Running issue

albali

Hi
I started running in May and have been able to comfortably do 5K in about 30 minutes or so for about a month. I am trying to increase the time doing Bridge to 10K (or my version of it). I have been able to do 40 minutes running without a break and felt fine. But this week, suddenly running has been a REAL struggle!! Instead of legs getting tired first, which is usual for me, my lungs have been tired after about 10 minutes. I have had to walk for a minute after a few minutes running. The whole time I am out 'trying' to run seems like a massive mental and physical effort.
Do you think that this could be to do with the cold? It's about 6 degrees here. Not cold by some standards but getting chilly for here. I also wonder if I need to set a goal (signing up for a race) to motivate me.
Finally, I wondered if this it typical, that when you are trying to build up running time, that your body (and mind) can stall and go backwards for a while! I don't want to stop running, but, as I say, it all feels a bit difficult at the moment!!

Channing

6 degrees??? Yeah I would say its the cold, especially if it has just recently dropped. It always takes me at least a mile to really warm up when it'd cold out and until then I'm huffing and puffing. It will get better though, just stick to it! Keep slow and steady until you feel comfortable. Good luck!

brandimacleod

6 degrees is brutal on your lungs. I am just taking up running but have a friend who is a very, very experienced marathoner. She wont run when it is below 15. And prefers to run above 25. She takes it inside to the treadmill. The reason is that we are supposed to breathe in through our noses and out through our mouths in extreme cold. The hairs in our sinuses help warm the air when it hits our lungs. But if you breathe in and out through your mouth (like we do running) we are putting frozen air straight into our lungs which is bad.

albali

Ah! Didn't quite realise the impact the cold would have! Thanks for your responses!