Ever hit a wall at the gym?

ashlielinn

So, my friend is doing the Couch to 5k program. I've been a runner for about a year now, so I've been running along with her, but just doing straight runs or HIIT in the allotted time of her workout. Last night, we were supposed to do a 5 min warm up walk, 25 mins run, and five min cool down run. Not a big deal for me, since I usually run 35-70 mins straight, anyway. Well, I did a 5 min warm up walk with my friend, and then we started the run. I couldn't even run 10mins straight. My heart was pounding a mile a min, I couldn't catch my breath, and my legs felt like lead. Usually, when a workout gets hard, I'll just push through it, and I tried, but it just kept getting worse. So I slowed back down to a fast walk for about 5 min and then tried to get back to running, and the same thing happened. It was so strange! This should have been an easy workout for me! Has this ever happened to you? Does it happen to everyone at some point? Any idea why it happens?

Grazi, amici!

Hellbent_Heidi

YES!! Sometimes I feel much weaker and more sluggish certain days (or weeks) and read an arficle a while back in Fitness Magazine that this is a hormonal thing for women (and its not necessarily that week we might think it would be). Sounds like you handled it right by backing off for a bit.

I wouldn't worry too much about it unless it becomes a recurring problem, then maybe consider seeing a doctor to make sure everything is cool....

Sl1ghtly

Typically (in this situation) the recovery time/diet can't support the activity.

BerryH

All the time!

There are loads of potential causes, from not getting enough sleep to not being properly fuelled, being dehydrated or coming down with a virus. Once you're sure you're not getting ill or have recovered, rest up, eat well and I bet the next time out you'll be awesome again! Don;t forget to take at least one complete rest day a week and not to do two intense sessions back to back.

jsteffen80

NO... I don't care how strong you are, fist vs. cinder block wall, cinder block wall wins every time.





Real talk: I don't have anything useful to add here... was just trying to be funny.

amuhlou

Yep. I notice it a lot with the treadmill.

Some days just suck at the gym. Lately my base speed has been about 6mph, and I'll go up from there depending on how I feel. But occasionally that just feels too taxing.

On days like that I let my heart rate monitor tell me what to do. If I'm way high I take it down a notch to get it under control.

TinaDay1114

YES, happens to me, too. I feel like I've never run a mile in my LIFE. And I agree with amuhlou -- it happens to me more with the treadmill.

squishycow7

happens to me, too. some days my body is just sluggish...

in my experience it's either been a) dehydration or b) coming down with a cold!


feel better

recriger

NO... I don't care how strong you are, fist vs. cinder block wall, cinder block wall wins every time.





Real talk: I don't have anything useful to add here... was just trying to be funny.

Luckily the walls at my gym are gypsum. As long as i don't choose that spot in front of the wrong inch and a half!!

I have found that there are lots of exercises that can acomplish the same thing, but may involve different motions. Way back in the day, when i was a total gym rat, i found that if i felt as if i was reaching a stalling point i needed to switch exercises. For some reason I would start to feel tired more often when approaching one of these points. The change of motion and routine was enough to avoid the stall. Your body will develope a tolerance to any motion, think of it as a physiological callus. Gotta change things up and keep your body on it's toes!!

LilRedRooster

Ugh, YES! I have certain days where for whatever reason, I just feel like I'm slogging through an impossible run, and it shouldn't be that big of a deal! I think it's probably a multitude of reasons, from hormones to muscle fatigue, or electrolyte imbalance. Sometimes, if I don't get enough potassium in my diet, my muscles don't respond as well, which makes sense, because in order to create an action potential in the muscle and have it fire properly, you need potassium. Some days, though, I think it's just my brain refusing to follow my directions, haha.

engineman312

yeah, it happens. sometimes my body just fights me. try and push through it, but sometimes it doesn't work. thats fine, you should listen to your body.

Inlet

Yep. It happens. I have gotten myself injured as my form starts to slide so when this happens I stop and switch to a safe, low impact range of motion, like a stationary bike, and do some heart rate training.

sc1572

Yep! Somedays I feel unstoppable and can run like the wind! Other days, I can't even run two minutes before feeling exhausted. I think it just has to do with how your body is, how tired you are, if you're stressed, etc. Just know that you're not alone, and push through it!

ashlielinn

Thanks, everyone!!! I went right back at it Friday night, and pushed through the whole workout without any problems! I appreciate all the insight and knowing I'm not alone!