I suck at running
its_go_time
Posts: 263 Member
Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
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Replies
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A few things. Have you tried repeating weeks on C25k? A few people find that they have success in just doing that to allow their body to adjust.
Secondly, in regards to your legs not cooperating, are they getting fatigued? Often times, this can be linked to poor running shoes. Have you been properly fitted? It's possibly that the shoes you have are not the correct fit for your gait.5 -
I once read a blog where a runner wrote that you don't have to run non-stop to be a runner. If you can run intervals, let that be fine. Forget speed, just add time gradually- which will increase distance. If you get stuck at week 5 of c25k, repeat week 5, but add more intervals.6
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Maybe you don't suck at it, maybe your just bored with it or really don't like it? I love running and have run several races from 5ks to full marathons.
The suggestion about the shoes is good. But it could be the time of day your running, or it could even be your diet. What you eat and when can effect the quality of your run. I prefer to run fasted. But that's not for everyone. Are you also lifting on your run days? If so try splitting the workouts so they both get 100%. Also set mini goals for yourself and only concentrate on one thing be it distance or how long you want to run. I would suggest distance goals first. How many times a week are you running? What do your rest days look like?
Hope this helps! Running is so much mental. Your body can do anything, your mind can stop you (Not being able to breathe, legs feeling dead and like they can't go on, etc). I'm sure you already know that, just throwing it out there!!
I'm currently struggling with unassisted pull-ups and freaking box jumps!! Ughhh2 -
its_go_time wrote: »Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
If running is hard it's because you need to run more!
Run slower, repeat weeks as necessary.12 -
TavistockToad wrote: »its_go_time wrote: »Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
If running is hard it's because you need to run more!
Run slower, repeat weeks as necessary.
the bit in bold is important. run slower. run slower. run slower.
you should be able to sing whilst running. If you can't sing, you are running too fast.
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girlinahat wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »its_go_time wrote: »Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
If running is hard it's because you need to run more!
Run slower, repeat weeks as necessary.
the bit in bold is important. run slower. run slower. run slower.
you should be able to sing whilst running. If you can't sing, you are running too fast.
I can't sing when I'm sat down
OP, they are right. Slow and steady. Concentrate on distance first.7 -
its_go_time wrote: »Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
Slow down until you can breathe, then slow down a bit more. Keep slowing down until you can complete the relevant week in your c25k training. Repeat the weeks as needed.
Improving time and distance doesn't come overnight. It takes time. Just get out there and do what you can, walk if you need to and next time trying to increase that running period by 10/20/30 seconds.3 -
Are you trying to run above and beyond your current ability? Slow down and enjoy yourself. Build some endurance.
Is your running environment demoralizing you? Seek out a more peaceful, pleasant place to run.
I've always been a slow runner. That doesn't stop me from enjoying my time on the trail. And that's the key for me - I only really enjoy running if I'm outdoors on a beautiful, dirt trail. It's so relaxing and meditative. Running on a sidewalk next to a busy street or on a treadmill indoors is pure torture to me. I have one exception to that: races like marathons and half-marathons usually take place on the streets amongst a big, noisy crowd, but for some reason, the energy of the event enlivens me. So that's the one time I'll run on the road.
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just wanted to repeat what others are saying....slow down!
I started running at 5.5mph and soon developed an injury which prevented me from running for a few months. I now run at around 4.7mph and managed several 5K's at this pace0 -
Running never actually really gets any easier, in that you always go out and try harder. You just get better and faster over time. Running regularly and consistently is the best thing.3
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I went through the C25K program and had to repeat week 4 and week 5. I have now done 4 5K's and am training for my first half marathon on April 1st. The key to me has been keeping it slow to get more distance. I bought good shoes which has helped dramatically. I probably won't do another one because I have more fun with the shorter distance.0
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Indeed. Like this week, my legs are so sore/tight from lifting, I run for a few minutes (10 or less) and give up because of the soreness. I feel like any obstacle just makes me give up. I seem to be constantly waiting on something (better weather so I can run outside rather than on a TM, until I'm not as sore, non-lifting days, any manner of excuses).
