Are some people just physically not cut out for running?

I'm starting to think that is me. I have never exercised a day in my life, and I decided that needs to change. I signed up for a 5K this coming November and started the C25K program in July. I CANNOT get past week three. I've been trying for nearly 4 weeks now and I am making ZERO progress. I'm seriously starting to think that perhaps my body is just not physically able to be a "runner" (or even a jogger...)

Extremely discouraged and about 2 seconds away from giving up. I have read that people sometimes repeat a day or even a week on C25K...but I've never seen anyone post about it taking WEEKS just to get past a workout.

A little about me: I'm 32, female, not even slightly overweight...in fact, I'm probably under my BMI for my height (5'5", 105lbs). I don't drink alcohol or smoke, I am not a super healthy eater, but I don't eat a ton of sweets or junk food. I definitely don't drink enough water, but I also don't drink cokes or coffee, etc. When I do drink, it's always water or milk. I started to focus on hydrating more, but got so tired of having to pee every hour that I cut back. :-/

Any thoughts??
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Replies

  • I did the C25K a few years back and found it a very challenging program! A few questions for you - what are you eating prior to running - and how soon before? How fast are you running? Have good shoes? And good music?
  • arizonaladybug
    arizonaladybug Posts: 91 Member
    I personally dont have any experience with this workout you are talking about or anything. But I think some people have a natural ability to run an do other things as well where as some have to work twice as hard. I just started drinking water like crazy I hate all the peeing but it made my skin gorgeous!
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    Maybe it's your form? I never thought I was a runner until a friend of mine told me what proper form is like and it just clicked and running became so, so much easier. I even have asthma too.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaYQwq6TnXY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    This video helped me immensely. Good luck!
  • MelL1205
    MelL1205 Posts: 1,200 Member
    I've attempted the program more times than I can count. After 2 weeks of repeating day 1 3x a week (each time I tried the program again), I gave up. I am not cut out for running.

    I can bike for miles upon miles. I cannot run 0.1 mile without feeling like I'm going to die.... not just my brain telling me that... seriously physically horrible.
  • CincinnatiDEIFan
    CincinnatiDEIFan Posts: 188 Member
    Personally, I know to not even try to run. Jogging is borderline.

    My issue stems from falling off an off track Thoroughbred years ago and never having my knee properly taken care of...

    Good luck! I hope someone here can give you better advice and encourage you to get thru it and succeed at your goal!
  • Kjngrrl
    Kjngrrl Posts: 53 Member
    How fast are you going? I've never been a 'runner' nor an exerciser. Literally went from the Couch to the road (on Week 6). What has been working for me is not caring about speed -- just endurance. My 8 year old would joke that she can walk faster than I 'run', but that's ok...every week has gotten easier. A good pair of shoes helps. Also read a few articles on proper form, and find something that keeps your mind off of it too (books on tape, good music, etc.). I have to say for me, it's really been a mind game. My mind saying "I can't run" was holding me back. Every time I get out there, I have to overcome that voice. So ask yourself how much of it is your physical body and how much of it is your mind?
  • I am one of those that isn't cut out for running or jogging except for small amounts.
    One, I am SLOOOOOW, no matter how hard I push myself. I can move very quickly initially but quickly fatigue.
    It also makes my knees and ankles swell and hurt. Finally my doc told me I have to find something else low impact.
    Belly Dance and Zumba done carefully with a bunch of weight training! :D

    Everyone has a different ratio or fast twitch vs. slow twitch muscle. I can walk for MILES but ONLY walk.
  • mindygood
    mindygood Posts: 79 Member
    Not sure if you are pacing.. we just finished C25K... I was more succesful than I thought I could ever be... Here are somethings I had to have to get to that though... good running shoes for your gate from someone who knows how to assess that are a MUST... good running tunes.... clothes that don't bug you when you run or rub etc... I found capris to be my fav.... a partner to push you to get out and do it.... and remember it is mind over matter... you can do it!!!! One of my friends posted a great quote too" A mile is a mile no matter how fast you go..." So slow it down and pace it... you can do it!!!
  • Quite right unless you're a 'natural runner' then should find another exercise.

    I have run over the years but would limp around with bad hips, lower back and even sore knees for a few days. That repitive thump thump thump thump not good for a lot of people.

    Now i can do high impact aerobics and am fine. Is just the mixing it up and building up strength in your muscles rather than relying on joints.

    If you can run and enjoy it then great (as no better way to burn calories) but if not then you're quite normal and need to find other forms of exercise.
  • Could it be that you're pushing yourself too fast?

