Start stopping and I don't know why!

[HJ88]

I'm regularly running (3 times a week) between 5-10k and I'm finding the shorter runs tougher than the longer ones. This morning I did 5k (in the wind and rain) and kept reducing my pace down to a walk with no idea why! I wasn't tired and I knew I could do it but my head and legs weren't listening to me. Does anyone else get this and how do you get past it?

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Just by mixing it up and finding a pattern.. I usually do a short, a longer and a really , see where I get to, long run...just embracing each one for its merits...for me , (when I am not recovering from an injury..like now! ) 10K is my ideal run... it has just evolved...

When did you Graduate from C25K...

[HJ88 in reply to Oldfloss]

I graduated in January 😁 I blame it for me wanting to complete longer and longer distances 😂 slightly hooked on running now. I have my second organised 10k on Sunday. I know I will be last across the line but I'm not going to get better if I don't try.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to HJ88]

Running gets us like that...It is the long runs that build everything up, so certainly for me getting into a pattern is the thing...Stamina is what you need for the longer distances anyway.. and strength... so it is really, really important to get in more rest day strength and stamina work... which will in turn benefit the short 5K runs

I know I was well pleased when I did my first HM... that I had built everything up... and though I have been working on a faster 1K time.. that was just for fun.

Have a great time Sunday... just enjoy the whole thing!

[Lezlie]

Before my vacation I felt similar like you ... but with the difference that I was increasing my pace a little bit on the "short runs" (30 minutes, around 4,7 km) and I really felt tired. Increasing meant on the long runs (longest 8,5 km) my average pace was around 6:50/1 km and on the short runs between 6:20 to 6:40. So, not really much. But I was a little bit bored with the short runs and maybe wanted to finish them faster. I was just doing that run ... Maybe for you the cause is also boredom?!