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.

But why not run anyway if that’s what you want to do? I’m probably better built for weightlifting (short, stocky, strong) and don’t run fast but it brings me far more pleasure than any indoor sport. There’s nothing wrong with going against what your body is built for.

could You try couch to 5k but incredibly slowly? Like so slow it feels like a shuffle? Like it doesn’t feel worth changing up from walking. That’s the only way I find . Once you can do couch to 5 k in that way it gets easier and quicker if you keep doing it .

Don’t run on the treadmill! I have run for at least a decade seriously, raced lots, run marathons and still cannot even do 10mins on the treadmill without feeling dizzy and uncoordinated and slow and stompy. I’m sure there’s a technique to it, but I haven’t found it!

Go outside. Start slow, much much slower than you think and don’t stop - if you feel you need a break just slow to a walk and keep moving. Make sure you have decent shoes which fit properly. Don’t worry about what people think - once, 15 miles into a 20mile training run a man shouted ‘don’t worry, it gets easier!’ - I wanted to strangle him, but also realised that other people have no idea if you’ve run half a km or 20miles!

Stick with it - when you find your rhythm, it’s just wonderful.

You are starting too fast.

First go on a treadmill and do your fastest brisk walk and see what the pace is.

Then up it by just enough that you have to start jogging. Do that regularly until it feels as comfortable as the brisk walk. Like 2-3 times a week for 6-8 weeks.

Then up it again by 0.5 km/h. Again do that pace regularly for 6-8 weeks.

Some people are natural runners and have a base level of running fitness they never seem to lose. For the rest of us, we are starting from a very low base and it takes a long, long time to build.

I did Couch to 5K from a low starting point - graduated just before Christmas. I joined a similar running group to yours in January and graduated after ten weeks. My fastest 5K to date is 37:30 (snap!) but I can now run for an hour continuously, covering about 8K. Some women in my group are a little faster, some a little slower but OP: if you’re a beginner in your 30s-50s then somewhere in the region of 35-40 minutes for your first 5Ks after graduating is (from my cohort of about twenty women) what you should be expecting, unless you have excellent aerobic fitness from other activities. I aim to run 12 minute/miles now.

So slow down and pick Jo Whiley. Podcasts will help you plod along more than dance music will too.

I can run on a treadmill for ages, BMI 21, fit and healthy. Running outside - meh - boring, slipperly and cold. I'm not sure why anyone would choose when you can have a nice gym with other activities too.

Or a racket sport? Cycling? I think I'd prefer anything to running outside.

I really really really recommend getting a proper gait analysis done by someone who knows what they are talking about. You might just have a very inefficient technique. This will also help you avoid injuries. Try and find a specialised running physio to do this. Should just be a one-off sessions so not a huge ongoing expense.

Jog really slowly and breath out on every 3rd step. Purse your lips and blow out hard. felt like a Rocky impersonator when I started but it really does work. Before you know it you’ll have the breathing sorted.

you must jog as slowly as possible, and just stick to the 5 k plan. Once you can jog 5k slowly , you can work
on the speed. I think the average time for a women is about 40 mins.

good luck!

I ran again, so it wasn't a fluke, again on the treadmill. When the gym was quiet.

I did 15 minutes, which included jogging, and slow running, and various inclines. The trick of it I think was slowness of the running, like everybody said. I remembered to breathe. 12 minutes was okay, I was struggling slightly by 15, but previously I only done 10. That is 10 of the run/jog/walk. Definitely not ready for 10 minutes of solid running. 👀😵‍💫🫥

I think you are the weirdo 🤣🤣. Why would you choose to stick in one spot and endlessly pound on a treadmill. There is stuff to see outside, different conditions etc etc. I understand how you might prefer the gym environment but I can’t see how running outside can be more ‘boring’.

Anyway horses for courses.

PS well done OP

Neither could I. It turned out that I was under medicated with my asthma medicine. I started taking them twice a day instead of one and then I learned to run.

Well done OP. This is one of the best threads I've seen on MN, a great outcome for OP and others who had similar issues.
Personally I can't stand threadmills, feels like it's so heavy underfoot, stale air and nothing to see but I'm delighted for you.

Well done OP!

I went for another walk/jog tonight. 2 of my intervals were 1km each! Couldn't believe it. Plus another couple of shorter intervals. Not sure what that equates to in minutes, I'll try to look next time. I know I'm going really slow, but you gotta start somewhere!

Agreed. Thanks to this thread I actually managed to breathe through my nose on my jog the other day, will keep working on it.

well done @ManchesterBeatrice

I cannot run ether. I found cycling works for me. Sometimes you just need to find your sport. There is no point picking one you won't enjoy and do.

That is absolutely 100% true- the best exercise is the one you keep doing.

They do feel heavy! I'll deffo be off the treadmill soon I hope 😎

Back to spinning tomorrow but will try and run twice next week 🏃

And well done to everyone else ❤️

I do love cycling and spinning, just keen to have a good calerie burn option with no need for equipment 😎

That's the best bit for me. Just get changed and go. Anytime, anywhere. Finish time for work can be unpredictable, so gym classes don't always work for me.
I am prone to spending up to half an hour psyching myself up for a run though (di I take want to? Is the weather right? What if I can't do it tonight? What else needs doing?) so I probably do end up wasting t time.

I'm best if I don't think about it at all and just go.

I can't run either. Due to bad knees. In fact it was running that knackered my knees in the 1st place.

I would tell my younger self not to bother with running.

I cycle and swim for exercise. And walk.

I lurked on this thread yesterday and took all the advice about slowing down, focusing on breathing etc as a beginner who's struggled the last few runs. This morning I took on board everything I read yesterday and I ran my WHOLE route without any walk breaks!! Unbelievable what simply slowing down pace can do - thank you all, you've given me my mojo back as I was feeling like my stamina and fitness would never improve! Makes me motivated for my next run!

Ok so tonight I looked at the minutes... first jog was 12 minutes. It felt like an hour lol. Subsequent jogs were only 5 minutes each. And so many people overtaking me tonight! Geez some people run fast.

@prettygreenteacup wow, amazing! Well done 😀

@Undertherockpool

But why not run anyway if that’s what you want to do? I’m probably better built for weightlifting (short, stocky, strong) and don’t run fast but it brings me far more pleasure than any indoor sport. There’s nothing wrong with going against what your body is built for.
Oh absolutely. My comment was more to tell people not to beat themselves up if they find running is not for them. We all need to find what works for us. If it's running then great.