I just went for a run and it was HORRIBLE

[RedPandaFluff]

I used to run loads. I ran a MARATHON, for flip's sake. And now 5km along a canal path is a struggle - I thought my lungs were going to burst out of my chest!

I haven't done much by way of exercise in the last year. Please tell me this gets easier! I've just turned 39 so I'm thinking age might be making it a little harder than I remember . . .

Oh good luck @wasnotwasweregood - 3k sounds like a sensible distance for your first recent run. Give your calf muscles a good stretch afterwards too - mine seized up the next day and I was hobbling around 😄

Someone told me that the first 10-15 minutes are the most brutal as your body/lungs/heart etc are warming up.

I have to admit I still find running hard going after 3 years of doing it, and if I have a break for a few weeks I feel as if I am going to die!

@DavetheCat2001 that makes sense to me - even when I was super-fit I still always found the first couple of miles really difficult; but then I'd seem to find my groove and felt better.

I'm definitely improving, even though it's only been 9 days. How did your 3km go, @wasnotwasweregood ?

I did a half marathon last year, then didn't run all summer because the heat killed me. I am now training for another half and have been pleasantly surprised at how little time it's taken between 'I hate this and want to die' and 'I'm actually enjoying this'!

I listen to radio 4 comedy or dramas. Neil Gaiman's Norse mythology is on there now and it's very good!

Go back to basics. Run for 5 mins then walk. Repeat. Or reduce distance and eke it up. Don't make yourself miserable or you won't keep it up. Just keep moving x

@redpandafluff thanks for asking, several days later I finally got my run done! I have a stinking head cold at the moment one of those annoyances that aren't bad enough to keep you off work but make you feel a bit all round ick which didn't help but it is done!
Cold weather doesn't help on the hurty lungs front does it?
I think I'm going to keep to this small distance until I've managed to establish a habit - glad to see you're already seeing some improvement

So . . . it's still horrible 😄

red panda I considered myself v fit for my age (early 50's). Usually ran a hilly 5-6km 2-3 times a week or an hour's hard spin same frequency. Had a health scare in Sept so no exercise for at least 3 months apart from dog walking.
Finally plucked up the courage to start running again at the beginning of jan.
I've used couch25k and found it brilliant. Wasn't the best runner before but it's really made me slow down and concentrate on my breathing. In some ways I'm a better runner now than I was ! And because it's in steps you don't realize you're gradually increasing your time running it's so gentle.
Give it a go !

RedPanda do you listen to anything while you run? I find I can run much further if I’ve got an interesting podcast/audiobook to listen to. Otherwise I’m constantly checking how far I’ve run and obsessing about how tired/bored I am!!

@Caucasianchalkcircles I've heard of C25K but figured if I'm already running 5km it would be a step back? I hear what you're saying about technique though - I think I'm doing something wrong posture-wise as I keep giving myself an achey back 😏

@Sammysquiz I HAVE to listen to something; the one time I went running with DH without headphones (thinking we could chat!) was torture! I tried an audiobook today but didn't like it and switched back to music pretty quickly.

I'm more c25k again. I used to run loads like you, but had a bit of time off for operation/ laziness due to shift work etc usual excuses. I find mentally it helps me get back in to if, on week 5 now and it's not easy. Yesterday an ambulance with blue lights passed me and I briefly wondered whether someone had called it for me!!! Good luck with it! X