Running Question

runningforicecream

Hello, all. I hope you can provide me with some perspective to this problem I am having.

I have been running for a couple of months now, using the c25k app, repeating some weeks when necessary. About a month ago, I finally managed to run 2.5-ish miles without stopping at all and I did that for quite a few times.

However, since last Monday, I have not been able to run past 1.5 miles. It's like I am out of breath and really tired. Feels more as if I am a complete novice to running rather than I have been running for some months.

At first I thought maybe it's just a bad day but this has been going on for 4 runs.

Has anyone experienced this before? Care to share how you overcome it? Any help would be appreciated.

SonicDeathMonkey80

What dd your paces for the 2.5 miles look like when compared to the runs you are struggling with now?

iRun_Butterfly

Have you increased your speed at all? Changed your diet significantly? I would suggest slowing down a little. I've hit points like that since I've started running. I'll have a great run, then for a few days or even a couple weeks, will just feel like I'm just dragging. I've noticed if I let my body rest a little, slow down a little, that seems to help.

witsend79

Sounds like you've got a mental block now. You're totally capable of running that distance, don't let your brain talk you out of it.

Set out slower, pick a route you like and keep reminding yourself that you can do it. There is absolutely no reason for stopping until the end, you've just got to remind your brain of that!

runningforicecream

The paces are relatively similar. I am a slow runner and when I was doing 2.5/.75 I was at around 11.30 (average) per mile. Today's 13.03/mile, last Friday's 12.22.

SonicDeathMonkey80

The paces are relatively similar. I am a slow runner and when I was doing 2.5/.75 I was at around 11.30 (average) per mile. Today's 13.03/mile, last Friday's 12.22.

Are you running on a treadmill? If so, go outside. If you're running outside, go to a different location to run. Go to the park, go downtown, go anywhere to take your mind off your established routine. Push through and stay the course.

runningforicecream

Have you increased your speed at all? Changed your diet significantly? I would suggest slowing down a little. I've hit points like that since I've started running. I'll have a great run, then for a few days or even a couple weeks, will just feel like I'm just dragging. I've noticed if I let my body rest a little, slow down a little, that seems to help.

I have not made any significant changes to anything. I eat enough, around 1800 calls and that's considering I am pretty sedentary outside of my workouts.

I was willing to write it off when it was just a couple of days but now it's been a week. It's a little disheartening. But a relieve to hear that you've experienced something similar. Thank you for sharing.

Fit_Fox88

I have days like this almost weekly. My run last Thursday was like that. I just pushed through it but I know my problem is that I am trying to increase my speed so I am getting more tired more quickly. Slow your pace down a little and see if that helps.

runningforicecream

Sounds like you've got a mental block now. You're totally capable of running that distance, don't let your brain talk you out of it.

Set out slower, pick a route you like and keep reminding yourself that you can do it. There is absolutely no reason for stopping until the end, you've just got to remind your brain of that!

At first I thought I've the mental block but then I realised that I am actually really excited to run each time. Right until I hit that wall.

runningforicecream

The paces are relatively similar. I am a slow runner and when I was doing 2.5/.75 I was at around 11.30 (average) per mile. Today's 13.03/mile, last Friday's 12.22.

Are you running on a treadmill? If so, go outside. If you're running outside, go to a different location to run. Go to the park, go downtown, go anywhere to take your mind off your established routine. Push through and stay the course.

On a treadmill right now. Running outside is not very feasible at the moment due to the temperature and safety but I will be back to running outside next month.

Nevertheless, thanks for the perspectives.

enterdanger

Did you drink more than usual either coffee or alcohol? I've noticed that if I run after either I get that happening. Maybe not having enough water?

Lane1012

Could also be the weather? I know when it's humid out I have a much harder time keeping my breath. If it's humid out where you are maybe try an earlier run? Air quality plays a big part.

RyanDryFly

It may be the heat. What are the temperatures like? The dew point is a good indicator to look at during your run. The higher it is the harder it is to cool your body through evaporation. Also make sure you stay hydrated before, during and after. Bring water with you on your runs and take a drink every half mile or so. Stick with it and you break through new barriers.

