I can't run, no matter what I do!

dododo123

Hey everyone. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone. For a very long time now, I have not been able to run. I can walk for miles and miles, no problem there, but when it comes to running, no matter how much I try to condition myself, I can't run more than 1 minute (I am that pathetic!) I tried to run for 30 seconds and then walk for a while and then raise the running time, but no luck. If you had this sort of experience, did you do something to fix it? Or maybe you saw a doctor and suggest I see one too? I don't want to go to the doctor with this issue, primarily because I don't even know what my issue is...

MistressOfHate

What happens when you try to run? Are you out of breath or does your body hurt?

dododo123

I am out of breath. If I keep at that 30 second thing, my chest starts to hurt as well.

marycmeadows

i get out of breath too - just like anything else you have to build yourself up. it takes some time.

scottywor

Call your Doctor and tell him.

MistressOfHate

Sounds like how I used to be. I tried C25K a few times and couldn't get past the second week without coughing and not breathing well. Turns out I've been going around with asthma for years. I thought I was just REALLY out of shape.
I'd go to the doctor if I were you. My asthma is now well controlled and I'm on week 5 of C25K with no problems at all.

iuew

Hey everyone. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone. For a very long time now, I have not been able to run. I can walk for miles and miles, no problem there, but when it comes to running, no matter how much I try to condition myself, I can't run more than 1 minute (I am that pathetic!) I tried to run for 30 seconds and then walk for a while and then raise the running time, but no luck. If you had this sort of experience, did you do something to fix it? Or maybe you saw a doctor and suggest I see one too? I don't want to go to the doctor with this issue, primarily because I don't even know what my issue is...

same here, to a point. i'm in pretty good shape now; i walk for miles at a high rate of speed that is almost jogging. i routinely do intense workouts on an exercise bike. whenever i try to jog, though, i get winded faster than i would expect.

i'm going to try it again later this summer with a different breathing technique.

SarieCherries

Have you heard of the Couch to 5k program? Its a great way to work yourself up to jogging consistently for 30 minutes gradually. It might be a good way to get your endurance and cardio up.

http://www.fromcouchto5k.com/articles/training/the-couch-to-5k-training-plan/

dododo123

I guess I will see a doctor about the asthma thing and if it is not that, I will keep trying. I have no idea why I don't improve just a bit though ;(

twinswin1

I hate jogging/running, just abhor it. I was certain my lungs were exploding. After many year of trying and failing, I decided to try again and once more, I thought "oh my God! My lungs are exploding!" To confirm this, I grabbed the treadmill heart rate monitor to prove my heartrate must be at least 180. Ha, 136. I sucked it up and have been running off and on ever since. I guess I'm saying just do it. Don't cling to the can't and go for the can. :happy:

MistressOfHate

Couch to 5K is a great program. Seems like your were trying to do something along the same lines already. If it were your first few weeks of trying then I'd say just keep at it but to have no improvement over an extended period of time would make me wonder if something else was going on.

tpittsley77

I have been doing the couch to 5k program. Due to a heart problem I was never allowed to run when I was younger. But now I am running. I ran my first mile ever 3 weeks ago. Now I am up to 2.2 miles running nonstop. The couch to 5k program is great. There is an app that times you. Look up c25k. Great app! And Iam doing my first 5k in two weeks!

mikesa3

Are you drinking plenty of water? Since I started drinking 2 cups of water in the morning before I work out I feel a lot more energy and don't get out of breath as easy. I haven't done much running yet (want to start c25k soon) but I drink 1 cup when I wake up and another about 20 minutes before I work out at the gym and feel a huge difference. HTH
Nancy
edited to add that my heart rate would get high quickly when I wasn't drinking the water before working out

Shannonpurple

Hey everyone. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone. For a very long time now, I have not been able to run. I can walk for miles and miles, no problem there, but when it comes to running, no matter how much I try to condition myself, I can't run more than 1 minute (I am that pathetic!) I tried to run for 30 seconds and then walk for a while and then raise the running time, but no luck. If you had this sort of experience, did you do something to fix it? Or maybe you saw a doctor and suggest I see one too? I don't want to go to the doctor with this issue, primarily because I don't even know what my issue is...

I pretend zombies are chasing me.......and I pick a point ahead of me and say I need to make it there to be safe and then once I am there I pick another point and say once I make it there I am safe, I also take deep breathes and run a pace that is right for me. If I can sing I am running to slow.

LorinaLynn

Have you tried running slower? I started running (using Couch to 5k) at 5mph on the treadmill because I could still walk at 4.5mph, but I know people who run at 3.5 and 4mph, too. And for the longest time, I couldn't go any faster than that, until I had the endurance to go a longer distance.

beckyinma

Have you tried running slower? I started running (using Couch to 5k) at 5mph on the treadmill because I could still walk at 4.5mph, but I know people who run at 3.5 and 4mph, too. And for the longest time, I couldn't go any faster than that, until I had the endurance to go a longer distance.

