Jogging is awful

Hangingover · 24/10/2020 17:03

It's BALLS op I hate it too. I can do HITT till the cows come home, cross training hard for ages...no problem....but fuck jogging. The moment I get out something starts to hurt, hip or ankle or stitich, or my eyes water for no reason or I inhale a fly...last week I got chased by a flock or really pissed off seagulls. And it's so boring just plod plod plod. It's rubbish

CodenameVillanelle · 24/10/2020 17:04

Yes it will get easier but you may not ever actually enjoy it, I didn't!
There are other forms of exercise that are more effective and fun.

GreyishDays · 24/10/2020 17:07

It feels wrong to me. I’m better doing a Joe Wicks 20 min workout and some walking.

pickingdaisies · 24/10/2020 17:09

Go slower? You should be going slow enough to carry on a conversation.
Why do you need to keep stopping - do your legs hurt, is it your breathing, or something else? Next time you try c25k, once you can finish the runs in week 1, move to week 2. If you need to repeat week 1, that's fine. Some people repeat each week.

islockdownoveryet · 24/10/2020 17:11

That's what happens when you first run but each time you can run that bit further .
Even the most athletic have to train nobody can just run a marathon without training.
I've been running years but I'm still rubbish but I love being out pushing myself that bit further and the feeling at the end .
It's not for everyone but don't think its easy for everyone it's not .

JonHammIsMyJamm · 24/10/2020 17:12

If you really hate it but enjoy other forms of effective cardio exercise, do those instead.

DesperatelySeekingSunshine · 24/10/2020 17:16

You need to embrace the Jeff Galloway method of running... which is walk run walk.
I completed a marathon in just twenty minutes more than my regular runner DH following the Jeff-ing method

Ironfloor269 · 24/10/2020 17:20

Stretch before you start
Warm up with a fast walk
Slowly turn it into a jog
At first, when you jog, make sure your whole foot doesn't leave the ground - so concentrate on putting your heel on ground, gradually moving forward till your toes touch ground, move back onto your heel and repeat. This way, you are not putting a lot of impact on your legs.
Actively pant through your mouth. It helps to do this quite dramatically at first. Eventually, you pant less. But the painting helps to get a lot of oxygen into your lungs thereby making you feel less tired.
And as a PP said, you must jog slow enough to be able to carry on a conversation.

twobrews · 24/10/2020 17:22

you must jog slow enough to be able to carry on a conversation.
This baffles me because that speed for me is walking, anything faster and I'm breathless.

lljkk · 24/10/2020 17:26

Might check the Maffletone method. Which is extremely slow running.
Basically, you need to do it to get used to it.

KizzyWayfarer · 24/10/2020 17:26

I am a ‘walk lots, hate running’ person. I think partly it’s the intensity of the exercise, making my chest hurt and partly that it uses muscles in a different way so legs which feel strong when you’re walking suddenly feel weak. I quite liked running junior parkrun with my 6 year old as that meant I could run really slowly without feeling stupid or getting bored. And over the summer we played football together sometimes, running around and trying to tackle each other, which was fun! I’m trying to strengthen my running muscles a bit by doing very short runs when I walk. My ambition is just to be able to run back to the house when we realise something vital has been forgotten for school without feeling like a wreck. Beyond that I have no desire to ‘go for a run’, I’ll get my exercise other ways.

bumblingbovine49 · 24/10/2020 17:27

@EnigmaticIcelandShopper

Hello, I was just wondering if anyone else finds jogging really, really difficult? I'm not massively unfit, I walked 36 miles a couple of weekends ago (over 2 days) . However, everytime I attempt to run, it feels like I'm able to only run for a couple of metres, then stop, then run etc. I am slightly overweight but not massively so. I went for a jog today with my son and felt sick and headachey for an hour afterwards. I've tried couch to 5k but can never get past week 1, quite frankly it's embarrassing. Any tips? If I persevere will it get easier?

Well a out 20-30%of people do not get aerobically fitter ( though they get other benefits of course) no matter how much aerobic exercise they do so if you don't like running and enjoy something else more stick to what you like and is sustainable.

PolarBearStrength · 24/10/2020 17:28

@twobrews

you must jog slow enough to be able to carry on a conversation. This baffles me because that speed for me is walking, anything faster and I'm breathless.

Yeah to be fair I’ve run ultramarathons and can run a 22 minute 5km under normal non-pregnant circumstances. I would still struggle to hold a conversation during all but the most ridiculously slow of runs.

