Why do some runs feel so hard?

[Hightideattheseaside]

Was really looking forward to getting out today as not been able to over the weekend. But it was so hard. Usual route usual time but I feel wrecked. Took at lot of will power to finish the route without walking. Had a good breakfast. Could have maybe drunk more. Anyone else have runs that just suck?

I do alot of long distance trail running and every so often have a run like this.

I definitely put it down to where I am in my cycle and whether I have done any weight training in the days before. If I have done a bit too much on the weights, it definitely makes my legs feel heavy.
Also sometimes it takes me 5km to get going and then I can suddenly change gear and start flying.

It is interesting that sometimes I can feel like I have had a really difficult run then come back and check my garmin and my times are ok.

...and they turn the gravity in the gym up to make the weights feel heavier.

They also tilt the hills round my way so they are steeper. Sometimes they manage to make the downhills and flat bits tilt uphill too.

And the wind blows hard against you ... in both directions

Lots of good posts here, but I just wanted to add - running is hard. The fact that you obviously exercise often and practice running means that I'm many runs your body is able to trick your brain into thinking it is easy or at least not too hard. But in reality it's always hard! Good for you for making it look easy sometimes, it's more than most of us can do. x

Interesting what you say about weight training. I’d never taken this into account unless I had DOMS especially as I don’t lift heavy but it does make sense

I can't meet the target pace for intervals/fartleks runs in the week leading up to my period and can easily run under them in two weeks after my period (and apparently the AI on Runna can't take that into account 🙃).

I'm not lifting heavy weights, but am on leave this week so have just done a bit more than normal. I'm just about to do a 15km run, so have taken a couple of ibuprofen before I set off, to combat the heavy legs.

Hormones!!!

I find my cycle makes a big difference to "felt weirdly hard" or "felt oddly easy" for the same kind of route and pace. It's also a sign I'm coming down with something.

For me it's always about breathing. If I get it wrong at the start it's a struggle. I can't seem to sort it once I'm running

how much sleep the night before, how many runs you’ve done recently and how hydrated you are make a big difference. also salts/electrolytes. I find when I’m low in iron that also has a big impact.

the biggest one for me is the luteal phase (so after ovulation to start of my period) - I get increasingly less ‘fit’ feeling, it’s a very common thing and professional athletes are super aware of it when training/racing

I find this a helpful.

But we can’t spend half our cycle walking and yoga!

...and it's hard to apply if you are peri menopausal.

Gravity is an absolute twat in the luteal phase.

My son dropped a cherry tomato at dinner the other day and binned it. I said "why didn't you just wash it and eat it?"
I didn't tell him about the flight and crash landing of the entire tray of oven chips as I was attempting to put them in the oven

My body hoards water so I suspect it's that my hands are marginally differently sized to usual so need more pressure to grip than my usual brain programming suggests. They probably feel tighter but without actually gripping enough.

Likewise for running, my body feels like a sack of spuds because it's genuinely heavier. My breasts are sore. Any little niggle is amplified. I'm low energy and grumpy. Oh and the stupid little dribbly bush stops because my bladder's lying about really needing a wee.

These days it's actually a relief when menstration happens. A bit of ibuprofen to get me through day 1 and by day 2 my body will feel like my own again! Happy days until day 17 rolls around again

If you're female, you're ruled by your cycle. Some weeks are better than others. It's a pain in the arse when men just sail through the month

@BogRollBOGOF absolutely. I am on day 29 of my cycle and I have a half marathon on Sunday so please pray for me 🤣

Thank you all for making me smile with your replies. I’m definitely starting peri menopause so that might be making things worse. The exercise to your cycle thing makes sense I guess…but if you follow that it means you can only run two weeks a month. I think it’s probably just a case of bracing myself for things feeling hard on that week leading up to my period and be extra mindful of hydration and fueling. Also, not to beat myself up if it feels hard.

I note the point an pp made about interval training. Which I will consider, but I trail run which I do for the mind clearing and quietening it helps me achieve, plus the beautiful views. Running super fast on the trails round here is not advisable. Interval training on a road/ in a park just doesn’t appeal!

I still run in the week up to my period, but do mainly easy pace, walk if I need to and if I do speed work, I base it on effort and not my watch.

Good luck @thenewaveragebear1983 !

Humidity is the one that affects me the most. You don't necessarily know how humid it is when you set off, but I usually realise when I'm mid run and wonder why I feel like I'm running through water.

I'm fine running when I'm premenstrual or on my period, I dont really notice much difference.

On the flipside, on some occasions I would be DRAGGING myself out, after a poor night's sleep, an incoming cold, general lack of enthusiasm.....and have the best run ever! There's no logic.

thoughts and prayers 🙏

Good luck! 😁

I wouldn't restrict myself to things like yoga, but cycle performance is worth bearing in mind when planning and structuring different run types. Can you fit a cut-back week or taper when you'll feel like running through treacle anyway. Can you jiggle the intervals and recovery/ long slow runs if your energy is going to shift gear through the week.
If on a longer training plan it can be harder to optimise race dates and the training schedule around your cycle, especially if you do have some variability that can stack up across a few months.

But if nothing else being aware of how your cycle affects you helps you to be more forgiving of yourself and have more realistic expectations.