Seasoned runners- when does it get effortless?

[debka]

I'm on week 5 of couch to 5k and whilst I am enjoying it, the running bits are a bloody slog, and I have to avidly think about anything but the fact that I'm running in order to get through it.

But I started this because I see Proper Runners running so joyously and seemingly effortlessly and I want to be the same. So any ideas when this might happen? Shall I stick with it?

Definitely, definitely stick with it. If I'm totally honest some days its still all a bit of a slog, but then some days everything just clicks and there you are feeling like you are invincible. Sometimes you get both bits in a single run. But even on the days where its all been a slog, at the end there's just that sense of achievement. Stick with it. It will come. And enjoy it when you get it.

I am not a seasoned runner, but started C25K last year (age 48) and have been running regularly since completing the programme. Great advice from RT, not every run is enjoyable, but some are! I found the middle bit of building up distance on C25K very painful but by the time I finished, I could manage 5K fairly comfortably. I am now increacing distance by running an extra 1/2 mile in one of my weekly runs every 2 weeks.

I have also realised that for me, there are different issues during a run. For the first mile I often struggle with my breathing but have learned to run through it, and it settles down once my lungs have got used to needing extra oxygen. Boredom is a killer for me also, sometimes I just want to give up, so route planning and a good playlist help.

Stick with it! You will have a moment when it comes together, a lovely day, a beautiful route and you will feel great. Good luck.

I was also wondering when it becomes easier, I am running for 20 minutes again and covering 3km and hoping to get to 30 minutes and 4.5 km eventually. (I am slow )

I have spates of running and spinning and then have to stop for a while due to health problems - so I do yoga and pilates. Which I have found has helped with my breathing in the first part of my run, I assume it is the yoga that has helped with my breathing rather than the pilates

Thanks for the replies. I will keep at it, I do (overall) enjoy the running. Possibly the fact that I am very overweight is not helping- I'm sure carrying less weight will make everything a lot easier!

Definitely keep at it! I've run a fair amount for quite a few year now but I remember some my early runs used to be absolutely awful.

Even now it can still be hard sometimes, whether just bits of runs, or sometimes the entire run itself can feel miserably hard... so don't believe that 'proper runners' are just gliding along effortlessly all the time! Well I'm certainly not, that's for sure and neither is anyone else I know.

On the other hand, with time, the bits you find easy do get longer and longer until they stretch from a few hundred metres to a kilometre, and then eventually several kilometres. And then sometimes, you really do find yourself absolutely loving it!

Good luck with it and well done for doing it!

Oh, and if you can afford a decent pair of running shoes, it makes a real difference to it as well... All you need really

Just done w7r3 and it felt bloody brilliant!

I have been running for ages now. I find if I only run once a week, that run is just one hard slog. If I have a break, it takes a while to get back into it again, and that while gets longer as I get older.

But when I manage to run 2 or even 3 times a week on a regular basis, the runs tend to get better,and are generally good or great. There are always some days or some parts which are beastly. Like Cestlavie says, some other days it just all comes together, and once you get a few of those,they will see you through the bits which are less fun.

I started training for a 10k in January. Went to Curves before think low impact Today I ran much further than ever before - 5.6k :) and I loved it. Ran with a smile on my face. I'm running 2-3 times a week.

Oh it may be of interest to say I had a free app for c25k then bridge to 10k which ran out I'm tight and won't pay for the full thing so I just started free running and tracked my time/distance on mapmyrun instead. I found it easier to run and find my stride by just running rather than run/walking intervals.

Just keep at it. For me the first 15mins is the hardest and after that I get into my stride and start to enjoy it a bit more.

Debka, definitely stick at it. The first while of running is like having a newborn, hard work but it'll get better I promise. There will always be days you find it hard, but just think how good you feel when you're finished. Nothing worthwhile ever comes without hard work!