Anyone else a useless runner?

There's a couple of approaches that could be worth a try.

Jeffing where you alternate short repeats of run/ walking similar to the first weeks of C25k. The intervals stay short e.g. 30s run/ 30s walk. It's a great way of keeping heart rate low and building aerobic fitness and stamina. Slower runners can often speed up because they can maintain a higher effort in running because of the frequent recovery.

Niko Niko is a slow, shuffling style of running that aims to be efficient. There was an ongoing thread about it in this section some years back that's worth a look at.

I like parkrun for appreciating the diversity of running styles/ speeds. It's the antidote to all the damaging bollocks that PE teachers spouted about being fast and effort

I'm rubbish at running. My stamina is much improved since I lost 2st and go to the gym but I cannot run on the treadmill, I have to walk in an incline instead.
I am not streamlined and my boobs unbalance me.

Aren't there 2 types of muscle and genetically we have more of one type than the other. So tend to be better at certain things depending on muscle type. That may not be completely accurate but I'm sure I've read about that before

I've listened to quite a lot about the mental challenge of running. Not quite sure if it's more mental or physical you hate (or both?). I think both can be improved with training if you want. One thing I personally find helpful for the mental side of things is doing structured programs so if my brain is screaming at me that I can't go on, I can be confident I've done it before. Then I can breathe the anxiety away.

Oh please find the article, me and my daughter need it. I swear I'm a cardio non responder completely, not just running. I put muscle on at the drop of a hat though.

I'd love to be able to run, but no matter how many times I attempt it. I can't master running and breathing at the same time. Plus I always feel mega self conscious too

At one point I found running with Strava quite useful - it'll let you know about any improvements no matter how small!

Ha yes I suck too. But I've learnt to not look or make assumptions about others. That my only competition is myself. I do it because I wanted to attempt to get fit. And once I got to a level I felt happy with ( still fecking slow 😳🙄😬🤣, takes me somewhere in the 34 min region to do 5km on a.treadmill) , it's probably easier to keep going and maintain it than it would be to start all over again. And I'm like an elephant in a tutu much better suited to chucking weights about than elegantly running a few km 🤣 in thought once I lost a few pounds I'd feel better but now I'm really self conscious about my height and broad shoulders that make.me feel I stand out but fuck it 🤣🤣

I used to look at people and be miffed they were faster than me or more graceful than me or were lifting heavier than me. But now I know I don't know theie story any more than they know mine. And 3 years ago I'd not have ventured out without make up on let alone stepped foot in a gym or worn spandex. Anything you can do, any distance or any time u can run is something to be proud of achieving. If it was easy, if it came easy, if there were never any instances of pushing through there would almost be no point. Well done for getting out there, doing your best and doing it! Remember, comparison is the thief of joy and all that.

So weird- I am also crap at running but also do martial arts (black belt, karate). Maybe it's A Thing 😂

I did couch to 5k once. Completed a 5k. Stopped running. I think maybe I'm more goal orientated- I just can't seem to see running as something enjoyable.

And yet, perversely, I find it annoying that I can't 'conquer' it. Every time I attempt it I have to start the couch to 5k programme again and it's like I've never run in my life.

It's fine to alternate running and walking. Also even if you don't much enjoy it, it is good cardio vascular exercise. Depending on the area, coastal paths can be challenging. Some flat easy inland routes might different. Varying the route does help.

I know you say you can't do your usual exercise due to ill health but surely there are alternatives to running?! Even walking briskly uphill. What are you trying to achieve running? Is it calorie burn or cardio?

I ask this as someone who likes running btw. But I absolutely refuse to do exercise I don't like. I haven't done a burpee in a decade for example.

Im not built for running. It's interesting to hear if the 5% thing. I can walk miles and miles all day including big hills but running is not something I can do. I can run for a bus or train and hopefully fit my life but it's just not for me and I wish it was. I env runners. Although I fear my face would fall down with gravity.

Talking about height, the fastest runners in my school and athletics clubs were always the shortest, me included 😁
No idea why and this was independent of the race length.
So, 100m or cross country, the shortest kids always won.

I do not like running. I've got flat feet and tight achilles, and running is downright uncomfortable after a short while.

I used to do ok at the 100 yards and the 4x100 relay when I was at secondary school, and I only managed that because I could run on my toes. You can't run like that for very long and couldn't do the 400 even. They forced us to do cross country and I was truly terrible at it. Being an undiagosed asthmatic didn't help much either. Only found out years later why I got out of puff so quickly.

YEP. I am a shitty SHITTY runner! I don't even know why!

This is me on the left - in the yellow top! 😆

I can not run - simple as that, my legs don't know what is means to run and within 100 metres Im done

I walk, I walk really well. I walked my first 26 mile hike last year at 60, and came in , in the top 30 % ( go me ;). )

Im now looking at slow running, you get the benefit of running without the pain and feel of being totally uncorordinated

Slow running is really consistent fast walking. Im working on getting the rhythm right at the moment , as well as getting over the idea I need to be going faster, but even the few attempts Ive made so far I can see the difference in my stats

Have you ever been taught how to actually run? I did a fitness thing recently and part of it was running coaching. I’ve always been a slow plodder type of jogger and never enjoyed it, but I now think that I might actually be able to do it. So I would focus on running technique rather than distance and see if that helps.

This is so me. I've done C25K so many times it's a family joke. I mean, it definitely works, and I always get to the 'run for 25 mins' stage, but then my complete hatred of running stalls any further advancement. And then the weather turns and I pack it in for another year.

C25K can turn you into someone who can run, just not necessarily someone who enjoys it.

Yes! Always have been even as a child. I'm slightly overweight now (40s) but never was as a child or in my teens/20s but I couldn't run then either - I was always one of the last when we had to do races at school and cross country was torture. I tried to run really fast but still came last and I just couldn't understand why 😂 I'm 5'4 so not particularly short or anything