I've only gotten through c25k by telling myself to suck it up and just do it. Its def all in my head.1 -
Maybe running sucks at you lol, and you should be ripping phone books like your brother in baldness, Dennis Rogers. Though I'm sure if you stick to it you'd get better. Sometimes you need to take a little break, and come back to it. If you aren't feeling the program, try different things. Like stated previously, intervals could help.0
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This may sound a little crazy, but if you do it you will surprise yourself, I guarantee it.
Sign up for a 5k. You can probably find one held in the next week if you are near a populated area.
Start at the back, just ahead of the people with strollers. When the race starts, don't go flying out, keep pace with the people around you. Keep on doing that. When the people around you that you have been keeping up with stop to walk, you keep going! You are NOT that person today! Don't try and pass people, although some of the people ahead of you who thought they were speed demons will wind up slipping back and you will ahve to go around them. That is not really "passing" though, that is someone falling back who did not race smart.
Don't stop doing all this until you finish.
It will happen. You just have to do it. The key is staying back there in the back. After this race, if you think you could have gone faster, sign up for another 5k a week or two later. Then at that race start a little bit further ahead in the pack, but again keep pace with that group.
Eventually you will find your natural pace to run a 5k.
But I assure you that you can run a 5k complete at the back of the pack. You may not believe it until you actually do it.5 -
its_go_time wrote: »Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
I'm not a distance runner...never have been...never was good at it even when I was in the military and we ran daily for PT. I was a natural sprinter growing up, but I've never been a natural distance runner. My wife on the other hand is very natural...she can torch a 5K with little to no training.
When I ran, I did see some improvement over time, but it wasn't anything spectacular and I was just pretty miserable.
I decided to take up cycling instead which I enjoy much more.0 -
I was not a runner because my knees hurt and "I can't run". I started playing Ingress.com and without knowing it was running intervals and extending my distance. Before I knew it I was running miles without knee pain. I now try to run 25 miles a week and enjoy half marathons. When I work on speed I don't increase distance and when I work on distance I don't increase speed. Going back and forth seems to work for me. Now I don't really work on either so I run for fun. Good shoes are a must and I replace them every 400 to 450 miles or earlier if my knees protest.0
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I imagine we each have our own issues. For me its keeping my mind occupied. Personally I am not a fast runner, and if I try to run too fast I run out of steam. Today I tried changing the voice prompts on my app to announce stats ever 1/10th of a mile. That helped me to focus on keeping my pace steady with the constant announcement of my current pace.
Personally I love the atmosphere of 5k/10k/half marathon events. Its electric. If I could find someone to 'sponsor' me I'd quit my job and travel around, doing an event every other day. Ideal Life!its_go_time wrote: »Probably mostly in my own damn head, but I do suck at it. Slow, struggle to add on any time or distance. I'm good at the first few weeks of C25K, then I just go in the tank. Can't breathe, legs don't cooperate, blah blah blah.
Anyone else ever experienced something similar? How did you get through it? Any tips from you pros out there? Thanks
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StaciMarie1974 wrote: »I imagine we each have our own issues. For me its keeping my mind occupied.
I feel the same. I run 3-4 times/week and tell my wife that the thing most on my mind while I am running is, "When do I get to stop running?"
This is particularly problematic when running on the treadmill. My latest solution has been books on tape which I can download for free via my local library. This has really helped me, especially on runs over an hour.
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Thank you all.
Shoes - a few years ago I did go to a running store to get setup. I think I'm ok there, and am on my second pair of the same ones.
Speed - I'm damn slow. When I'm on a treadmill it's obviously a little easier to know what I'm doing. I did most of it today at 5.0, with about 1/4 of the time at 5.2.
