To be envious of people who can...and enjoy running?

[guestofclanmackenzie]

I have spent years battling with learning to run.

I just can't do it! I run for about 15 seconds and I feel like my lungs are going to explode, my legs ache and a voice in my head screams at me to stop.

I have tried the couch to 5k a million times over but can't get past day one, week one.

I am not really overweight but would love to drop a stone. I have seen friends drop tonnes of weight by pounding the treadmill or pavement but try as I might I cannot do it!

DH runs, for long distances everywhere and I would absolutely love to join him. Or just on my own, would love to pull on a pair of trainers and zone out with my music. I've tried starting out with lamp post running but honestly I just hate it as my legs and lungs hurt!

Anyone else feels like this?

I definitely can't run.

I have never really wanted to, though.

I have been pretty fit in the past but I just really can't run.

Me. But I managed to get up to running a mile without stopping. It takes loads of perseverance. You must pace yourself and push through the wall where you feel uncomfortable like you can't breathe
I prefer cycling though.

I defo used to feel like you do. I tried C25k loads of times on my own but it wasn't until I joined a beginners c25k running club I made it to the end! Running with others was really what pushed me, but I now love running alone.
I recommend a good pair of running headphones (I listen to podcasts) and trying to join a group at least to begin with. The motivation of running with others is great- and it doesn't mean you always have to - it just really helps increase stamina.

Park run is also great and free but I recommend trying to get so you can run around 3/4K first.

Me ... currently doing c25k ....again! I'm on week 3 ... still waiting for the enjoyment to kick in. I am determined to see it through this time as I have signed myself up for a 5k run on the 13th of October so have to be able to run it ... no matter how slow I am ( my current 'running speed is nearly slower than my fast walking pace 🤔). I know if I hadn't signed up for the run of probably have jacked it in already.

It's not all that, it's hard on your joints and not kind to your face

I was never a runner, think phoebe in friends

I did couch to 5k then progressed to running 10k twice a week.
I ended up with a metatarsal stress fracture and haven't run since January

Don't miss it one bit, it's overrated
I enjoy spin now instead

I fucking hate running. It is pure, joyless, senseless torture as far as I am concerned.

Cycling, now that's fun. I'd give that a go.

I didn't think I could run either! I used to have a sit down at the top of the stairs
But I went out with a friend who is a marathon runner and he was really great and really patient and I actually surprised myself. Now I can run 18 miles. But at the beginning I would run for 30 seconds, walk for 90 seconds. And so on. Try and aim for twice a week

See people saying "me" but adding they've signed up to a 5k run just makes me think "no! No, it's NOT you in that case!"

I could no more run 5k than I could run a marathon. Really. I probably couldn't run five metres.

I really enjoy it but am too lazy to do it regularly like I should.

When I started c25k i did it as a challenge with friends abd then joined a parkrun because even if I walked chunks of it, I knew I had to finish. Plus there's a cafe at the end. Getting good shoes helped too.

Same here. Running flares up my asthma. I can do cardio in the gym but running makes me wheeze. I would love to be able to enjoy running. Im not even unfit! It just doesn't agree with me at all.

a df use to hate running and struggled then a good few years ago she did the wii fit run on the spot thing in her living room, her wii fit broke and she started going outside said she thinks doing it on the spot inside which she used to love as she watched tv while she did it, helped her with the mentality she could run for longer/further

If you really want to do it you need to stick at it. It gets easier over time.

Lots of running clubs do couch to 5k courses - many runners find running with others much easier than doing it alone and if you do it on a proper course the coaches can help with pacing and other advice you may need.

I love running and run several times a week because it's free and burns lots of calories. Lucky for me I have nice beaches and countryside to run in. It's knackering to do when you've let it slide for a while or when you're starting. If I'm less fit I tend to go slowly and stop if I need to or do intervals. Run a certain distance, walk a distance, jog a distance.

I hate running with other people because keeping up with other people's pace stresses me out.

Slow down! Just go mega slow...plod pace and you will go further without bursting your lungs. Even if old grannies are overtaking you, find the pace at which you can comfortably 'jog'. The more you do it the faster and further you will be able to go until you are properly running. It takes time and patience and the ability to not give a shit what other people might think about how slow you are!

It took me ages to realise that I was 'running' too fast from the start and exploding after a minute... Once I slowed right down, it was a revelation. The benefit of this is every run you see improvement in distance or speed.

You can totally do this!!

I'm with you all the way. I've never been a natural runner at all and for a long time I didn't care for it either, but with age I started to appreciate what an efficient form of exercise t is and I do need something to raise the pulse and burn some fat so I can eat loads of cake. So I started wanting to run and trying a little and I just couldn't make it past 200 m or so. No way. Dodgy knees, poor step technique, shin splints ... Nope. BUT. This past year the Pilates studio I go to started offering barre exercise classes and it turns out I like them so I've gone regularly. And last month I went out for an energetic walk and felt inspired so started running and discovered I can run a whole 1,5 km! With my legs! Am so pleased with this and hope it doesn't backfire. Would love to be able to just pop out every other day and run 3 km.

Anyway my point is I think the barre classes must've strengthened my legs something beautifully and was the breakthrough I needed. 😎

I was honestly like you. It took me a long time to get into it. I had been very unfit, several stone overweight and had very high blood pressure. I eventually could run almost half marathon distance. I've been unable to run for the last year due to plantar fasciitis, and I really genuinely miss it. I wouldn't have believed at the beginning that I'd ever like it enough to miss it!

I never got much faster and it was always hard work, but being able to set off and run for an hour and a half or more in the countryside was amazing.

I'm the same...my OH keeps wanting me to go on runs together but I'm too embarrassed...I don't look unfit but I struggle to run a km...it is my mission to stick to and complete couch 25k!!

I found it hard at the beginning as i used to get stitch a few minutes and had to stop. I found a technique to get over it which was to breathe in deeply and hold it whilst running and then very slowly exhale whilst still running and it goes away after a while but I stopped getting them after a while as I think your body gets used to the jerky movement.
Get some good trainers for running, eg Nike Pegasus.
Little by little...

I agree with the advice to slow down. Just slow right down until you can hold a conversation. Work from there. Speed comes with time, if you want it to. But if you set off too fast you won't be able to sustain. I could probably walk as fast as my current running pace if I put my mind to it.

The key is to get through the first ten minutes. I used to hate running and was always shit at it (I know it's not nice to say but in school PE I always befriended the biggest girl to run with to excuse Viking last) but as I was quite sporty/energetic otherwise I was determined to make it work in my Twenties, and found that with practise with a bit of a play with my stride 'style' I wasn't actually that bad... also realised that no matter where or when I ran the first 10 minutes my body always protested (as in I really wanted to just give up¡) but after that I got into it and increasingly ran for longer and longer!

I do know my running strength is in my strength and stamina - I can go for a long time just not very fast!!

Keep at it if you're really serious - it becomes addictive!!

Oh yes - music makes a massive difference as well!!

I recommend a good pair of running headphones

Rosybell, can you recommend an inexpensive pair?
Most headphone fall out of my ears.

The key here is slowly. I signed us for a half marathon purely out of stress and I kept having dreams I was running. If you do it, religiously, three times a week. And keep increasing distance, you will be able to do it. Physics...innit!?

P.s. I did two half marathons from nothing and it CAN be done

I think you are running too fast! I was like that and then read that you have to run at your correct heart rate - I bought myself a heart rate monitor and that made me run a lot slower until was in better condition, it beeped when my heart was working too hard.

As you get in better condition, it gets easier . then you get the endorphin rushes.....