SonicDeathMonkey80

The paces are relatively similar. I am a slow runner and when I was doing 2.5/.75 I was at around 11.30 (average) per mile. Today's 13.03/mile, last Friday's 12.22.

Are you running on a treadmill? If so, go outside. If you're running outside, go to a different location to run. Go to the park, go downtown, go anywhere to take your mind off your established routine. Push through and stay the course.

On a treadmill right now. Running outside is not very feasible at the moment due to the temperature and safety but I will be back to running outside next month.

Nevertheless, thanks for the perspectives.

The friends of mine who are Brits would disagree with that I'm sure. I'm pretty sure if I was mentally latched onto a treadmill I would want to quit after a mile too. The weather is never going to be perfect when you want to run, and you are safer out there than you think.

runningforicecream

I have days like this almost weekly. My run last Thursday was like that. I just pushed through it but I know my problem is that I am trying to increase my speed so I am getting more tired more quickly. Slow your pace down a little and see if that helps.

My worry is that it's four bad runs consecutively. I've experienced the interspersed bad days and know that they are quite normal. And also, I am actually at a really slow pace in that I walk faster than I run.

Did you drink more than usual either coffee or alcohol? I've noticed that if I run after either I get that happening. Maybe not having enough water?

Nope, I don't drink. As for coffee, I have not had any for a couple of months. Also, I drink A LOT of water each day.

runningforicecream

The paces are relatively similar. I am a slow runner and when I was doing 2.5/.75 I was at around 11.30 (average) per mile. Today's 13.03/mile, last Friday's 12.22.

Are you running on a treadmill? If so, go outside. If you're running outside, go to a different location to run. Go to the park, go downtown, go anywhere to take your mind off your established routine. Push through and stay the course.

On a treadmill right now. Running outside is not very feasible at the moment due to the temperature and safety but I will be back to running outside next month.

Nevertheless, thanks for the perspectives.

The friends of mine who are Brits would disagree with that I'm sure. I'm pretty sure if I was mentally latched onto a treadmill I would want to quit after a mile too. The weather is never going to be perfect when you want to run, and you are safer out there than you think.

Not in the UK right now. Hence, only able to run outside when I return to UK in September. Not looking for excuses but I was out most day running (rain or shine) when it was feasible.

runningforicecream

Thanks all, for your assistance. I do appreciate it.

I hope you don't think I am being difficult and shrugging off everything you all suggested. I was just providing information so that you can have all the information you need to help me.

The point made about maybe it's the weather/temperature could be it even though it has remained relatively unchanged since I started running.

asdelmonte

What are you doing on your off days? The day after lifting or a long bike ride, or if I went out and didn't get enough sleep, my run suffers.

1princesswarrior

I'm going through the same thing right now only I'm running outside. It's all mental I think for me. I conquered a trail I've been running for over a year last week and now I need a new challenge as running on the street/sidewalks is killing my ankles. But it seems like after that run I hit a wall at 2 miles regardless of where I run.

I like the suggestion to run outside. Or go back to week one of C25K and try 30 sec sprints for a week to change up your routine. Find a running partner. Another thing I do is start out really slow for the first few minutes. My times are very similar to yours if that helps.

joanna_82

I think running is a bit like that- you do often have bad days and bad runs and they can go on for a while, and then suddenly it gets better- I don't have any more of an explanation for that.

Have you tried covering up the display of the treadmill so you can't see the numbers, running with music, running with the TV etc as a distraction to get past the first mile or so?

I have to say I always find the first 10 minutes tough but then you get into a rhythm with it and it does ease up.

good luck and don't give up!

PaytraB

The paces are relatively similar. I am a slow runner and when I was doing 2.5/.75 I was at around 11.30 (average) per mile. Today's 13.03/mile, last Friday's 12.22.

Slow down a bit. a 12 min/mile is perhaps too fast for a beginner, even if you've done it once or twice. Give your body a chance to get used to the stresses of running. Speed will come over time.
Can you speak short sentences while running? Are you gasping while speaking? If so, slow down.
Welcome to the world of running. There's always a challenge to overcome.

