Question about being in shape?? Contradicting body.

paniologal
paniologal Posts: 53 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone..

This is something that has confused me for awhile now. I am in shape. My body is strong, my endurance is great. When I go hiking I'm climbing (all uphill) faster than anyone else and not breaking a sweat. I could hike up and down hills for hours and I'm perfectly fine. When I go to the gym I can do 30 min workouts that combine strength and cardio training and not feel a thing afterwards - even though I'm pushing myself. Horseback riding, swimming, climbing, etc. I can go and go and go. My heart is also very fit.

But if I try running for 5 minutes straight I am extremely out of breath, hurting, and unable to go on. I don't understand how someone who is in shape in so many other areas struggles with running/jogging so much. I have tried to slowly build up jogging time by pushing myself a little harder each day but it doesn't seem to work. Like I said - I only experience this with jogging (or riding a horse at a trot for an extended period of time). My friend said it had to do with my breathing vs. muscle strength. What do you think? And if that is the case, how do I improve on it? I am fine with other cardio workouts such as dance or walking.

I hope someone can shed some light on the subject. Thank you! :smile:

Replies

  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    Not sure but try c25k.
  • SusanHeinous
    SusanHeinous Posts: 23
    I'm exactly the same. I always blame my body type.
    I'm pear-shaped with relatively short legs and just don't suit running/jogging. Luckily there are plenty of other exercise options :)
  • paniologal
    paniologal Posts: 53 Member
    Thankfully there are other exercise options, lol. :laugh: But I'd still like to find out what's going on. I'd love to improve my lung/breathing because I like to swim as well and can't hold my breath for very long.
  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    Do you have a HRM? Does your HR get exceptionally fast at a certain level of exertion? It sounds like you can't get to that second level of O2 extraction. Might be a metabolism thing but very interesting phenomenon.
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    You mention hurting. Do you have good running shoes?
  • michelle7673
    michelle7673 Posts: 370 Member
    I'm the same way!!! Competitive rower for years, but running is just really hard for some reason!!!
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    You mention hurting. Do you have good running shoes?

    Yes, where are you hurting?

    Also remember your body is efficient at those other exercises....i would start slow. C25k. Yes, it is going to be heavy breathing and stink at first but it will get better then more your body gets used to it.
  • paniologal
    paniologal Posts: 53 Member
    I run in comfortable shoes. But mostly I hurt in my chest area, though I can feel it throughout my entire body. It literally feels like I can't get enough oxygen to my muscles when I go fast, which is probably what's going on. I suppose I'll be asking a doctor about it.
  • fluffykitsune
    fluffykitsune Posts: 236 Member
    You're probably trying to run too fast.
    Pair that with poor breathing technique and footstrike.
    Is your chest up, shoulders back while you run?
  • Alexandra289
    Alexandra289 Posts: 330 Member
    I'm a bit like this. I think I'm a reasonably fit person but can't handle the treadmill for more than 5 or 10 minutes max. Although I think for me it may be largely down to boredom!
  • Suerhv
    Suerhv Posts: 61 Member
    I always found running different, too. It does get better as you do it more though...until your lungs are just as good. C25k or just basically starting with run 1 min, then walk, and you'll find you get longer and longer ...
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    You're in great shape when it comes to the activities that your body is accustomed to. Apparently, running is not one of them. I can run a marathon non-stop, but swimming the length of a pool wears me out. Different activities utilize different muscles in different ways. Start slow - very slow - and work your way up!
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    You said when you go fast you hurt... Have you ever tried slowing down?

    Most runners don't start off running at the speed of light you know.. it takes time to get there.
  • patentguru
    patentguru Posts: 312 Member
    I had this issue many years ago. For me, I found it was the mechanics of how I was running- foot way out front-heal strike and roll forward-i.e. run how we walk with modern shoes. When you come down on the heel way out front the jolt from the pavement goes right up the leg.

    Once I learned how to run more efficiently, like prose running, I became a better runner fast and did 6 marathons. Read up on different running mechanics. Try starting with: smaller steps (less knee movement forward and back), faster pace, keep feet under you, feel like your feet are going straight up and you are falling forward, etc. Changing how you run is far more difficult than one would think.

    Never give up. Where there is a will there is a way.


    Hi everyone..

    This is something that has confused me for awhile now. I am in shape. My body is strong, my endurance is great. When I go hiking I'm climbing (all uphill) faster than anyone else and not breaking a sweat. I could hike up and down hills for hours and I'm perfectly fine. When I go to the gym I can do 30 min workouts that combine strength and cardio training and not feel a thing afterwards - even though I'm pushing myself. Horseback riding, swimming, climbing, etc. I can go and go and go. My heart is also very fit.

    But if I try running for 5 minutes straight I am extremely out of breath, hurting, and unable to go on. I don't understand how someone who is in shape in so many other areas struggles with running/jogging so much. I have tried to slowly build up jogging time by pushing myself a little harder each day but it doesn't seem to work. Like I said - I only experience this with jogging (or riding a horse at a trot for an extended period of time). My friend said it had to do with my breathing vs. muscle strength. What do you think? And if that is the case, how do I improve on it? I am fine with other cardio workouts such as dance or walking.

