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?

Running and going to the Gym, is not the only exercise. I don't like either tbh, I do Kickboxing and the women's bootcamp they run at the Dojo. I also cycle and walk as I don't drive. In between kickboxing sessions, I do workout DVDs.

I've completed a couple of marathons and loads of 5k / 10k races. I run twice a week with my club.

But.

I. Hate. Running.

Yes, really! It's not so bad with the club girls because it passes the time quicker, otherwise the actual run is a real chore. What I do love is how I feel afterwards. I get a real runner's high, I love shiny medals and I love that it really controls my anxiety / panic attacks. The chore of running is worth it because the after effects are brilliant.

I run on and off. Absolutely hate it. But nothing beats it for fast fitness and weight control.

When I've had a break for a while and start again I do run for 3 minutes/walk for 3 minutes and gradually build up. Could you try that OP?

I hate running. I have tried. I don't get it. It's just pure suffering.

If you keep shouting 'stop' in your head then why would you live to run?

Just get on a bike
Make sure it fits you tyres pumped up and start with short distances and keep adding miles each week

Find a plan to do 50 miles over 8 weeks and I bet you'll do it

ivy I can't ride a bike either no one has ever managed to teach me. I think I'm just designed to be sedentary.

Just find something you love..running isn't the be all end all of fitness. I love running/hiking/sprinting then jogging it's just how I zone out and relax (with my iPod blaring of course) but I HATE weights and I know I need to do strength training a lot more instead of just cardio.

Running on a regular basis for a long period of time actually injures. We aren't designed for it. However a brisk walk regularly is all that is needed.

I agree with everyone to slow down! And you don't even have to 'run' with couch to 5k. It's intervals so you could easily just walk fast and walk slower. The confidence you get from completing a session is the important bit, not how fast you go or whether you're running. I would recommend day on/ day off for couch to 5k but I believe it's 3 sessions a week so you can spread out more. Resting is important, but you could put another low impact activity in one of those days.

I would also say you don't HAVE to run! I run because it's the thing that clicks for me. Well, I did until got pregnant and felt far too rubbish in first trimester then have switched to walking as lung capacity has diminished! But it sounds like you might have enjoyed your last effort so keep doing it. You got phase 1 day 1 down, which is more than you've done before. Great work!

I've been running for about 9 months. I can't say I enjoy it but love the feeling at the end. My fastest kilometre is the last one every time because I know it's nearly over. Even after 9 months my fastest 5k is 36 minutes.

I done a 10k in May and I was last. It really put me off but I've kept at it. The first kilometre kills me and I really hate it. Definitely running with someone helps. We chat away and have no idea how far we've ran.

No one 'teaches' you to ride a bike you balance and to do that you practice then pedal

DP in his day was a runner, did marathons, the whole nine yards so to speak.

He is now paying the price, because he needs a knee and a hip replacement, and walking needs a dose of Ibubrofen before he can get off the sofa.

But we do walk for miles when he is dosed up, so all is not lost.

I will never run having seen the effect it has had on him. Very upsetting really. But there we are. I know that doesn't happen to every runner, but still....

Walking is just so easy and enjoyable too.

I can walk pretty happily for 8-10 miles before my hip starts to go out of joint.

Running on the other had was not my friend. In the end c25k enabled me to run, and I definitely had to run much much slower than I thought I "should".

Glad that the treadmill is making life easier - it's good for pacing yourself.

Just find something you love..running isn't the be all end all of fitness

I agree, when someone says ',I don't like boiled eggs' you wouldn't keep hounding them to eat more and more boiled eggs with the promise they'll eventually get used to them.

Nor is running necessarily that good for your joints after being repeatedly hammered against tarmac.

Try different types of sports that you might enjoy more, and won't fuck your knees up.

ivy I can't ride a bike either grin no one has ever managed to teach me. I think I'm just designed to be sedentary.

You can't be taught to ride a bike, you just have to work out how to balance.

You can do it yourself: borrow a bike, put the saddle down as low as it will go, take it to a park preferably on a path with a very slight downward slope and scoot a long with your feet. As you get more confident, make bigger and longer scooting strides. Hey presto you can balance on a bike. Pedalling is an absolute cinch after that.

When people tried to ',teach ' you, what did they do?

this video breaks it down quite well

I'm not built to be a runner.
I can run 10km, but I don't enjoy it. It's so bloody boring.

Stick me on a bike or in a room with someone shouting instructions and I'm quite happy.

What makes you thin faster? Running or cycling?

Roz depends how much of each you do and for how long, you expend roughly a quarter of the energy travelling the same distance by bike as you so when running.

But that said, diet has a bigger impact than either. If you're drinking 12 pints and belting down a fry up for every meal, neither is going to make you thin.

I've been running for a year. Started with the slowest of slow walk/runs.

Yesterday finally got around the fucking lake that has been my Nemesis for this whole year. 10.6k. In your face stupid lake that I have seen both sides of a thousand times but never got round before.

I can now do 30 minutes of running with no intervals with less bother than one minute a year ago. I used to be literally puce and sweaty, heaving breaths and in agony the next day.

I'm still not thin though. I blame food being delicious.

boys I can do that part. I can sit and punt myself down the street and balance quite easily. I can even sit on a bike and coast down a slope with no issues. It all goes to hell as soon as I try and peddle. I just fall over sideways and end up in an undignified, bleeding heap on the floor.

Most of the teaching involved people running behind the bike hanging onto the saddle as I peddled along and then letting go, at which point I fell over sideways.

knickers ouch.

Are you peddling fast enough? Is the bike in a gear whereby you can peddle easily but aren't spinning the pedals to no great effect.

Handling a bike at slow speed is very difficult, far harder than going at a decent speed, but your instincts tell you to go slowly.

No one enjoys running - be honest have you ever seen a happy looking runner!

@lovemybodenmac

I agree with you so much, but our opinions are laughed at!

Whenever I see a runner all I see is sweat, pinched red face and pain.

But I suppose the reward is when you finish your punishment circuit!

Look, my DP was one of them, never looked well after a run, but calmed down after an hour or so, now he needs hip and knee replacements having pounded the ground.

NO.

Not for me. Walking does it.

I run a lot, don't particularly enjoy it but it's a bloody good calorie burner & fantastic for toning lower body so I stick with it-much prefer to run in cool temperatures & definitely find it easier to run with someone else.