I changed up the intervals and made my own. They are in 5 minute blocks. Today I did 3:30/1:30 6 times. I kind of liked the 5 minute block thing. That went better than my past several attempts. Maybe next time I'll do 3:45/1:15, and so on until I'm ready for a 10 minute block.1 -
When I did C25K I had to repeat several weeks and I had to learn to slow way down. You think that because you're learning to run that you should go as fast as you can, but I found that by slowing way down I could go longer. Then, once I had finished C25K, I continued to add distance. Only once I had reached 10k did I start to work on speed.0
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this is me...I look like stewart from mad tv look what i can do when i run. No I am not kidding. It is amazing I learned to belly dance. lol There are a lot of factors...Each person has a unique and very very different physiology and DNA structure. You might just not have the "perfect running body". Run for you not other people. To your "poor running skills" according to you...is someone who cant jump...or even have good grip to lift weights. Did someone tell you you run weird? If they did shame on them! and Screw them. Run if you love it and love to do it. I used to try before Lyme because I thought it was just what fitness people do lol. Jog. Its bad for your joints in the long haul...so use caution.0
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So, have you only been running for a few weeks?0
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When I first started running, about a decade ago, it was a real struggle. I could barely make it around the block without feeling that death would be a blessed release......
Best advice I ever got was to slow down and the slow down some more. I started with a run 1min, walk 9 minutes & gradually worked my way up to being able to run 10 minutes with stopping and built up from there.
You're building your aerobic base and developing mental stamina. Our brain will actively lie to us about being tired long before your body really is.
Be patient & give yourself time, Rome wasn't built in a day......
While I believe that almost anyone can become a runner it's not for everyone. Some people just don't enjoy it and that's ok, there are other ways to stay fit so if you've given it an honest effort and are still struggling try other activities (and don't feel bad about it....)2 -
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I am terrible at jogging / running in "the real world", but I do great on an elliptical machine. Being able to see the calories burned / miles run estimate really motivates me. Also I can play cell phone games while on the machine without worrying about running into traffic.0
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I was forced to run for 20 years in the military, hated it, so in order to force myself to run I found a running partner who made it fun and we would push each other. Here in Virginia we have a store called Point2Point running and they have running clinics and group runs every saturday where they pair you with people in your category. Of you can find a place like that in your area it may help0
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Treadmill is easier on you and proper shoes is very, very important.1
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I had the same problem. Couldn't get past week 3 of C25K. I ended up just working on it myself, running 1/10th mile at a time, then 1/4, then 1/3, then 1/2. I kept trying and eventually made it to a mile and from there it got much easier. But later when I learned more about running, I looked back at my old entries in the app I was using, and realized I was running (more like sprinting) at an 8:00 min pace. Waaaaay too fast and I had no idea. I thought that was what running was :-p So definitely slow down and if you really want to use C25K just repeat weeks until that week feels easy.1
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its_go_time wrote: »Shoes - a few years ago I did go to a running store to get setup. I think I'm ok there, and am on my second pair of the same ones.
What age are they? They could easily be lived out, particularly if you've used them for other things.Speed - I'm damn slow. When I'm on a treadmill it's obviously a little easier to know what I'm doing. I did most of it today at 5.0, with about 1/4 of the time at 5.2.
Is that 5mph, 5 kph, an arbitrary 5 on an undefined scale, or a 5 minute mile?
I'd assume that 5.2 is faster, so slow down until you can run for longer.
The key with speed is to run at the speed that you can maintain for your target time or distance. It's very easy to run too quickly.I changed up the intervals and made my own. They are in 5 minute blocks. Today I did 3:30/1:30 6 times. I kind of liked the 5 minute block thing. That went better than my past several attempts. Maybe next time I'll do 3:45/1:15, and so on until I'm ready for a 10 minute block.
It's not out of the question that it's partly psychological. Lots of people struggle with the big jumps in C25K, of which there are two. Running is as much a mental game as a physical one.1 -
The speed thing...it's too easy to get stuck on that...but really, it doesn't matter. You are only racing against that voice in your head that says "You are slow...and this is hard...people are laughing at you" Kick that voice's *kitten*.2
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