To not be able to run…

[ManchesterBeatrice]

I'll pre-face this by saying that I have tried the couch to 5K, but that didn't work out for me.

I have full gym membership, and access to treadmills, there are plenty available.

But I just can't run!

It's almost like I feel extremely heavy when I try, I weigh 9 stone, So not carrying lots of extra weight, but I just can't get the breath right.

What am I missing? Is there some kind of secret Runner's trick! I just can't seem to run, and I'd really love to be able to, as it's such a great way to lose weight, and keep weight off Physically when I don't have access to the gym.

Can anyone share their success stories of learning to successfully run on the treadmill, and then being able to take that outside to running outdoors.

Why didn't c25k work? Its a proven method, and if you go slow enough, it WILL work.

Maybe I am running too fast. I always run outside. Can't bear the gym. I have a lovely river path to run on. So many people doing it effortlessly.

You're definitely running too fast. I thought I couldn't run too and dismissed it for years until I really tried for three months and then realised I'd just been running far too fast. Then it became my favourite sport, I've been running for twenty years now. I got a lot faster in my twenties now I'm a lot slower again as I run with my two dogs and they stop all the time. I have bursts of running interspersed with being stood around while they sniff something particularly tasty or pee on a lamppost, overall it ends up at walking pace but I still count it as a run. There are many different ways to 'run'.

I can't run on a treadmill at all, it sucks all the joy out of the experience for me.

And yes agree with @HappySeven you have to push through those first five/ten minutes where you struggle to breathe.

I feel like this, and I have hypermobile joints - it feels like it takes a ton of effort just to keep my bones connected to each other, let alone move my whole skeleton at speed.

I eventually just gave up running because it always felt hard and unrewarding. I just use elliptical trainers and weights at the gym.

I am in my 50s and half a stone overweight. Can I begin now? People keep going on about knees. I walk everywhere as I don't have a car any more.

Don't fret it. Just don't run. I used to think it was a fitness thing until I became SUPER fit in my 30s. I could use all the step machines, cross trainers and other cardio machines at high intensity, fast for 50-60 mins but still couldn't run.
I can not breathe. It's like my muscles are taking the oxygen faster than I can replenish. But it was obviously not a cardio fitness thing as I could do all the other things including intense row which is a greater cardio demand. I then realised it's not always a fitness thing it's a body type thing. Perhaps if I trained super specially with a running coach I could do it but why? I lift weights, I do HIIT and I row. I am still really fit. Maybe but as fit as in my 30s but I am as fit as I need to be.
I just am not built to run.
Try getting on the treadmill and setting it to a gentle incline. Do intermittent sprints. 30 seconds sprint, jump your feet off to the sides. Drop the speed and walk for 1 min. Do 4-6 rounds. Start with a 30 sec 2 min walk if you need to.
Some people are built for explosive power not steady state cardio.

It's hard, I started last year from pretty much the beginning (probably about this time last year) and by summer could run a 10K.

However, I've recently had 2 weeks off due to an injury and now I'm pretty much back at the beginning again. It's insane how I've lost my fitness levels just by taking a couple of weeks off running, I had one week off the gym where I lift weights and a few days off work and the school run and being a potato has ruined me.

It's infuriating and I often just want to throw in the towel. I have a 10K race in June and a half marathon in October and at this point I don't know if I can even run a 5K park run tomorrow. I refuse to give up though despite my tantrums, I keep plodding on and trying.

So just keep trying and trying.

@Lentilweaver I'm in my fifties too. Knees seem fine 😁

It's about strength. If you don't have good core strength, good ankle, back, hip and thigh muscle strength, you're going to feel heavy and not be able to pick your feet up/land on them safely.

I found that kickboxing training, pilates and swimming were the best for me to get that strength, not a treadmill or 'just plod to the next lamppost'

Yes you can!

Running doesn’t give you bad knees and can actually help strengthen joints by building muscles. It’s also good for maintaining bone density.

Thanks for all this!

I'm going to try again, slowly, and will update!!

Does running feel generally good for calorie burn and weight loss?

Maybe I should give it another shot. I like swimming but it's a palaver getting to the pool and drying my hair and all that faff. I can run by just heading out my door.

Is this really true? Getting dodgy arthritic knees from running is one of my concerns now I am early 50s 😬

You need to be able to hold a conversation when you first start running. If you can't then you are running too fast for your fitness. It's only when you can run for a decent length of time can you add in "I'm going to collapse speed work". Even if that pace seems ridiculously slow and almost walking pace it'll be increasing your fitness more than you are aware. When I first started running it was about 1k at an initial 7.50k/ph it's now after 7 years of running at about 4.50k/ph for a 1k hard run

Running only ever made me lose weight around my stomach when I was training for long distances and combining with strength work. It allows me to eat what I like without gaining though.

Yes, this!!

It puts me right off 😂

Do you listen to music while running? I really need to do this as I hate hearing how out of breath I get! I also find it quite motivating. I think running is quite psychological too. You need to believe you can do it - you can!

You can lose weight when running but you still need to put effort into not over eating.

I can burn 1000+ calories on a run, but it takes an hour and 45 minutes of running, and it is hard work! I generally have a reduced appetite after vigorous exercise, but I am still a bit overweight so I’m clearly making up for it overall.

Her first line is literally that she has tried this.

Do you have to run? Like what’s your motivation? It’s not mandatory and not actually very good for your cortisol levels and your joints.

It’s better to run on grass rather than hard surface. Yes, running can impact your knees.

I can sprint or walk, I have never managed the jogging thing - just does not work for me

Another recommendation to start with a shuffle. Try 4.5mph max for 1 minute intervals and see how it feels, and work up very gradually from there. You’ll be surprised how easily you’ll progress. And you’re not trying to win a race, just increase your pace.

Running is not for everyone. I tried to get into it many times. I went through two rounds of 10k races and decided that, on balance, I simply don't enjoy running. There are many many great ways to exercise and I am not built for speed. I prefer lifting weights and occasional cycling. And loads and loads of walking.
The only running I semi-enjoy is very short periods of sprinting. No more than 6 rounds of 45sec sprints with 90sec rest in between.

Not to mention mental health! That's why I run, I am always in a much better mood afterwards, which really helps with my peri menopausal mood swings. It helps that I run in the countryside so the views are amazing.

It's also just so good to be able to pull on a sports bra and a pair of shoes and just get on with it.

I should add I'm mid forties, bmi 27, so no athlete, and I've hard hardly any running injuries in the twenty years I've been running. I've had shin splints if I upped my distance too quickly but not for years now as I mostly just run 5k these days.