Runners: What is the hardest part of your run?

vtate75
vtate75 Posts: 221 Member
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
I am working to add mileage right now, and I am curious about what most of you think the hardest part of a run is. For me, it doesn't matter if I run 3 miles or 10 (haven't done more than 10), the hardest parts are still the same. If I'm on a treadmill, the hardest part is the first 5 minutes. I literally ALWAYS have to talk myself into staying on. If I am running outside (much prefered), the hardest part is the last 1/4 mile. It is a long and slow hill up my street, and I always struggle through it. I don't think it would even matter if it was a flat road; the end is the hardest.
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Replies

  • scs143
    scs143 Posts: 2,190 Member
    For me the first mile is hardest and then the last half a mile when I am almost home. On the treadmill, I find it still the first mile and then it's any time after 48 minutes. I just want to quit.
  • grinch031
    grinch031 Posts: 1,679
    Probably when I'm getting near the halfway point so I know I gotta repeat what I did all over again and then some. And also on a long run, when I have about 4-5 miles left it can be tough mentally.
  • Chagama
    Chagama Posts: 543 Member
    The first mile or two until I can settle into a comfortable pace.
  • rmb8
    rmb8 Posts: 15
    the whole thing, really. but i'd say the hardest part is motivating to actually do it, followed by the first 5 minutes, followed by the last 5 minutes.
  • larisadixon
    larisadixon Posts: 201 Member
    getting to that mile 4 release!
  • OngaFish
    OngaFish Posts: 5
    For me the hardest part is starting. Once I start it just gets easier from there.
  • GoldspursX3
    GoldspursX3 Posts: 516 Member
    The days when I have to run on a treadmill due to very inclement weather. Treadmills are so boring. It has to be some serious Wrath of God type weather to get me on one. My preference is a trail run thru the woods but I do road runs.
  • byrnet18
    byrnet18 Posts: 230 Member
    Bump :)
  • Eaglesfanintn
    Eaglesfanintn Posts: 813 Member
    After the start, the hardest part is usually after about 10 miles. It's after that that I start to fade (and sometimes it's a quick fade).
  • Heaven71
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    The first 1-2 miles, after that I always feel like I could run 100.
  • JLArispe
    JLArispe Posts: 62
    I am a big runner and for me no matter what I run 5, 10 or 13 the last mile is always the hardest for me, it seems like the finish line is always further in that last mile then in the rest. Its all mind over matter, but I I always push thru it.
  • EricNCSU
    EricNCSU Posts: 699 Member
    I agree with the beginning.. especially on the treadmill... when you're breathing heavy and trying to get your heart rate up and before you get in your rhythm... and also especially on a treadmill the last 5 minutes or so, last half mile quarter mile, whatever when your almost done, but that 2.91 seems to stay up there for 10 minutes when you're trying to hit 3... LOL
  • cantobean
    cantobean Posts: 287 Member
    I only run 2-4 miles at a time, but the hardest part is the end of mile 1 and beginning of mile 2. I find if I can make it to 2 miles, it's usually not hard to squeeze out a third. It's amazing how much mental energy running takes, especially on a treadmill.
  • sbrBirdy
    sbrBirdy Posts: 224 Member
    First 5 minutes. Every time. I HATE it - think why on earth am I doing this to myself? Then the feeling of lead weights on my feet goes away, I settle into my pace, and it's easy breezy. My trainer told me some scientific reason why that is... something about burning off one type of energy and tapping into another. Don't remember the specifics and too lazy to Google it... :)

    Edit - the last 5 minutes are always my best. I know it's almost over and I don't worry about pacing myself anymore. It's easy to push through. I do a lot of negative splits, though - not sure it's because I love the last 5 min, or if doing the negative splits helps with the love.
  • lind3400
    lind3400 Posts: 557 Member
    the last 15 secs I keep psyching myself out ugggh
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    Wow, it seems the beginning is the worst for most people. I feel a little better now! But how do you make it through that? By a minute of running my chest hurts. Not sure if that's normal for someone just starting out?
  • runningfromzombies
    runningfromzombies Posts: 386 Member
    First 1-2 miles are always rough for me (which explains why I've become an endurance runner--after two miles it's a piece of cake). Every time I have to talk myself into continuing to run. It takes me about that long to settle into a groove and hit The Zone. Once I'm there, though...magic!
  • franzy
    franzy Posts: 259
    getting started is the hardest for me but then it gets easier.
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    I'm running 2 miles at a time. The hardest for me is always from the point where I hit 1 mile until about 1.5 miles. My calves burn and I have to talk myself into not stopping. Usually after about 1.5 miles though I feel better than when I started.
  • mstemen
    mstemen Posts: 108 Member
    For me it's usually the last part of the run, about the last 1/2 mile. The finish line just seems to be taunting me!
  • brandyk77
    brandyk77 Posts: 605 Member
    first quarter mile or so is always a bit rough until I get into a good stride and loosen/warm up. Anything after 2 hrs, I do start to check the watch a bit more. The last half mile of a long run seem to last forever no matter the distance.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    For me the hardest part is getting my shoes on and getting out the door - I do a pretty good warm up so it doesn't take long to settle in.

    The second hardest part is taking the time to stretch properly afterward, there's usually a pot of coffee beckoning and the temptation to just flop down into comfortable chair with a cup of joe is very strong some days. Fortunately some part of my brain remembers my IT band issue from last fall.......
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    My long runs, which are outside, there are two parts.

    The first is the first 2-3 miles. Even if I'm pacing out correctly, my body never feels like it's going to make it for the duration of the run.

    The second part is the last quarter mile before the turnaround. I run X.5 mile distances, and I have an app that tells me distance and current pace every half a mile. So there's always a quarter of a mile from the last coaching before my halfway point to where I actually turn around and head back. And that quarter mile always feel like a whole mile in itself.

    But once I turnaround, everything gets even better than the first half of the run.
  • raisingbabyk
    raisingbabyk Posts: 442 Member
    Probably when I'm getting near the halfway point so I know I gotta repeat what I did all over again and then some.

    This ^^
  • bbygrl5
    bbygrl5 Posts: 964 Member
    For me, it is always the beginning. I feel like I take a good 1/2 mile to a mile to get warmed up, loosen up the joints, get the muscles working, etc.. then it's on!
  • bzinke
    bzinke Posts: 5
    For me whether on a treadmill or outside, the hardest part is the first mile.
  • Lane1012
    Lane1012 Posts: 211 Member
    I love the first mile! I usually feel fresh and am excited to get moving. The hardest part for me is probably at about mile 2 or 3 when I realize I've pushed it a little too hard and am breathing a little too hard and need to back it off a little. I never want to but I know it's the right thing to do if I want to keep running.
  • LesliePierceRN
    LesliePierceRN Posts: 860 Member
    *Usually* it's the first mile..or 3/4 of the first mile. Sometimes I can take off and it feels awesome and it all goes well and I can run right into the sunset, but most of the time, it's the first 1000 steps that get me until I'm warmed up.
  • Kekibird
    Kekibird Posts: 1,122 Member
    On the road, the second mile is the toughest.

    On a treadmill, the first and the last portions.

    I prefer outdoor running but treadmill works best with my schedule. But it's still a struggle to get on that damn machine.
  • charm_quark
    charm_quark Posts: 315 Member
    the first 5-10 minutes (1-2 kilometres) are by far the most hard for me. I almost beg myself to keep at least walking.
    After this I don't care. Sometimes I increase my speed when I know I'm near to my 5k or 10k (depending of the day)
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