Kickinkim418

We all have days like this!!!! No worries, just keep going!!!! You'll get it figured out!!! With me, the air quality and weather tend to be big factors in my running and also my diet. When the air quality is bad or the weather is warmer, I struggle with my breathing. Try eating a banana and or banana with peanut butter before you run...HTH!!! You are doing fantastic...just keep going and it will eventually come together!

365andstillalive

I'm relatively new to running, but I've noticed that if I run multiple days in a row, my times and distance suffer, which is just my body needing more rest.

I've started changing my routine, now some days I do a workout video (I'm loving Shaun T's Hip Hop Abs right now haha) and then if I feel like it, run the block around my house (which is 1.2k, so a little shy of a mile); then I'll do longer runs other days so that I'm not over working the muscles. I'm currently doing 2-3 rest days a week.

witsend79

You sound like you don't want a solution. There isn't anything that can magically change to prevent you running for another 11-13minutes. Nothing apart from your attitude towards the task. Eating differently, drinking differently, sleeping more, sleeping less- none of it makes a jot of difference when you're talking this sort of distance. Sometimes you just have to knuckle down and do it.

runningforicecream

Since I don't want this thread to go down that road, let me reiterate.

My difficulty here is not in my attitude towards running. Rather it's the fact that I am completely exhausted (out of breath, physically tired) at that point when I have not encountered this problem in my past runs. It's a physical barrier.

While I concede that running is often a mental game, this is not the case here.

My point in asking this question is to find out if anyone else encounters this problem of not having any difficulties running for a certain amount of time/ distance, in fact, perfectly capable of exceeding said limit in the past and suddenly found themselves stonewalled.

runningforicecream

Seems like it may very well be the air quality/ temperature. It has been a little hazy here these last couple of weeks. I shall monitor it and see if there's a change in performance.

I appreciate all your inputs. :flowerforyou:

runrev2014

I have found that adding a good leg workout before a rest day, and then running again gets me over that hump. Also, you might want to vary your workout with intervals. Walk to warm up (5 minutes or so), then run at a pace that will make you feel breathless in about 3-5 minutes (don't use your clock on the treadmill, just go until you are tired), then walk until you are breathing easily. Repeat this several times. Remember to cool down walk at the end. I know this is similar to the C25K, but use your self-knowledge to change up your intervals.

mathmatt

I had this problem when I was first starting out running. When I started increasing my distance I had to start eating something about 10mins before my run. The best thing I found that helped was 2 dates, 4 almonds and a teaspoon of coconut oil. Running for about 20-30 mins I didn't do the coconut oil as I was still metabolizing sugars at that point but going out for longer than 45mins, I would add in the coconut oil.

mathmatt

I also find it easier outside since I can pick a point a little bit a way and tell myself 'just to that tree' then I make it to that tree and say 'little further, how about that stump up there.' Mind games...

cappri

Any chance you are at all anemic? I know that right before I found out I was, running any distance at all was a real struggle, which was strange for me.

dawnmcneil10

I had a very similar thing happen to me, I was up to running around 4 miles, did a 5k mud run and then for over a week I couldn't seem to get more than a mile in. I run outside all the time so winter should prove interesting. I had listened to the advice of others, drink while running, use energy tables/chews to keep up, make sure to fuel up first and I tried all of them. After 2 weeks of struggling I quit it all, went back to my 3-4 miles at a time running around a 12 minute mile and I'm right back to comfortable and feeling great. I have noticed the time of day I run makes a difference though. I personally run best on weekend mornings, no food in the tummy just coffee/water. My next best is late in the afternoon about 2 hours after my last snack and before dinner.

Not sure if that will help you or not but yes, I've struggled too. Sometimes it really takes just going back to basics, run a quarter mile or half mile then recover with walking for half that and then go right back to it, I did that for a few days and then I was back to the old running style and quite happy.

Good luck to you, I hope you find whatever your own personal issue is and no you are NOT alone.