How to make running less miserable

I tried for months to be a "runner'...I hate it...now I cycle and do a bit of swimming here and there and I love it. If you want to do the 10K, that's cool but I highly recommend you find something you actually enjoy doing as you will be far more likely to be consistent and stick with it.

ETA, I'll do some mud runs here and there for fun...but that's more about the mud and obstacles for me...I pretty much loath straight up running.

I think running is something you either love or you don't. I don't think you can force yourself to enjoy it more.
I started the C25K 7 weeks ago too and from the first run i loved it.

I would recommend looking into an exercise you enjoy and look forward to doing. But what ever you do, good luck:D

Also congratulations on running 10 minutes straight! that was a huge achievement for me and i hope it was for you too!

Finish the C25k and then re-evaluate. I thought I'd never make it through the whole program. Once I was running more each time it did get easier. Running will never replace lifting in my heart, so it's just something I do a few times a week.

If you truly still don't like running - find something else. As wolfman said, if you don't like it - you're not going to be motivated to keep doing it.

So both ppl above are right but remember running is good for you. So if your running less than 15mins right now your in the what I would call the crawl phase. You know the crawl, walk, and RUN phase. so running is tough to get used to and like but it will come. In my own opinion I would say you don't run far enough to like it cause your still building. I would say get a app like I prefer RUNKEEPER its free and tracks everything for you. If you get it or have it add me kt2007. It will give you all the data you need to see what area you are getting better at. Please don't give up on running and find a group to get with. Also if you want add me would like. By no way am I pro runner or coach.

Running isn't the be all end all exercise. I also tried for years to be a "runner" because I thought I had to in order to get thin. Iwas running 35-40 miles a week hating every second of it. My knees, hips, and feet always hurt. And since I hated it, I of course eventually quit altogether and got fat, lol.

The idea here is to find sustainable healthy habits. If you hate running eventually you'll be less consistent with it and quit. I've found my exercise that I look forward to doing, and it's sure not running!
*full disclosure, I occasionally jog for warm ups or do short sprints, but not extended steady state runs

I would also suggest that you try and finish C25K first before you try something else.

The reason for this is that most of us runners have come to understand that the first 10/15 mins are known at the toxic 10 and many of us struggle for the first mile. I can run 5-7 miles easily now but still struggle for the first 20 mins and have learnt that once I once i get past that I'll make a decision whether to carry on or not.

If you are still struggling and hating it after that please try something else that you will enjoy as at the end of the day the most important aspect is to do something you love.

Agree with those that you should finish the 5k portion and reevaluate.

-Are you possibly trying to go too fast? Take it slow, as slow as needed to finish the session and maybe be less miserable?
-Are you running outside or on a treadmill? Outside is far more interesting! If you can change up the route a bit so you've got new scenery to look at each time, that helps too - can be a good distraction.
-Music is helpful too.
-Time of day could be a factor - too warm, too cold?
-Also consider food and hydration, too soon after eating? Not enough fuel? Not well hydrated? Any of these things can make a run miserable for me.

I always hated running when I was younger, and for whatever reason challenged myself to run a couple of years ago. I also used c25k and I'm still running. I have no desire to run a marathon, or even a half at the point, not sure I ever will. But I do enjoy the ability to go out and run a few miles - my average runs are usually from 3-5 miles, and I like it - most days anyway.

Good luck!

As everyone else has said, try something else. You may find, as I did, though that the first few months of conditioning simply suck and you have to push through it.

That's a good point too...if you're not very fit, attaining and even basic level of fitness is a PITA. I'd say keep after it for awhile...down the road you can better *kitten* whether it is the running that you do not like or whether it was just a matter of lacking fitness. If you're not fit, anything pretty much sucks to start out.

the best exercise is exercise that you enjoy doing because you're more likely to keep pursuing it....to keep it challenging. Besides, there are better fat burning exercises than steady paced cardio. There are a ton of exercise programs to choose from...find something you enjoy doing.