Is running just not easy for some people?

[GorgeousLadyofWrestling]

I completed C25k back in Feb. I’ve been regularly running a 5k at least twice a week and I want to keep it up but after all this time, I’d have thought it would be somewhat easier by now?

It’s definitely a fitness thing but I am not especially out of breath. It’s more my legs - tight calves, sometimes slight pain in shins etc. I push myself to get to 5k and literally stop dead on. I see my friends completely C25k and saying - oh might try for 10K, easily do 5k! And I think to myself - how? I cannot imagine doing a step more because it feels such a slog to finish 5k.

It gets me down a bit, I am starting to dread each run but I don’t want to stop and lose the gains I’ve slogged over. DH is a running coach but specialises in “barefoot” running. He’s spent a lot of time analysing my gait and mapping my feet. He’s suggested I need zero drop shoes that still offer cushioning - so not minimal but not arched. Maybe it just my shoes? I’m just running in a pair of Nikes but I wear Vivos for every day wear. I can’t afford those new trainers yet though 😫

I don’t know. It’s getting me down. I stretch out my calves and try to improve my ankle Dorsi flexion every day but I just wish I was some kind of bouncy gazelle!

I just can't run either.

I can do spin classes for hours, swim for miles and miles, walk for hours but running? Nope.

It's taken me a long time to build up my running to where I can keep going for 10K plus but..

It still feels hard! Especially the first mile or so.

I still occasionally walk up the hills (even ones I have previously run up)

Run- Walk ("Jeffing") is a thing - certainly better to run-walk 5k than just run 3K and give up, you can stick with that and build from there.

It depends what your goal is - I want to be able to run along the various trails and paths near to me - so I've built up slowly to get to be able to do it. I still need to walk bits and take care not to injure myself.
I also love the feeling of having got up really early and be up and out somewhere as the sun comes up - makes me feel alive (very naff and totally wanky instagram type rubbish - but hope you know what I mean!) That gets me through the initial "Urrgggh" of stepping out of the door into the cold and dragged me feet through the first few horrible K's

@OldTinHat

I've just joined a gym and scowled at the treadmill but had a go, fast walking on a slight incline. Yesterday I upped the speed and attempted a jog. I can't jog. I definitely can't run. I think I managed 10 seconds then went back to my very fast walk! I'm actually very happy watching other people on the treadmill because nine out of 10 walk on them, not run. Not being able to run is a thing!

But you've just started. Hardly the same thing.

Do you WANT to jog? Lots of other great options if not!

I used to be like this and started jogging much, more often, mainly for mental health reasons when I changed jobs and could no longer make group fitness class times.

V slow pace, and jog/walked as needed. Gradually built up to 10km, sometimes 12, got much easier. Am still a snail team plodder, which is fine!

Not sure if I should hijack the thread, but I'm interested in this too. I actually want to jog. I don't like much else and it kind of works for me now that the gyms are closed, but I really don't make much progress.
I've been jogging slowly outside now, around 5k and it's just always a hard slog. I can't really get any quicker and while I suspect I could go a bit further, that also feels very hard.
Before lockdown, I jogged on the treadmill, much faster than I can do outside of course, and during that time I did improve a bit.
I'm wondering if there's something physically wrong with me that I'm not progressing. I do have one leg longer than the other by 1cm and was very bad at PE at school. On another thread, someone mentioned some people may have undiagnosed asthma, but I don't think it's that because my body gets tired before I start running out of breath.
Are some of just naturally unfit, maybe weak from birth or something?

I cannot run - sprint, jog or otherwise. It fucking kills me, I hate it - even when I was a size 8 I couldn't run.

Apparently a small percentage of people (5%) lack a gene that efficiently carries oxygen around the body so they'll never be good runners. I'm great at exercise in short bursts eg. badminton, tennis and martial arts but never running

Gwen - have you looked at joining a local running club? Most cater for all levels and they are a really good way of building your fitness
At ours we do warm ups, some fitness stuff then usually some kind of interval work (100-200m run, then walk etc) which Id never do on my own

I have plantar fasciatis and shortened tendons so truthfully, am in agony the days after I run. I waddle like a duck until the stiffness goes. I have heel lifts in my trainers which has helped a bit but my ankles still ache when I start running. I always warm up and some days are better than others but I'll never do marathons, I just do what I reasonably can.

