Running - does it really get easier?

[Aldwick]

Bought my first pair of trainers since school and have been going out every other night for over a week now. Just 20 mins of jog/walk/stumble but still feel like I'm having a heart attack every time. Please tell me it will get easier soon.

It does but it does take time. I went from doing 20mins j

Yes! I started the nhs couch to 5k podcasts back in May, after about 5 weeks I was loving it and started to find it much easier. My advice would be to not try to go too fast, and build up your time/distance gradually.

Damn phone!

Jog/walk/stumble to a half marathon! Im now back at 20mins jog/walk/stumble stage.

If its feeling that bad though, maybe just try power walking for a week or so and maybe do 30 mins of that instead? Then when you are feeling more comfortable, start adding some running in.

Yes, it does and I find the progress rate pretty good whenever I restart.

Yes definitely! I've been using the nhs couch to 5k app and I'd definitely recommend it as the first couple of weeks you don't run for more than 90secs at a time but it builds you up gradually and I can now (just) manage to run for 34mins and do 5k which I never expected to do when I started it (when 90secs running felt like a lot). I actually enjoy it now which I never expected to.

Ok - thank you, you're all making me feel better. Embarrassingly I have done no real exercise in over ten years so I'm probably expecting far too much far too fast. Am also much heavier than last time I tried. Even at school running was never my forte but it's easy, free and doesn't require complex childcare negotiations so seems like my best bet right now.

Yes it does get easier, just stick with it!

Don't try to run for too long or too far in the beginning, intersperse it with walking. Look at the couch to 5k plans!

I did c25k and every time I had to run for longer I just didn't believe it was going to happen, but it did...the programme is amazing, trust it!

It does get easier, it does take time though. Do stick with it, running is fabulous once you've got past the initial few weeks.

I started from a fairly fit base, having done regular off road bike rides. I still really struggled but I got the bug and I've been running 4 years now. I've done a marathon and run 30 miles over a week. I love running, especially for my mental wellbeing.

Going against the grain a bit here, but would it not be better to lose the weight before starting this? Easier said than done of course, but just a 1km 10-min run before brekkie around the block would help with this and not be too hard. Otherwise you are lugging a stone or two around that you didn't have last time. I'm not sure running in itself helps you lose weight, rather you build up an appetite.

Interval running at the gym is good, you run for a minute then jog for a minute, alternating over the 15 to 20 mins, I found this as effective as flat out running for the 20 ins and less hard.

Oh, and also, have you had a medical check first, in order to post the official proper thing, we have no idea how fit/unfit you are before starting this exercise routine.

Yes it does! I did C25K as well two years ago and - to counter what ProfessorDent said - there was a lovely poster on my thread when I was doing it who IIRC weighed 19 stone, and she managed it. It might not help much with losing the weight (as it's easy to over-compensate for the calories) but it will help you become fitter and more toned. And I find it so lovely being outside in all weathers - it really helps my mental health.

I was about 2-3 months in before one day I suddenly realised that for a few minutes at least it felt no harder than walking. (And I'm 2 stone overweight - still, unfortunately - myself.)

The best tip I got when starting was to run much more slowly than you think you should - you can build up speed later. Good luck.

I can't say if it gets any easier as I'm only on my first week of couch to 5K, but I hope so! I'm at the horrible early stages too and was shocked at how I was huffing and puffing after only 90 seconds of running. It goes to show how unfit I am though I suppose and how badly I need to do something.

yes. It does get easier. I started doing C25K type approach. I hadnt exercised in over 10 years and was 4 1/2 stone overweight. Over 18 months I buily up from not being able to run 500m without almost dying to running a half marathon. I also lost 4 1/2 stone. And never having been sporty or really into any exercise I discovered I LOVED running!

Sadly I then lapsed and fell back into old habbits, and put lots of weight back on - but I am back running now and slowly building up again.

I would also say the key is to go SLOWLY. Run as slowly as you possibly can to begin with. Take walk breaks as often as you need to and dont try to do too much too soon. Also dont run every day as you need rest days for your muscles to recover - trying to do too much will result in you getting injured and that will put you off. Stick with it and soon you will be hooked!

oh and like you op I started running because it was free and could easily be fitted in with children's schedule and family life!

it definitely does! I am overweight and middle aged but I can now run for 40 minutes and when I started I couldn't do 5 minutes without stopping.

Key is run slowly! And run in little blocks with walks in between. Before you know it, you won't need the little walks in between. It happened quite suddenly as well - one week I needed my walks and the next week I really didn't and I just kept going through all of them. That way I got to 20 mins, then 25, then 30...

It really does I started last summer not even being able to run for 60 seconds after a few weeks I could run for 5 minutes and started to enjoy it. I really recommend the c25k and running as slowly as you need to

I was exactly the same a couple of years ago. I really really back up what others have said about doing intervals of jogging/walking, it is for sure the most effective way of building your fitness levels up sensibly.
As am other poster said, I remember when the app I use said my next workout was 10mins running, I was convinced I wouldn't be able to do it...but I did! And these days my long run is 50mins, and I'm still staggered that I can do it!
If you have a smart phone I can recommend the adidas micoach app to provide a training plan. I still use it.

Yes, it does get easier.

I didn't run - ever- until I hit 40. I then joined a group which was for beginner 'runners'. The most we ever did was a 5K, which took a lot of working up to. However, from that group I made a few friends who I still meet on a morning for a run. So that worked.

I am slightly out of shape at the moment - have been ill - andhaven't run at all for 2 months. Prior to that it was quite sporadic. So, I am looking forward to getting back to it- but am quite nervous as I know I will be crap for the first few times. The difference is that I Know I can do it.

My advice is to keep it easy. run,walk, run, walk. I still do that - and it got me through a half marathon (with insufficient training).

It might sound patronising, but enjoy your run. Just rejoice that you have legs that move and do your bidding. Those legs will keep working as long as you make them do so. Make yourself some routes on mapmyrun or similar sites. You get a real sense of achievement knowing how far you have gone.

Good luck - and remember to enjoy it :)

it never got easier for me. I have gone back to fast walking which is just fine as far as I'm concerned lol

I've just done my first week 2 run and it's embarrassing how hard I'm finding running just 90 seconds. I really, really hope it starts to get a bit easier. I just get so out of breath!

can I ask when/ where you run? I live in a rural area - narrow country lanes, no pavements. I have thought about starting running but really cant figure out where and how. It seems a bit counterintuitive to drive into town soI can run on pavements!

I have to drive to the nearest town to run as where I'm living at the moment doesn't have pavements. I try to time it with a visit to the supermarket or something as it does feel strange driving just to run.

I'm lucky that I can walk out of my front door and kind of run round the block. I say 'run'.... Still v much a walk/jog/stumble and embarrassingly it's being out of breath that stops me way before my muscles hurt. For some reason I thought it would be the other way round.

I guess that's exactly why I have to keep at it though. On the positive side I'm loving having trainers in my shoe collection - they're so comfortable. Why do women mostly wear boots or thin soles ballet slipper type things? Trainers are awesome!

MrsA, I live in a rural area surrounded by lanes-I just run on those!
Never an audience, but at this time of year I wear something bright to make sure I can be seen