    I hope someone can shed some light on the subject. Thank you! :smile:
  • srworthy
    srworthy Posts: 21 Member
    I also had this problem, even back in the day when I was a fit swimmer I could not run. So now as a fat out of shape adult I started to see a PT and with a HR monitor started interval training on the treadmill and the bike.
    10-15min warm-up at 70% max HR
    (1 min all out running/cycling 90% max HR, 1 min walking/cycling 80% max HR) * 10

    This was so hard in the beginning but I quickly saw changes and and had to constantly up the speed and incline to feel the same intensity.

    Before I started the interval training I could only run for about 2 min and thought I would die. I tried C-5k but hit a brick wall at week 3. I blamed my thick legs and big butt, I felt like I was running on thumbs! haha However after a couple of months of the interval training I thought I would try to run and I ran a very slow 5km! I shocked myself, I was so excited I was telling everyone! ha! I can jog slowly for about 50min now and I am now trying to up my speed a bit now. If I can do this at 106kg you can too, believe me!
  • paniologal
    paniologal Posts: 53 Member
    When I run I do keep my shoulders back/ chest out. And run with my arms engaged, as well. I don't really go that fast, but even a light pace can wear me out.When I run, my goal is get in a steady rhythm. Running does feel great. Maybe I'll just be a bit more patient and see where it gets me.

    Thanks to everyone for all the comments; keep 'em coming!
  • Ianharrison9988
    Ianharrison9988 Posts: 9 Member
    You will find that the best training for any sport is to do the sport itself. You will find that your level of fitness does not really make a difference as you are using different muscle groups and your cardiovascular output is different. I can go all day on my bike without feeling overly fatigued or out of breath but know that I do not run and would not expect to be able to run. First few weeks in the gym and I couldn't even walk for 5 mins on the treadmill. Start slow, build it up and you will get there.
  • paniologal
    paniologal Posts: 53 Member
    I also had this problem, even back in the day when I was a fit swimmer I could not run. So now as a fat out of shape adult I started to see a PT and with a HR monitor started interval training on the treadmill and the bike.
    10-15min warm-up at 70% max HR
    (1 min all out running/cycling 90% max HR, 1 min walking/cycling 80% max HR) * 10

    This was so hard in the beginning but I quickly saw changes and and had to constantly up the speed and incline to feel the same intensity.

    Before I started the interval training I could only run for about 2 min and thought I would die. I tried C-5k but hit a brick wall at week 3. I blamed my thick legs and big butt, I felt like I was running on thumbs! haha However after a couple of months of the interval training I thought I would try to run and I ran a very slow 5km! I shocked myself, I was so excited I was telling everyone! ha! I can jog slowly for about 50min now and I am now trying to up my speed a bit now. If I can do this at 106kg you can too, believe me!

    Thank you for your story!!!! Nice to hear so many that had the same problem and were able to overcome it.
  • rhall9058
    rhall9058 Posts: 270 Member
    When I run I do keep my shoulders back/ chest out. And run with my arms engaged, as well. I don't really go that fast, but even a light pace can wear me out.When I run, my goal is get in a steady rhythm. Running does feel great. Maybe I'll just be a bit more patient and see where it gets me.

    Thanks to everyone for all the comments; keep 'em coming!

    HRM with all of your activities. My guess would be that you have gotten so accustomed to them that your not pushing yourself. When you run, it's a new thing that you haven't done in a while and you need to get your body accustomed to that as well. One way to see what's going on (and the doctors, if you visit one, will ask the same question), is to monitor your heart rate. If you are hiking and climbing without a sweat, it's because your used to it. If your a dancer, your getting HR up, but your used to it and not pushing into that working zone. Running (like dancing should) will get you into that working zone, just make sure your tapping it out. There is a definite difference between body strong and endurance strong. My guess (and I'm no doc) would be that you just need to build up the endurance with this activity.
  • denezy
    denezy Posts: 573 Member
    You need to learn how to run. You are doing it wrong.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    When I run I do keep my shoulders back/ chest out. And run with my arms engaged, as well. I don't really go that fast, but even a light pace can wear me out.When I run, my goal is get in a steady rhythm. Running does feel great. Maybe I'll just be a bit more patient and see where it gets me.

    Thanks to everyone for all the comments; keep 'em coming!

    im new at the running thing too, though not nearly as in shape as you and from the reading ive been doing about just starting out, and my experience, when they say start slow.... lol they mean ssslllooowwww. I found myself shuffling along, i could barely call it a run, but it was certainly not a walk, and at that slow pace i actually was able to go for a few minutes without feeling like my chest was going to explode! What I do is I start off super slow, and set a goal for how long I want to try to keep it up, and as I get to the end of that chunk of time, I try to pick up the pace a little and push it until I cant go anymore. This way, I am working both on the endurance and stamina part, but also putting in some effort into increasing my speed. Like I said, I'm new, but this is what has been working for me the past couple of weeks, I've actually come a lot farther than I thought I would.

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