full 5km. You'll see results really quickly (within a couple weeks you'll be running for much longer than 30 seconds).0
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Because you can be strong and have good muscle development, but weak in terms of cardio vascular health. This is why you should do both for overall health but plenty of people tend to do just the one they like or even more stupid, tell others one is superior to the other. Just start doing a bit more progressive cardio if you want to improve just like weights. You could always try a halfway house and do some kettlebell/ circuit training.0
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Yep this. Two very different systems being taxed. I'm not sure what's normal or not with a pacemaker so I'm not even going to touch on that, but assuming you are healthy enough to run, you just need to slowly build up your endurance and eventually speed.So you are stong but have very little endurance. It does not sound at all unusual. Can you walk? I would start by walking, several times per week and then follow a beginner's prgram, like c25k.
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If you burn out in 30 seconds, slow it down; you're probably going closer to a sprint than a jog -- and a jog is what you should be aiming for. Resistance and weight training isn't building the same capacities that cardio/running do, so you can't go from one to the other and expect the same results.
Also if you're "burned out" in 30 seconds, it could be a mental thing, not necessarily all physical.0 -
I can bike fine. I can also swim fine and take brisk walks. It's just the running I struggle at lol...blankiefinder wrote: »Is it just running, or is it all cardio? If it's just running (that's how I am), I look at it like, why can't I sing well like some people can? Maybe it's just not something I am meant to do well. As long as I can go on the bike, or elliptical, etc, then I don't need to run (unless the zombies attack, but I've already been assured that I can probably escape in the mass confusion before the running starts )
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Thanks, guys. I'll take your advice. And it's just running I need to work at. One time I got my knee checked because I thought that might be the problem but that wasn't it either. I guess I'll start slower, even if it's turtle speed lol.0
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kristinegift wrote: »If you burn out in 30 seconds, slow it down; you're probably going closer to a sprint than a jog -- and a jog is what you should be aiming for. Resistance and weight training isn't building the same capacities that cardio/running do, so you can't go from one to the other and expect the same results.
Also if you're "burned out" in 30 seconds, it could be a mental thing, not necessarily all physical.
Mental thing: I feel like this a lot about running. I want to enjoy it like I enjoy weights, but the fact is, I just don't. No matter what I do, every step I take when I jog/run is one step closer to being done with it. I look at it as monotony and I don't want to, I just do. Why it isn't like that when I walk? Don't know....but some people are just born runners and I would say I'm just not one of them. Maybe that is simply all it is for you? Good luck if you decide to make it work!0 -
Turtle speed is good. You can always get faster when you are ready. If you go too fast and quite, well then thats game over all together.
Running is very much a mental battle for alot of people. Ask yourself, am I actually tired/ can't do this or am I just bored with this? When I first started I would give out mentally way easier running than on the elliptical or bike. If it's a mental thing then maybe you can find a buddy to help distract you, listen to music, try to take your mind off of it (someone once suggested to me to count things on my run like mailboxes) or play a little I spy with yourself.
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Start by running down to the corner of your block. When that gets easy, run a little around the corner, then to the next electric pole, then to another landmark, etc. only moving to more distance when the previous one gets a little easy. That was how I started and one day I found myself running a half mile and then a mile and then.... this past year I completed the Broad Street Run in Philly (10 miles) and this year did a 5K on New Years Day -- I am still very slow but I'm working on building endurance for distance and letting the speed come up later.0
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I also feel like running is very much a mental thing. If you have this idea that you "can't" run, it's going to make it that much harder. On days when I can't mentally get into it, it's way harder... and some days I can run 8+ miles easily. You definitely CAN do it... just start slow! C25k is a great program to get started with.0
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Like others, I recommend you start by walking. The rest will come. Like BigLifter, running isn't my favorite thing to do, but I do it outside, usually along the beach. Once you get reasonably good at it, your mind can drift and you don't really think about it. Having music playing also takes my mind off the boring aspect of it. Good Luck!0
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The running programs are good. I joined a running club many years ago and we started with 1 minute walk, 1 minute run, the entire 30 minutes... 3 x a week. The next week, we moved up to 1 minute walk, 2 minute run... then we kept building until we all ran a 5km race together. I couldn't run for the life of me either before that club. Now I run and walk for 20-30 seconds when I need to. Good luck. You can do it.0
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Your pace is probably too fast.
Slow down - even if it feels ridiculously slow. Then gradually add volume as you adapt.0 -
Childfree1991 wrote: »Well, I can run but only 30 seconds tops even when pacing myself, then I'll immediately burn out. Yet I can do resistance training/weights for 30+ minutes without getting burnt out.
You have muscles but you haven't developed a system to feed them oxygen properly to keep them going for long amounts of time. I used to be in the same position. I was twice as strong as my brother but we'd do hikes in Colorado and I had a hard time keeping up with him. That was an eye opener for me. I was missing something. It's like I had car that looked like a Ferrari but with a VW Beetle engine. It looked great but when you put your foot on the gas nothing happened.
Read the first post in this discussion.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1217573/so-you-want-to-start-running0
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