New to running - what makes you stop?

CeejayGee

I have a question for other new runners or those who were once new runners...

When you first begin a running program...what is it that makes you want to stop, i.e. no longer to endure going and pause to walk. Is it that you're out of breath? Body tired? etc.

I find that I'm never out of breath (well, not now that I have asthma meds), but that my calves aching/tiring always makes me stop after about the 60 second mark (I'm on Couch 2 5k, Week 1, so this is the perfect timing). I never get to a point where I am out of breath, or have a stitch in my side, etc. It's always the legs.

dakoerber

I would say if you are having issues with your legs then yes you want to slow the pace or walk. The thing with running is that it is hard on your joints and body because of the pounding. You don't want to hurt yourself. Take it slow and steady and work your way up to it.

Congratulations on starting running!! It is an awesome workout!

susioryan

Yep its the legs hurting.

cccathyyy

I just finished Week 2 Day 2 of Couch to 5k... and with the new running shoes, my legs can keep going, it's my lungs that want to die! I'm still coughing and have a wheeze now, lol.

Good luck with your running! Hopefully we can both get through the program!

ruffledviolet

For me it's always running out of breath. I am completely awful at running. I love it, but I just can't do it.
Swimming isn't a problem for me so I stick with that.

Anyway, I think if you stretch before and after it will get better. You can Google good calf stretches.

KayNicole1320

for me its the opposite. I dont get tired in the legs until like.......2 hrs maybe....hard to tell. because i cant even manage 60 seconds without panting. I have terrible cardiovascular so when i run, its hurts like hell in my lungs, but i push through the panting for about 10 mins at a time and then have to walk or even stop altogether to stretch and calm my heart rate before i go into cardiac arrest lol. My legs NEVER get tired or sore. I could stay on my feet walking around all day and it'll be a backache thatll get me to sit down, not my legs. In fact, since either my breathing or my back tends to make me have to rest first, I dont think I even know what its like to have sore legs from exersize. Theyre always up for more.

ImperfektAngel

I'm pretty new to running as well but what does it for me is running out of breath and the legs getting tired, I have to stop for at least a minute after a mile.

jcm214

I'm a new runner too! If I push it too hard too fast then I usually end up stopping for my breathing. Sunday I pushed my distance an extra .70 of a mile and ended up tweaking my knee. Today, I stopped because my knee was still bothering me and my legs were really stiff. I'm trying to read as much as I can (I've found www.runnersworld.com to have great resources) on info for beginning runners.

I'm not doing C25k, maybe I should. But I just don't feel it. I have a better time just doing my own thing.

Good luck.

TaushasJourney

I'm on C25K week 4 (1 more workout), and I definitely start to feel a little out of breath and like my legs get heavier, haha. But it's not so bad that I stop to walk before my time's up. Next week's last workout is all running, so we'll see if I can push thru it!

skye_logan

I'm almost the exact opposite. I almost never get to the legs getting tired point, I usually have to stop because I can't breathe anymore. The whole not being able to breathe thing is really bad though, it takes a long time to regain my breath, so I'm considering going to my doctor and asking about exercise-induced asthma. I feel like if I could breathe I would run forever!

Good luck on your running journey though! I've always wanted to be able to run but never had the lungs to!

dlaplume2

I am new to running and my knee was bothering me and my chiropractor said to increase the incline. I thought he wanted to kill me, but it worked. I don't know if you are on a treadmill, but try increasing the incline. Also make sure you have good shoes.

Good luck. I have never run in my life and I completed the C25k and was so proud of myself. Keep at it.

mamagooskie

I think most often I stop to catch my breath or I need to drink some water.

sarah44254

For me, it's the breath.

When my breathing gets out of control, I will breathe too quickly, or not often enough, leading to lightheadedness and / or a pain in my belly/side. This makes me stop, catch my breath, and start slowly again focusing strongly on my breathing. I know this is a weak point for me so it is all I can do to listen to my breath and time it with my steps. I have more trouble if I bring music or 'zone out'. I need to be on task and really thinking about breathing to make it work for me.

My calves and legs hurt very rarely, but when they do, I push right on through. When I was in high school my friend was in cross country. He did extremely well but never felt good about himself. He didn't know that I was looking up to him every day and wishing I could run like he did. I remember him now each day I go on these runs (I wish I would have told him how I felt, he has such low self confidence now-a-days...) One of his X-Country shirts had this printed on the back.