Seems I'm always "seconding" what Lorina says. I'm one of those that runs at 4mph, because I couldn't go faster without having an asthma attack. First see your doctor fora physicl, to make sure he ok's a running program, and if its ok, start couch to 5k very slowly. I've been at it long enough that I've knocked 3 minutes off my mile.

Nopedotjpeg

If your chest is hurting you need to get checked out by a doctor. You're not severely obese to warrant not being able to condition yourself so it sounds like something that might be medical.

NOTE: This is assuming you are following a patterned and somewhat consistent schedule of trying to condition yourself to run. If you're not consistent then that's probably the issue.

EDIT: Lorina has a point. How fast is it you're trying to run? Is this an all-out effort? Because that's the opposite of what endurance running prescribes.

MostlyWater

I had that with my wrist. It might be part of getting older.

There's plenty of exercise you can do without running.

CoryIda

Want me to chase you?



Seriously, though, maybe give Couch 2 5k a try.

Or just keep walking. I love walking, even though I *can* run at this point.

dmpizza

Have you tried a good treadmill?
See how long you can go at 6MPH.

yesthistime

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/30-couch-to-5k-running-program-c25k
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4064-c25k-friends
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/2410-c25k-doing-the-impossible
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/2625-from-walkers-to-runners

99cherrypie99

You can check with your doctor, but there's nothing wrong with you. You are doing what every newbie does - running way too fast. The best advice I ever got was to slow down so much you feel like you're not moving. Then slow down more.

BPayton27

Yes, I agree with the doctor check. Also, how fast are you running? You should run at a pace that you can still clearly speak....and then go 20% slower when you're just starting out. Running was such a mental road block from me. I thought, my GOD, I am going to die on this treadmill. I started the c25k (c25k.com) program and have really begun enjoying my runs. I used to go straight for the elliptical or arc trainer at the gym, now I get my run out first. Good luck to you!

pduckworth

I noticed this issue when I was in high school. Went do the doctor and found out that I had pretty bad asthma. Once I got an inhaler, I was able to run for larger periods of time and not get that strangling feeling. Took awhile to build endurance, but it eventually happened!

If you have medical insurance, I would definitely recommend going to your doctor just to make sure it isn't asthma.

TourThePast

I don't want to go to the doctor with this issue, primarily because I don't even know what my issue is...

Sounds like the issue is that you're very unfit.

During your walks, try running SLOWLY for 15 seconds every day for a week, then up it to 30 seconds.

If I keep at that 30 second thing, my chest starts to hurt as well.

Your chest "hurts" and you're asking for advice from complete strangers on the internet?

If your chest actually HURTS go see a doctor tomorrow. If you're drama queening, suck it up and run for short periods (eg 15 seconds) until you're happy to start the Couch to 5K programme.

NickTrees

I am out of breath. If I keep at that 30 second thing, my chest starts to hurt as well.

1. Maybe you are just pushing too hard... instead of running hard just start at a slow jog and see how long you can keep that up.

2. Also, try to do something like... jogging for 15 seconds and spending a minute walking and recovering and go again. This will help you get a lot of running done. If you only do this for ten minutes then you have jogged for 2.5 minutes of it. Eventually you will be able to sustain longer runs.

3. Work of breathing and letting your stomach fill with air before puffing it back out.

vypeters

Have your doctor check you for breathing issues. If they don't find anything and you continue to have this problem...maybe try something else besides running (biking, hiking, swimming are just a few that come to mind). Ya don't have to run to be fit.

And you might be surprised...do some of those at high intensity for a while and you might find yourself better able to run if that's what you want to do.

I can't run because decades of major obesity trashed my right knee. I hike. I love it. I burn huge calories, I kick my heart rate in the butt. So what if I can't run.

lilyvale68

Have you tried being really intentional about your breathing? It can be tempting to hold your breath while running. I've been running about 2.5 months now and still have to put some thought into my breathing pattern. I breath in for two steps and out for two steps. I'm sure there are other patterns but that's what works best for me. I've been using C25K and have built up to 28 minutes of running. It works.

engineman312

have you tried cycling??

TourThePast

letting your stomach fill with air before puffing it back out.

*BELCH!*

*PARP!* :bigsmile:

You might want to rethink that advice...

aheartbeatsos

See a doctor first to see if there is an underlying cause that could be treated.
Other than that I would say keep at it!
I was never able to get past a minute at this would discourage me and I'd give up for a while
but lately I've learned persistence is key!
Doesn't matter if I'm bent over gasping for breath like I ran a marathon after 15 minutes, if I can do 15 seconds more after two weeks of training I'm getting somewhere!