To ask if running ever becomes easy?

[Chem17]

Just curious - I’ve been running quite a bit over the past few weeks, getting fitter and am definitely going to keep going with it, but I wondered if once I’ve done it for a year or however long, does it become ‘easy’ - I.e. will I not be very out of breath/feeling tired? Or is this just not how it works?

Yes! After a while you start having these magic runs where you blink and realise you’ve covered 10 miles without noticing! Keep going, it gets better. I also find a good podcast helps take my mind off things and then I really don’t notice getting tired

Thank you! Although 10 miles ! That’s amazing!

I’m only managing 6km at the moment! (With 1km warmup and cooldown each) But am definitely trying to increase it as my fitness builds...

I've run three half marathons and tbh I still find running hard. Never got to the blink and you'll miss it stage.

Around week 6 ten minute runs are 'easy'. Around week 12 twenty minute runs are sweaty and easy-ish.
Around month 6 5ks are pretty easy going until you start to push to improve your time.

Runs are as fun as you make them :) if it's constantly too hard then drop the pace and just enjoy it.

You'll also enjoy being able to run across a field or park or beach or whatever in short bursts when playing with kids/dog/unicorns/whatever just like when you were a child.

Being able to run like that is the best feeling!

@topcat2014 you need to drop your pace a little then and fall in to the run. If you hit that sweet spot you can just comfortably carry on going for what feels like forever.

Yes it gets easier! I’ve just got to the stage where I find I’m in a zone where I feel I could keep running forever. Usually after 6-7miles. The feeling doesn’t last long as I usually think I should speed up if I’m finding it easy! But I’m training for a half marathon. Build up slowly, stick with it and you’ll get there.

I've run 6 marathons, countless half's and other distances. If I'm honest it's never got easier! Although admittedly I think nothing of running 3-6 miles now, but I still have days where I stop for a breather, or walk up a hill or whatever. There are good runs and bad runs. But I found as I got better I went faster, which made it feel just as hard. I suppose if I did couch 25k or whatever now then that would def be easy

Ooh this is me! I just find myself yearning for it all to finish.

Perhaps podcasts are the way to go - hadn't thought of that. @idontdrinktea - any recommendations??

I did the London marathon this year. 4hrs 49 mins. I started running a year ago.... I hit a wall at 21 miles and it was hard to push through it, I seriously wanted to give up. I listen to podcasts on my training runs and find running chills me out.

A lot depends on pace, once you start to build base running fitness - sounds like you’re well on the way there it comes down to how hard you push yourself on a run, slow and long or hard and short. Once you have the base level it’s easy to do either type of run no matter how fit you are - just the paces will be different.

May be useful to look into heart rate training to understand how hard you’re working or maybe read the 80/20 running approach.

This thread gives me hope! I’m currently trying to do couch to 5 k but struggling a bit - I have a pod cast for it (the one where you can get Sarah millican etc talking you through it) but I just find running a bit boring and I’m not sure it’s for me. When I do it ( if I do it) I do occasionally get that threshold feeling where I go from feeling awful to being feeling able to complete a marathon (in my case it’s usually the mile back home! ) but most of the time it just feels like a chore . Any tips for enjoying it or are some people just not runners

Yup, took about 2-3 months. Totally worth it!

I loved running so much. It was never easy but I could lose myself in the discomfort and it became meditative. So maybe it never becomes easy but you can manage the discomfort much more easily and it does become enjoyable.

Past tense because I fucked my knee and haven't run for several years so be careful. I used to run 30+ miles a week now I have a permanently swollen knee, have spent several thousands on physio and private treatments and it's still painful.

It does. I remember starting out and a slow 5km had me thinking I would throw up.

Yes

I did a half marathon April 2017 and I started training about 5 months before. I didn’t really run but had good cardio fitness. Anyway I soon got to a point where running 6 miles was just an easy run for me most days (some days it’s easier than others) but I also had runs where I just felt I could run for miles and miles, and did, without it feeling tough at all

I also got a hamstring injury before the HM (but did it anyway)

Every run is a bad run at the moment, because I run really badly in the heat and when pollen is high. So breathing is difficult and I'm a sweaty blob.

It took me a good 9 months to enjoy running after I first started.

Parkrun and a friendly running club really helped to make it enjoyable too.

And slogging through the summer is worth it - I still feel better for having run at all (been injured in last fortnight, and felt a bit odd from not running). And I know all,the persistence will pay off in the autumn (PB'ed at 5k, 10k and half in Oct/Nov last year)

So yes, it takes time. And yes it's worth it

Definitely stick with it. I don’t run any more cos of my knee so I use the XT for Hiit (I do 3k but fast) and do other cardio and conditioning to get the heart rate up.
I have a fitness test for work and previous years I’ve found it unpleasant . I started trying to improve cardio in Sept last year (just doing circuits at the start) and noticed a huge difference in my performance in the test this year (last week). In fact the fitness test was so easy I started to think maybe I was doing it wrong. I was barely out of breath. TBF I have also lost 2 st but it’s the first year in a long time I’ve not feared the test because I had been really pushing myself through the “dead thighs, nothing left in the tank, feeling sick, can’t catch my breath, this is so dull I can’t go on” feeling so I knew I had the mental stamina. Turns out I’m fitter than I thought!! Your resilience improves a tiny tiny bit each time. Enjoy your achievements!

"most of the time it just feels like a chore . Any tips for enjoying it or are some people just not runners"

Just wanted to say that was me for my first 9 months. Stuck with it as a task necessary for health (had been under-active for a few years, and this was the best thing for me to fit round DC. I didn't really notice when I came to enjoy it. Just realised one day that I did

I've never got to the 'blink and I miss it' stage, but I have definitely got to the stage where I don't get out of breath or feel horrendous. I still have days where 5km feels like a horrible chore though, but I also have days where 20km flies by.

What has happened which I never believed possible, is I'm at that stage now where I need to run. I miss it if I go more than a day off. It's the first thing I plan when I look at my week ahead. I take my kit on holiday. I've only been running 18 months and I honestly never thought I'd ever love exercise.

"only" 6k - that's amazing!! I can do 3k but have to stop a lot. I don't have the time though to make in consistent so never improve, but would love to be able to be fit enough to do 6 k one day.

I’ve been running for about four years now and it’s easier but I’ve not got to the not noticing 10 miles stage.
Being out of breath lasts less time, that’s all.

Hard core runner here

When it becomes “easy” that’s the sign for me to ramp it up a feat and try something new by way of route or speed

It does get easier. But as it gets easier you booka tough race which pushes you to the limit. Ive ran 16 half marathons and one marathon last year -Snowdonia Marathon. That pushed me to the edge. Up at 6am on weekends to fore breakfast so i could run for 3 to 3.5 hours. Toughest thing ever.

Then i took a break and im finding it very difficult to get back. Im out at 8am for a hilly 7 miles.

But im telling myself that ive done it. Positive thoughts!

I’m trying the c2k (on a treadmill). I find running for a couple of minutes hard. You’re supposed to progress up to the next level after three runs, but I never feel that I’ve mastered The first stage, so find it hard moving up.

It gets easier.

I found building my fitness to 5k was hard going.

I'm now aiming for 10k, and I'm definitely fitter but it's still hard going.

I echo the PP who mentioned good runs and bad runs. Definitely true! I can't predict a good/bad run, they just happen.

If you're not already, then do your local Parkrun! It's my favourite part of the week!