GetRid · 24/10/2020 17:32

I hate it too and wonder if some people are just not built for it?

I try to do incredibly slow jogging for a couple of minutes (barely above walking pace) interspersed with walking for a couple of minutes. I reckon that's enough to keep reasonably fit!

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 24/10/2020 17:37

@CodenameVillanelle

Yes it will get easier but you may not ever actually enjoy it, I didn't! There are other forms of exercise that are more effective and fun.

Running does seemed to be held up as the gold standard exercise, I do it but much prefer HIT and Spinning, though because I’m surrounded by keen runners at work I always feel I’m slacking if I don’t go for a run, need to change my mindset.

Original poster

EnigmaticIcelandShopper · 24/10/2020 18:00

Thanks everyone. I usually partake in other sporty activities but just thought it would be a good one to do whilst we are in lockdown, I'm in Wales. Plus, budget wise, it would be really handy to enjoy or tolerate it. I really don't know what it is that makes me stop, maybe being out of breath but maybe a mental barrier, hahaha, I've never really thought about it.

I'm going to keep trying throughout lockdown in the hope of getting slightly better. Glad to hear others feel the same.

OP posts:

RunBackwards · 24/10/2020 18:04

I reckon you're running too fast, it's a mistake beginners often make. If you want to run further, run slower. Your pace will pick up but begin with, run slowly.

Enb76 · 24/10/2020 18:05

Running stopped being a chore for me when I found Zombie, Run. I still go only about the pace of a walking pigeon but I can run for 30 minutes without stopping now and even manage to evade some Zombies every now and again.

BogRollBOGOF · 25/10/2020 11:13

Walking 36 miles in a couple of days clearly shows stamina! Running is a different motion and it takes time to get used to the different impact. Many fit people steuggle with week 1 of C25k, and when you move on to week 2, that's hard too, then 3, then 4... then you realise that you've already made a lot of progress!

I run up to HM, and on a bad day it takes 2-3 miles to warm up. That's the territory of C25k and for some people it's hard because that's their warm up zone and it's hard to stop/ start.

One of the benefits of running is the freedom. Minimal preparation. You can fit more into the time than walking. I'm fortunate to have countryside nearby and I need a regular dose of countryside to feel good and that's easier to fit in if I can run. I often run/ walk rather than purely run, but it's far easier to fit into life if I walk/ run than pure walking. Plus my stamina and speed at walking are improved by being able to run.

But when learning to run, most people do need to slow down even if it is slower than walking for a little while. It's like your first few driving lessons would cover less distance than riding a bike in the same time, but it's an investment in a skill that pays off later.

pickingdaisies · 25/10/2020 13:50

Yes, to begin with, your running action may be slow enough to be overtaken by a snail with a limp, but it's all about learning the skill, building up the stamina, and training the body. Getting the oxygen into the bloodstream. You will speed up as you get fitter and your lung capacity increases.

MrsTumbletap · 25/10/2020 13:53

Oh it's awful, I hate it.

Team sports or a long dog walk, swimming, love it, but running erghhh.

TobblyBobbly · 25/10/2020 14:01

I enjoy running even though I'm not very fit. I agree with pp that you just need to get over the mental hurdle of thinking you need to stop as soon as you first want to. Just keep going! It will get easier.

ErrolTheDragon · 25/10/2020 14:01

I've tried jogging in the past - worked out for myself before I'd heard of c25k or 'Jeff' that bits of running interspersed with walking was the way to do it. I did find it hard, and I never got beyond very slow - faster than my walking pace but I reckon DH wouldn't have had to break stride to beat me. Even so I did feel better for it aerobically - a benefit when hillwalking which is much more enjoyable imo!
So, I think it's possible if you persist. But I found I absolutely can't jog on a hard even surface without getting hip pain. The only place which worked for me was the grassy canal towpath, when it wasn't a quagmire. So it was hard to keep it up year round.

I'd rather stick to walking nowadays, with hills to add the aerobic challenge rather than speed.

MsMartini · 25/10/2020 14:05

I agree with others - run slower, run/walk, whatever works for you. Start with whatever you can do and build up in tiny increments. Don't worry about speed or if some days feel tough - run regularly and it will feel easier and you will progress. I'm in my fifties and started running two years ago, got up to 15k in lockdown. not doing other stuff so run a 10k once or twice a week. I never thought I would be able to do that and I am pretty slow - but it honestly it just practice and not pushing yourself so that you hate it. Slow down and enjoy your surroundings

Emmie12345 · 25/10/2020 14:06

OP stick to walking def, still v v good cardio