"The only thing pushing you forward when your legs stop moving... is your mind."

I remember this and I tell myself KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING. I do. As long as I truly believe I can make it, I will. When I start to tell myself, "Ok this is far enough..." I feel tired. I always have to push myself. "Ok to that stop sign." But once I get near it, I start thinking "Ok... to that curve in the road", and so on. Then I am halfway thru and I think "The faster I run, the faster I will be home and finished!!"

fteale

When I first started running (after 14 years of not doing) I ran about 8km. Up to about 2km in it was my breath making me want to stop, but once I broke through that, I was ok. By about 6km my legs were getting tired.

When I started running regularly I ran a 6km route, and it wasn't my legs or breathing that made me want to stop, it was really just an overwhelming sense of "urgh, my body does not want to do this". Even now, a year after that first run, I can't place what it is that makes me want to stop. Sometimes it's ankle pain, but that's easy to ignore.

I don't stop, though. I always just push through and finish the route I have planned. Occasionally I have had to walk up steep hills, but I try not to these days. I know my body can run 10 km, so I make it.

rkquade

I'm not new to running, but am slowly coming back from an injury. This may sound weird but I want to stop or walk, most of the time, because my mind tells me this is too hard. The mental part of running is my biggest challenge. Best of luck to you!

Angela4Health

It would probably be the whole breathing thing, if I had not already been doing Turbo Fire for the 6 weeks before starting running again. I would say that conditioned my lungs pretty well. I started running again last week, and I've taken it pretty slow so far but it's definetely the legs hurtings/getting sore that makes me *want* to stop (but I don't.) I only run every other day for now though.

LorinaLynn

Thirst and feeling overheated is what beats me down. And some of the hills in my neighborhood are killers, too. My legs feel fine. My breathing is fine. It's just a general fatigue. During a race, I can power through it, but when I'm just jogging, I'm not going to run myself into the ground.

CeejayGee

I do have good shoes - I went and had them fitted at a running store. Before, my legs hurt like crazy after even a fast walk for 20 seconds. But, now it's much better. However, it's always the calves that makes me want to stop running and walk instead. They just get tight and really tired. I stop a few times and stretch them.

KBrenOH

I tried to do the couch 2 5k but I have the wrong type of shoes for it. Also, I made it through the first week of the program but really struggled doing 90 seconds straight of jogging (at 4mph via the treadmill). So I re-did week 1 but still didn't have any more success AND my leg/ankles started hurting. I've since switched to a stationary bike so I could still exercise until I can afford to go to a running store and get fitted for good shoes.
Ultimately though, what made me have to stop was a combination of not being able to breathe and my legs.

JAG1224

i was never a runner (i hated and could do it) but decided to start running 3 months ago.. what would make me stop is cramping on my side but most of all it'd be a mental thing. mentally, i gave up too easily. so i gradually just set longer goals.. to the stop sign, to the tree, etc.. now i can run non stop for at least 3 miles.. (i ran my 1st 5k race this past mother's day weekend).. make sure to stretch out really good before and after your runs.. that may help with your calves. best of luck! you can do it! :happy:

taiyola

I get out of breath and feel like I'm about to explode after 60-120 seconds lol

ruffledviolet

For me, it's the breath.

When my breathing gets out of control, I will breathe too quickly, or not often enough, leading to lightheadedness and / or a pain in my belly/side. This makes me stop, catch my breath, and start slowly again focusing strongly on my breathing. I know this is a weak point for me so it is all I can do to listen to my breath and time it with my steps. I have more trouble if I bring music or 'zone out'. I need to be on task and really thinking about breathing to make it work for me.

My calves and legs hurt very rarely, but when they do, I push right on through. When I was in high school my friend was in cross country. He did extremely well but never felt good about himself. He didn't know that I was looking up to him every day and wishing I could run like he did. I remember him now each day I go on these runs (I wish I would have told him how I felt, he has such low self confidence now-a-days...) One of his X-Country shirts had this printed on the back.

"The only thing pushing you forward when your legs stop moving... is your mind."

I remember this and I tell myself KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING. I do. As long as I truly believe I can make it, I will. When I start to tell myself, "Ok this is far enough..." I feel tired. I always have to push myself. "Ok to that stop sign." But once I get near it, I start thinking "Ok... to that curve in the road", and so on. Then I am halfway thru and I think "The faster I run, the faster I will be home and finished!!"

