Runners: What is the hardest part of your run?

first part

For me the hardest part is starting. Once I start it just gets easier from there.

^^^ This!

I just had to come to terms with the fact that no matter how long I run I will always struggle at first. So start at a slow pace and gradually increase your speed as your breathing gets easier. Nobody can go from rest to run without some struggle with breathing. :-) Stay strong!

For me the hardest part is starting. Once I start it just gets easier from there.

^^^ This!

same here

me too, medically speaking, I can tell you why the first part is the hardest. All of your oxygen is going to your large muscle groups..quads, hamstrings, glutes etc. Your lungs can't exchange air quick enough to compensate for about 3-7 minutes. As far as the end...for me it's all mental. I can run two or 26.2 and the end is always hard!!

for me it is the first ten minutes when i'm running outside. after that i'm good to go for at least another hour. on the treadmill... well, it's all hard! i think i focus on speed a little too much and push myself too hard... or else i just plain get bored!

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.

I feel the same way about the treadmill. It works best for my work schedule during the week but I dread it. Once I started running outside on the weekend, the treadmill got worse and worse. On the treadmill, for me, it's not so much how my body feels, it's the boredom. Even doing what I've always done and streaming movies, it feels like it takes forever.

The first mile is always the longest. And then when I'm getting toward the end, I just want it to be over. I find myself upping the pace sometimes a full mile mph, or more, towards the end just to hit my distance goal faster.

The first mile when I'm running alone is the hardest. It's when my brain keeps asking, "Why the hell are you doing this?!"

In a race, it's the middle, especially if it's an out-and-back type race and I can see the turn-around looming ahead.... or at any point where the front-runners have already turned around and are passing me going in the other direction. :sad:

On a treadmill... it's during commercials. If I'm watching a tv show, I'm ok, but I lose focus as soon as the commercials come on.

uphill is also hard for me .. really gets the ole ticker going ... i turn too many shades of red .....

If I am running outside it's the first 15-20 minutes until I am settled into a nice pace/rhythm, I mentally struggle after mile 7 and that's the longest I've gotten so far. :grumble:

The treadmill it's the first 10 minutes and anything after 30 minutes. I hate the treadmill and only use it when there is crappy weather.

I just have to say this thread helped me SO MUCH! Thank you to everyone who shared your thoughts on which part of the run is the hardest. I've been running intervals for 3-5 miles every other day. I felt like I was stuck at 90 second intervals. I felt like I couldn't control my breathing and I didn't know how hard to push myself. After reading this thread yesterday I realized i needed to push through the feelings of panic...and "I can't do this", just like any other exercise. This morning I was able to run 4.5 minute intervals, run for 4.5 minutes, walk for 3. I can't even tell you how excited I am to have broken through that barrier!!

For me it's the last 5 mins in the gym I watch the clock and Im always like is it over....it is time yet??? But If Im outside nothing is hard I truly love every step!