    I'm doing Couch to 5K right now and am also not overweight (5'2" 110 lbs) and whenever I do the program I take it really slow. I can definitely see you getting tired if you're pushing yourself too fast.
  • stellcorb
    stellcorb Posts: 294 Member
    I'm not really familiar w/ the C25K program... but I used to HATE running. I was in the military and I had a hard time passing my 2 mile run on my PT test and would get physically ill before I had to run in formation. I could do the elliptical for an hour at a high resistance, but couldn't run on the treadmill for 5 minutes w/out feeling like I was going to puke...Several years ago I couldn't afford a gym membership and decided to try running again. I took it slow and walked when I needed to but made sure to push myself a bit. I played a fun music mix as well to take my mind off of it. Now I love it to the point where I crave it.
    You may not be "made" for running, but maybe you just need to go at your own pace instead of following a program... no one program or style works for every person.
  • CVALGAL
    CVALGAL Posts: 108 Member
    The first time I went through that program, it took me 9 months instead of 9 weeks. But I did it! I didn't care how long it took, I just wanted to conquer it because I have always hated running. I am currently going through it again, but I have not had to repeat any weeks. I'm going to run a 5k in November as well! All I can say is if you really want to, you can do it. Don't give up!
  • I am not cutout for running at all but that partly has to do with osteo arthritis in my hips from an adolescent bone disease and the subsequent surgeries to " correct" the damage/ stop it from progressing. I have run on my treadmill at 4mph for up to 45 minutes but it has to be to very energetic musicals or music videos and a few stretches of 3mph mixed in to be able to breathe again. Sigh, running is just NOT for me. I hate all these people that say when you get to a certain point the endorphins kick in and it's fun ... I call BS... everyone I see running looks in pain or miserable, I've had stints where I tried to run and never reached this supposed endorphin high... if I ever did run long enough to get there I'm sure it would be the onset of my heart attack or stroke kicking in. No... running is not for everyone.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    Sometimes it's our own mental, not physical, barriers that we need to break through. I found listening to music with a really good beat took my mind off the fact that I was jogging (running is not my forte). The other thing I do is not to set my expectations too high - I just wanted to finish the 7km run I signed up for and that was enough for me.
  • BUMP
  • fudgebudget
    fudgebudget Posts: 198 Member
    I tried C25K several times over the last several years with no success, and it was the only thing I was doing. I am working my way through it successfully now because I took some time away from running and did strength training. It has made ALL the difference. SO MUCH BETTER.

    Also - new shoes have been a huge help. I got Nike Free Runs, which have way more flexibility in the soles, and it has improved my form. No more shin splints or plantar fasciitis.

    I would recommend weightlifting (you won't bulk, I swear) and getting stronger before trying C25K again to see if it makes as much of a difference for you as it has done for me. Also, try a special running store and have your gait/strike analyzed. I don't necessarily think that everyone is a runner, but if this is something that you want to do then I bet you can.
  • I have to say yes. I am around 260lbs even if I lost 100lbs or more you could not get me to run for distance for any reason. Just like a Top Fuel funny car is not meant for anything more then 1/4 mile, people are the same , the same person who can run a 5k is not the same person who can run a short distance and explode with strength through a door to knock it down. Every human is different not everyone can just run simply because they are thin etc. I am not saying you can not run in general but in my opinion just simply having a large amount of weight,fat loss on your body doesnt mean tell yourself "I should enter the Ironman"
  • you are human, you were born to run.
  • you are human, you were born to run.

    You are also born to eat but too much of it not good for you :)
  • you are human, you were born to run.

    ummm no... if humans were "born to run" we would be on all fours running like leopards and wolves.
  • It took me over 6----YEA 6 months to be able to run 1 mile without stopping.
    Don't quit, slow your pace down till you can catch a good deep breath than pick it up again. Slow and steady is my motto. I don't care how long it takes as long as I get there without stopping:) Good luck
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    My suggestions... run slower, and alter the plan til it fits you. Week 3 is supposed to be to run 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Try run two minutes, walk two minutes instead. Or don't go by any set intervals at all, and just run (slowly) until you need to walk, then walk until you feel good enough to run again. Go outside, listen to some great music, and tell yourself you're going to go two miles. Go one mile, running when you can, walking when you need to, then turn around and head home. Next time you go out, try to run a little bit more. Then a little more. Then a little more.