I breathe much better when I have music to block out hearing it. Either that or it's not hearing myself breathe that makes it easier for me to push through being out of breath.

greeneyed84

Well, before i was in shape i would run out of breath easily,, my lungs would kill me after only a few minutes. So i had to walk.
Now i run regularly and can run for almost 3 miles straight. My body gets tired so i have to stop. Plus it doesn't help that i'm sweating like crazy and it gets irritating to keep wiping it off :-P

Calidaho

When I used to run (I stopped about 2.5 years ago after my knees and feet started to complain--I was gaining weight. Crazy, I know) it was mostly the aching legs. At first, I would get out of breath. I would even feel like I was having an asthma attack if I ran too fast. Eventually, I learned how to get into a breathing rhythm.

I am looking forward to running again when I get down to a weight that won't kill the tendons.

I always suggest Running for Mortals but John Bingham. Good tips on getting better at running. Unfortunately, I only got the breathing part down before I quit.

15off

You might also look into new running shoes. If your shoes are not right, you will have all sorts of leg issues. Also if you are cramping, you may need to hydrate more. Once you have begun exercise its nearly if not totally impossible to re-hyrdate unless you stop your activity all together.
Take it slow, run at an easy pace. Building strength and endurance isn't something that can be done simultaneously. Its done one at a time.

scottb81

When I first started my legs made me stop. That gets better pretty quickly though. It will pass after two or three weeks.

kdsmith

I have a question for other new runners or those who were once new runners...

When you first begin a running program...what is it that makes you want to stop, i.e. no longer to endure going and pause to walk. Is it that you're out of breath? Body tired? etc.

I find that I'm never out of breath (well, not now that I have asthma meds), but that my calves aching/tiring always makes me stop after about the 60 second mark (I'm on Couch 2 5k, Week 1, so this is the perfect timing). I never get to a point where I am out of breath, or have a stitch in my side, etc. It's always the legs.

Do your calves hurt after you take a walk break? They could be extremely tight from starting running and perhaps if you are able to get in for a massage on them then that would help. How many times are you running each week? I'm thinking that you should take 3 days off from running and see how they feel. You could call the running store where you bought your shoes and ask if they have anyone available to look at your running form...something as simple as your arms crossing over in front of you instead of keeping them going back and forth in a straight line at 90 degrees bent can make your stride off and make things hurt.

To everyone that gets out of breath fairly quickly, my theory is that if you can run slow enough you will be able to control your breathing a bit better. Never aim for speed, run at a speed where people may wonder if you're walking. This will allow you to go further and the further you go, the more you want to run.

peteyTwang

Yes leg pain was the original problem. That is pretty much gone now but it ran it's course - upper thighs - calves- shins
what made me stop for nearly a week and a half now is a major pain in the GLUTE.
Had to stop running and even walking after that happened... have been lifting weights, doing core exercise routines, taking very slow recovery walks and cycling in the meantime (strangely cycling uses completely different muscles and I was able to do it pain-free!)... finally today I did some walking without too much pain at all - and even ran a block or so of sprints so very much hope to be running again VERY soon!!!

LeonaB17

For me - it's my big belly flapping up and down that hurts. My legs are generally ok - i have small breasts so they're well confined to my sports bra, but the belly bouncing up and down and my body in general pounding into the ground - its just uncomfortable. Plus i hate how my shorts ride everywhere they shouldn't go! I wish they would make an *kitten* and belly bra!! LOL. That stuff needs support too lol!!

Schwiggity

It would change for me. It used to be that I would get out of breath easily and I had to stop. Not it's usually my muscles fatiguing that does it. Funny enough though, it's usually my arms that get fatigued before my legs. I probably need to work on more upper body strength training.

kdsmith

For me - it's my big belly flapping up and down that hurts. My legs are generally ok - i have small breasts so they're well confined to my sports bra, but the belly bouncing up and down and my body in general pounding into the ground - its just uncomfortable. Plus i hate how my shorts ride everywhere they shouldn't go! I wish they would make an *kitten* and belly bra!! LOL. That stuff needs support too lol!!

LOL!!!!! I cannot stand the whole short riding up problems! I stick to capris now, I figure it's only an extra foot of fabric on my legs!