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?

P.p.s. And I smoke sometimes... 😳

I used to be. Literally I could not run from one streetlight to next.
I now do 10K runs about 3 times per week, just for fun, and while I'll never be that fast, can do a half marathon under 2 hours.

The trick as others said was to slow down. The run a bit-walk a bit did nothing for me, I had to find a tempo with what I could keep running, even if it's snail pace. And build from there.

My top tip is to run like you drive a car! Keep the revs the same all the time. You should be taking somewhere close to 2.5/3 steps per second but if you're starting out (or going up hill) you're in first gear and your steps are very small.
As you feel fitter/more comfortable/going down hill you can afford to lengthen your stride length but keep your step rhythm the same.
Trying to plod along by doing fewer step steps per second is unnatural and difficult and will make it all seem much harder.

SLOW DOWN

SLOW DOWN

That's the important bit! Stick with the couch to 5k program but truly do it a lot slower. Then stick with it. If you can't do it you're going too fast. Speed comes much much later.

Have you tried parkrun? It's such a good place to start. You can walk it or run it, it's a a great atmosphere and takes the pressure off running and you feel more energised.

If I was any slower I'd be walking so not really running!

I started running as a slim but unfit 23 year old and could do about 5 minutes max. Built up to 15m over a couple of years. Can now fairly comfortably do 30mins at age 33, but have never got beyond 40m on a good day. Whatever, 30m per session is enough for me.

What made me get better was the sheer time pressure of not having much time in my day to exercise so feeling like I had to make the most of the little time I had available to run by actually properly running and not just pausing to walk every few minutes.

What about jeffing? Its a whole regime of walk/run, rather than making yourself run the whole time. I've got a Gymoss internal timer to help me,

Sometimes I do this, I get the exercise and no injuries

Please try running again!

I can't run. I can sprint but have never been able to do any form of distance, even as a kid competing in 100m. I'm built like a sprinter though. Prefer weight lifting and now my surgeon has said no running which suits me!

I can't really run. I certainly don't enjoy it. And I'm a personal trainer! Instead I cycle, swim, cross-train, weight train... There are too many ways to get moving and get your heart rate up to suffer doing something you don't like.

I don't know if I like running. I like its efficiency, cost, results, location etc. I do it 6 times a week and reap the benefits but I'm not sure I like actual running. I LOVE weights and intervals.

You just have to keep at it. Slow down and concentrate on steady, even strides. You do adapt to it and very quickly. I use the time to listen to podcasts and plan things like Christmas. You can get to that point once you've passed the FUUUUUCK THIS HURTS stage.

@sparklediamonds it was me who said me and that I'd signed up for a 5k run ... I do get it. I was responding to the 'can't run' and 'enjoyable aspect. I am training myself to be able to run .... I can't...yet. I don't find it enjoyable .... I'm still waiting for that elusive enjoyment to kick in. I signed up for a 5k because I stupidly agreed to with my husband (who does enjoy running) and we signed our kids up too. I instantly regretted that decision but it's done now and the goal of having to do it is maki g me get out and try. As I said my 'running' pace is slower than my fast walking pace ... and I'm still only in week 3 where the longest running part is 3 minutes... and God am I counting those seconds til the 3 minutes is up

I can't run either...even when I've been quite physically fit, I still can't. I used to do spinning, weights, can swim for hours, hiit but I couldn't run down the road if my life depended on it!

You say you can't get past Day One on Ct5K - then just keep doing Day One until you feel ready.

I really recommend Parkrun. It's great. It took me several attempts over two years to do c25k but I finally did it last Christmas. And have done a few runs weekly since. Mostly. Music is vital. Committing a regular time even if you do more running than walking and getting good gear that you are comfortable in really helps. It really helps with fitness. Keep trying Abd don't tell yourself you can't. You can, but you might need to work up to it!

I used to like running but haven't been for ages. I do find it burns fat very quickly but my problem is it burns fat everywhere and I end up stick thin which is not a good look for me. Trying to look for an alternative but can't find it.

You do have to do it regularly though to get into enjoying it I think.

I absolutely suggest Jeffing too, it's a run/walk method such makes running a whole lot more bearable and enables you to run for much longer. You run for a set interval then walk briskly for a set interval. People who jeff often play around with internal lengths to see what suits them and use different ones for different length runs. Just as an example a 60 second run period followed by 30 second walk repeated.

I love running which doesn't mean I love every run I do. But I love the effects. I'm in my 50s and have run 3+ times a week since my mid 20s. I'm not fast - a fairly average plodder but it gives me space to listen to podcasts, lifts my mood, makes me feel disciplined and I can still eat more or less what I want and stick around 8 stone. It's worth persevering although in my experience there are some people who just never enjoy running - those with big boobs, bad backs or knackered knees.
Definitely recommend headphones and music to get you past the piain barrier and seeing each run as a piece of the puzzle in getting better. Slow right down and concentrate on getting your total mileage for the week up and the speed and ease of running should follow.

I agree with people say parkrun, there is people who do it in 20 mins or less but there is people who take 50 mins, but they have a tail walker so you are never last. I'm pretty fast but I have friends who arent as fast but I don't judge them, they are lapping those still in bed

Me neither ! I cycle , swim and walks loads but can't run for shit

Never mind OP

although in my experience there are some people who just never enjoy running - those with big boobs, bad backs or knackered knees yip that's me

I have run for years but the first 1/4 mile is still crappy. Slow down; if your lungs are on fire you're going too fast. If you can only run then walk, keep doing that - eventually you'll run more than you walk. There are no tricks with running, for example, there's a fairly regular question asked on running forums of 'how do you run faster'. The answer is just that....run....faster than you do now.

Go really slowly and build up slowly.

I definitely thought the same. The treadmill at the gym was agony and I could barely breathe. But when the gym got dull and I stopped losing weight I gave road running a go not expecting much. I found having a particular place or thing to aim for (x park or x road) spurred me on. I'm not quick but after a few months I'd gradually increased it until I was doing 8 miles three or four times a week. This was pre DC I might add. I still can't run on treadmills without dying quickly. But running outdoors gave me such a good feeling and a sense of direction. Haven't run since getting pregnant (years ago) but have recently been thinking of taking it up again.

I run three times a week each time for around 5 or 6 k. I started again a month ago when baby was 8 weeks and within the month my fitness and endurance has amazed me, the first run was hell now its a pleasure. It's such a good form of fast calorie burn exercise. Start off slowly and find a route you enjoy running I have a few routes to enjoy. I use a run app which interrupts the music I'm listening to on my phone to tell me each km so once I've hit 3 I know I'm over halfway and it's easy from there on in. Run at dawn or dusk amd enjoy the sun rise and sun set far nicer than being in a sweaty gym.

I always thought the same. I couldn't run even at times when I was pretty fit. Once I had kids though I really struggled to try and fit anything else in so running it was. Started c25k (again) in Feb and this time it just clicked. Did 8 miles on Wednesday and doing Great South Run next month.
I'm not sure I actually enjoy it. I love the feeling I get after a run and the overall benefits to my health and weight. The actual runs are still a struggle but getting better.