    Personally, I've been running close to two years now, and have won a few medals so I'm pretty good at it, and that's STILL how I tackle running. When I need a break, I take a break. I finish the distance I set for myself, but I'm not going to get upset if I need to walk a little here and there.
  • tajmel
    tajmel Posts: 401 Member
    Even when I was very fit I was a slow, awkward runner. Super strong, excellent endurance, very slow. We're all a little different. I'm one of the worst runners I've ever seen, but I've never met anyone (who wasn't super obese) who actually couldn't run. Just keep at it!
  • cma17
    cma17 Posts: 56 Member
    Don't be too hard on yourself. I hate running with a passion well at least I did... I got terrible stomach cramps, aching back and lead legs but I kept on going and what I have found is the longer I run the better I feel.
    I didn't do the program you are doing, but I started with a 3k run with two small walks along the way. I did this two days in a row before quitting every time (trust me I started about 5 times). Then I just decided to run the entire way one day I thought I was going to die but I did it and then I knew I could do it every time.
    Recently I have been better I'm on day 12 now and have been for 10 runs the first 7 were 3km and the last 3 have been 4.5 kms on day 14 I will up it to 5 kms. My stomach still stomach still screams at me but after about 2k's it shuts up. You just have to push through.
    I find running is all in your mind.
    My two biggest tips are run on a empty stomach and with someone! My partner runs twice my speed at 16 kph and runs marathons but he runs with me every day and gets screamed at if he isn't at least two inches behind me at all times =P (I'm not that fit yet that I can talk and run screaming does for now) but I still like to feel like I'm winning the race ... =)
  • wavdawg4
    wavdawg4 Posts: 139 Member
    I haven't tried that program..

    But, I can honestly say that I NEVER used to like running or jogging. I hated it and it always killed me, my body and I'd have breathing issues. Pretty sure I'm a light asthmatic.
    Anywho, now I can keep up a pretty steady pace on the elliptical (6.2 sometimes to 7.0) and when i'm out walking sometimes I can do bits of jogging. Never for minutes on hand but a minute or two here and there and I *gasp* actually Enjoy it!

    sometimes it just takes time and you have to be ready for it.
  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    Good shoes made a world of difference for me. Before getting really good running shoes, I couldn't make it past a mile and a half on the treadmill on a really really great day. That just wasn't happening. I got new shoes, and a week later I was running 2 miles. Now I'm doing 5K jogs. It's also a mental game - sometimes you just have to push yourself to go that extra 30 seconds.

    All that said... If it's not working for you, it's not working. There are plenty of other ways to exercise that you might find more enjoyable.
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    I've seen lots of people take weeks on a single workout....you are not so different.

    Running is very much a mental game too. If you tell yourself that you are not a runner, then you will not be a runner.

    I knew a person who kept telling me that she wasn't a runner....it was hard....whatever....it's all an excuse. I kept after her about it because she kept telling me how much she wanted to run.

    Right now she is on week 5....but it has taken her over a year to get to that point. I am so proud of her. She's proud of herself, too.

    What took her so long was getting over that hump of telling herself that she wasn't a runner. She had herself convinced.

    There are some people who are physically unable to run....but I think a dr should be the one to determine that.

    Good luck. I LOVE running. I tell myself that every day. As a matter of fact, I cried the day I realized that I was a runner. You can do it too. Just push through the negative thoughts and instill some positive ones. (Oh, and I've completed C25k twice now. Great program. I'm currently doing bridge to 10 k)
  • holly1283
    holly1283 Posts: 741 Member
    Don't know if I am cut out for running or not. I just don't like to do it. Although a 5k accomplishment would look nice on my MFP resume, I think I can still die happy not having done it. Kudos to all of you who like to run!
  • Factory_Reset
    Factory_Reset Posts: 1,651 Member
    I've been running off/on for 14yrs. After having my 4th baby in october last year, just 18 mo after my 3rd, I decided in August that I was ready to get back to it. My husband never quit running even when I refused to while pregnant. We've been subscribers to runners world for years and our last subscription offered a book on running. It has been the best tool I've found as far as getting started. When you start you focus on minutes not miles. My older 2 (7&8) started with me last month and even they've loved the program. You start with walking for 10mins then over the next 10mins run for 2min and walk for 1, ending the workout with 10mins of walking. Each week you add a min to the run and take time off the warm up/cool down walking. Yesterday I was able to run with my husband for the full 30mins and it felt amazing. I didn't go far or fast but I'm ok with that. When I'm with my kids we only run for 5/6mins at a time but they run faster so in my mind they are helping condition me.lol. This program has helped me not be sore or achey which I use to get. Use to have a ache in my hip. It builds up slowly so your body can adjust. Good running shoes help too. I would suggest going to a running store and having them fit you. Doesn't mean you have to buy them there. I've found lately I love the minimalist shoes, but really whatever makes you comfortable. I love my nikes but my hubby is a huge fan of the merrels. Music helps too. I don't know anything about the C25K program. Hope this helps. Good luck!
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    I hate running. So I don't. And I have heart condition that makes my heart beat REALLY FAST- so running more than 5 minutes isn't that good anyway (plus, I don't like my ovaries getting jiggled all over the place in there).

    Find an exercise you are better at or you like. Maybe raquet ball, swimming, climbing trees... or bicycling. I hate running, but can ride my bike for hours! (if I had hours free for riding) I like gardening and Pilates