Does running get easier?

Yes, it does get easier. I'm still a slow runner compared to many, but I can run much longer than I could before. Now running for 45 consecutive minutes doesn't seem daunting. Just take it one day at a time, give yourself enough time to rest and recover from each run. I'm glad I stuck with it because now I really enjoy running.

Hey all. As some of you may know, I am doing the c25k program and loving it! I got off the treadmill and completed a run on the track today and it was DIFFICULT. So much so that I went from week 3 back to week 2 and I don't regret it. I'm going to just keep going from there. That said, there is nothing like the accomplishment of running, and I can't wait until my first 5k in 58 days.

So I am going to keep at it no matter how hard it is. If I have to change something, I will. I am also doing well with calorie counting and losing weight. Here is my question...
Will running get easier before I lose this weight? I have about 100 lbs to lose total, and I just hope that I can get more comfortable running before then. I know running will always be challenging, and without that, I wouldn't experience the triumph of completing a run, but I am curious about the "hardness" of it. Make sense?

Thoughts?

Yes, running feels like torture at first. But eventually it will get much easier and actually enjoyable. The best way to make it feel easier faster is to work intervals into your runs. Running outside is also a lot more fun than a treadmill.

Thanks for posting your question, because it was my question also after doing week 4, day 1 of couch to 5k. All day it had been on my mind that I was scared of the 4 minute blocks and that I would hate it and not do it. (And that was on the tread, not as tough as outside!). But I made it, and I am looking forward to repeating it on Wednesday.

keep posting on how you're going because it sounds as though you've got all the bones of it - determination, enjoyment, and initiative (esp moving to outdoor running!)

Yes! I started c25k in November and thought I was going to suffocate, yet today I ran nearly 5 miles and felt fantastic. Keep at it, it gets better.

"You want to be a runner??? THEN DON'T STOP! RUN, DAMNIT!!"

I love this! When I first started I couldn't run more than about 30seconds without feeling like I was going to die. But I did 5k this morning. I still have to chant "can't run by walking" sometimes, it was my mantra in the early days!

Ever before, I kept telling myself,I cannot run or jog..but when slowly I kept force myself doing it ,that I must do it,no matter what it took..I did it successfully. I joined 5km walkathon ,just so I wont stop myself in halfway,earned few encouragement medals for joining the charity walks/jog. I could finish 38-40mins for 5km (aiming at less than 35mins,if possible for 5k)

Third off, and this is the tricky part: Do you actually LIKE running? I know you say you feel the accomplishment of the finish. But do you like it while you're doing it? Not everybody likes running. Some people absolutely detest it. Running can be like licorice - you either love it or you hate it. If you're struggling because you like it but stink at it, then that's one thing. But if you're struggling because you simply don't like it even though you keep trying? The odds are if this is the case then you're never actually going to like running.

I completely disagree with this! I was a running hater my whole life! Not only when I couldn't do it, but when I was in boxing doing crazy jump rope drills and found i had the lung capacity to handle running i thought it was stupid and a ridiculous waste of time. So i ran 5k here and there with my boxing friends as a warmup before class but hated it.

Eventually I had a baby and as a single mom of a new baby with a full time job, I could not fit exercise into my life and lost all of my fitness, became overweight and pretty unhealthy. Two runner's in my life suggested I pick up running to get healthier because I could do it with my daughter in the jogger, no sitter required. Eventually I realized it was the only thing i could fit in so i did it. I started c25k. I hated every second of it. I was bad at it, it hurt my tired body and i had to focus on distracting my brain every time I was out there. Also, the added stress on my body was making me susceptible to every infection my daughter brought home from daycare. I had strep throat 3 times in 2 months! So i hung up my sneakers until spring. When i tried again, i still hated every minute of it, but decided to prove to running that I could do it. June of 2012 after over a year of trying, I was finally able to run 5k in 40 minutes. So i thought I'd train for a half marathon. In August of 2012 during HM training I ran a 5k in 29:52 while pushing my daughter in the jogger. And that's when running finally won me over. I've got my 5th half marathon coming up next week!

So long story, but the point is, you can trick your mind into liking anything, even running.

And to the OP, does running get easier? No! But you get better at it! :-)

It does get easier - you also need to remember there will be good runs, not so good runs and all out awful runs... that won't change... keep on going!

I can't run right now due to injury - I was up to 10km - I went out yesterday after a week off and couldn't even do 1km - that's very frustrating but not giving u

The more you run, the better you get at running.

Sounds obvious, but there it is.