running regression (getting discouraged!)

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  • HornsUT32
    HornsUT32 Posts: 146 Member
    Slow your pace down, especially as you start your run. I find that my first mile is the slowest, and my last is the fastest. Your body needs time to warm up, so take it easy at first. Also, give your body time to recover. I have done several 5K and 5 mile races the past few years, and I have never run one without stopping. I set a goal to run one I am doing without stopping on July 4th, so I have been training with longer runs. Doing between 3-5 miles on treadmill seemed super easy so I thought I would head outside and try it. Wow...what a difference. The first day I could only do 1.5 miles. The next week I made it up to 3 miles, but it was torture. My pace outside is also about a minute slower than on the treadmill.

    I also have had a bad few flare ups of "runners knee", and this one might be the worst Ive ever had. Changing from the treadmill to outside is not easy on your body. Go at it slowly...I wish I would have done this!!! I have a 5k tomorrow, and thankfully my knee is feeling about 75% better, but it is still not perfect. I may be taking about a week off of running if it still hurts at the end of the race. Thankfully the race tomorrow is completely flat, so there are no hills to make it worse :).
  • HornsUT32
    HornsUT32 Posts: 146 Member
    I just went through this. Treadmill is easier for most folks than running pavement or off-road. Make sure you are well hydrated, fueled up properly, and keep a SLOW pace. As your endurance improves, so does speed. You may be running faster and not knowing it. Ive had cramps lately too, so im trying to breathe deeper.

    One more big thing is HUMIDITY. Not sure where you are running, but here in Florida the humidity is so high that I went from running 25 minutes straight to not being able to run more than 14 without stopping. I was really discouraged until I hit the treadmill in the gym and found that I can run much longer when im not battling the humidity. If your heart rate skyrockets very quickly and you struggle to breathe, its probably humidity.

    Good point on the humidity! I ran last week when it was 96 degrees outside, and although it was hot, it wasn't awful. Two days later I ran at about 9:00 am and it was only 87 degrees. but 75 percent humidity. I literally could not breathe. I stopped after 1.5 miles and finished running in the gym later that day.
  • petemeep
    petemeep Posts: 62 Member
    I just went through this. Treadmill is easier for most folks than running pavement or off-road. Make sure you are well hydrated, fueled up properly, and keep a SLOW pace. As your endurance improves, so does speed. You may be running faster and not knowing it. Ive had cramps lately too, so im trying to breathe deeper.

    One more big thing is HUMIDITY. Not sure where you are running, but here in Florida the humidity is so high that I went from running 25 minutes straight to not being able to run more than 14 without stopping. I was really discouraged until I hit the treadmill in the gym and found that I can run much longer when im not battling the humidity. If your heart rate skyrockets very quickly and you struggle to breathe, its probably humidity.

    I never thought about the humidity but it has been humid here I'm in northern Kansas nothing like Florida but more humid than I'm used to.
  • LvLite
    LvLite Posts: 102 Member
    One more thing. Week 6 may be a mental stumbling block as I recall. I have done that program 3 times, twice to get running and once to increase speed. Find something that motivates you to push harder and to quiet the voice that tells you that you can't finish.

    I agree with this for sure.. it is so mental!!! I am there again and that voice is SO wrong!

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