I have no cartilage in my left ankle so I can't run. My doctor said I'd be foolish to try! I can kind of jog on the spot as long as I'm always touching the ground

I did 5Ks for years and always found them hard. Recently I upped the distance (running very slowly at first or run/walking) so that after a while I was running 10K for one run per week. Now the 5K times finally improved and they seem much easier. I think it's hard for your body to improve at a set distance if you never do more than that - it has to have some spare capacity in order to feel more comfortable

But... you can run. You do run. You run 5k repeatedly, and you do a tonne of other exercise alongside. Being married to a running coach, and maybe hanging out in a sporty crowd, is perhaps skewing your perspective and setting the bar artificially high. If you run 5k, week in week out, you can run. Maybe it doesn't come as easily to you as other sports but that's ok if you enjoy it.

On the other hand, if you don't enjoy it, stick to swimming and cycling.

The problem I find with running is that I constantly try to beat myself with distance and time, which makes it a slog and really difficult! Yesterday I set my app but and went out on my 5k loop, ran deliberately slow and listened to a lovely playlist instead of my ‘exercising’ playlist. It took me 5 minutes longer than normal but it was one of the first times it was enjoyable!

You should try that- slow jog, nice playlist and take in your surroundings. Good luck!

Running is not a great sport for me - I am prone to muscle strain, tight hip flexors. I’m reasonably fit in general but have failed c25k twice now.

My boss is a keen runner though, and has completed multiple Ironman events. He says that he still finds running a slog, and has various strategies to work with the mental grind.

Firstly- well done for getting this far. I too struggled hugely to get to 5k. You have done so so well and should be so so proud!

My view is that two things should change and you wil find it much easier.

I think you are going too fast probably and
Not going often enough.

Three times a week makes such a big difference over twice.

Slow it right down. Go 3 times a week.

And then you can build in some intervals which will help you get fitter and faster.

I learned these lessons personally and am now running half marathons. Not fast! Or
Easily but I am running them. And it is sooo much easier than it was at the stage youbare at now. Keep it up! You will be sooo proud of yourself if you do! It is sooo worth it. You have done the hard bit. Don’t lose heart. You are a runner!

I would love to be able to run, I find it's not my legs that ache it's my breathing I can't catch my breath and it hurts my throat so much I have to stop.

I'm obviously very unfit and I marvel when I see people running as if it's a breeze but I'm sure they must have found it hard at some point, right?

I've got skinny calves and I find running really hard. I manage 15 minutes max before finding it painful and also just getting bored stiff. This was the case even when I went to the gym x 4 a week and was very fit. I also couldn't do a pull up after two years of weight training!

I've done C25K all the way through about six times now. I've never managed to sustain it for much longer than a few weeks because it's just not enjoyable for me. Whereas I can do four cardio classes a week, burn the same calories, get the same heart rate... and come out smiling.

Obviously I would have been left behind to be eaten by the woolly mammoths but maybe my genetic purpose was to punch them unconscious with a series of repetitive movements.

@BarbaraPapa

I've done C25K all the way through about six times now. I've never managed to sustain it for much longer than a few weeks because it's just not enjoyable for me. Whereas I can do four cardio classes a week, burn the same calories, get the same heart rate... and come out smiling.

Obviously I would have been left behind to be eaten by the woolly mammoths but maybe my genetic purpose was to punch them unconscious with a series of repetitive movements.

you and me both!

Heartrate monitor can be a game changer too - if breathless etc you’re probably going faster than you can manage and need to slow down or jog/walk at intervals.

If you've plateaued in one sport it can help to add some new sports in, e.g. swimming or cycling.

@Chocolateteabag

Gwen - have you looked at joining a local running club? Most cater for all levels and they are a really good way of building your fitness At ours we do warm ups, some fitness stuff then usually some kind of interval work (100-200m run, then walk etc) which Id never do on my own

A colleague is in one. I said I was too slow, she said 'no, it'll be fine'. I went and they all just disappeared except for her. I'm not sure anyone jogs as slowly as I do. I wish I had someone to go with though. All my friends are either people who would never jog or people who go at a normal pace.

Don’t think OP has ‘plateaued’, sounds more like twice a week isn’t enough to build up the running/enjoy it more.