Does anyone else find their first mile absolutely horrendously hard going.... then by about mile 2 you are in your stride. I have tried setting off at a slower pace but it makes no difference whatsoever... Often feel like quitting before I even get to a mile as it feels like such hard work.
I then find my second and third mile is faster and easier than my first... no matter what pace I set off at.
Also pleased to confirm my first 10k run - not pretty or fast but have done it.
Congratulations on your first 10K. Very well done. And yes, most of my runs start with a horrible first 1K. But I loosen out after that. Once I get over the fist 5 minutes I settle into it. Your not alone. Some call it the Toxic 5 or Toxic 10 which is the first 5 or 10 minutes of a run.
Damien
Definitely Toxic 10. For me it was always about 12 or 13 minutes.
As soon as your blood oxygen starts to drop your body restricts the supply to everywhere except the brain. The capillaries in your muscles all contract and your heart rate rises.
The muscles that are in use secrete a local hormone to dilate the capillaries they need.
This all takes a bit of time.
Once you recognise what is happening it becomes easier to deal with it mentally. A bit like running up a hill. You know it's going to end and you'll recover.
Congratulations on running your first 10k and yes that first mile or 10 minutes does feel tough for a lot of runners . But once you're by that it usually feels fine .
🏃♀️🏃♀️🥳🥳
Go here and claim your Graduate10 badge
Well done on your 1st 10k, fantastic effort. Don't talk yourself down, that was a great time. Now I've moved house so starting runs on the flat as opposed to uphill that 1st stretch is just fine🤣🤣. I wish like you I spend up rather than slowed down through my runs. Happy running 🤗
Congrats on Yr first 10k!!😁😁 Yep start of my runs always feel hard.
Well down on your first 10k 👍🏃♂️🏃♀️
Yes that toxic ten is a pain, but as others have said once you know it’s going to get better it is a little easier.
Happy running 👍
Well done!! You are so amazing!!
After really enjoying running all through the winter in awful conditions I now find I sometimes can’t push through the toxic 10. Any tips?
My toxic ten has been lasting the whole run for quite a while and it is pretty depressing. I've managed to get over it by re-starting my hilly run campaign. By getting used to the hills again I seem to be winning the battle and I can feel things getting better!
You did it!!! 10k is a great achievement. Very well done 🏆🍾
Oh crikey, if I quit every time I felt the toxic 10, I’d never have run more than a km or 2! I had it this morning. No way was I going to complete my run - but I reminded myself it happens every time and to get a grip - and what do you know? It felt fine afterwards!
So you’re definitely not alone. In fact I suspect the vast majority of runners on this forum experience it. SlowLoris described the phenomenon very well. 😀
Thank you -it’s actually a new thing for me... 6 months into my running journey and it’s only the last few weeks that this is becoming a real problem. I just keep shouting at myself ‘come on’ and keep going
Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s working. 😀😀
Huge well done... and yes I think we all do. I do this thing where I dont allow any thoughts but just keep running until it eases and i find my stride....
I know exactly what you mean, my first 2k I really hate, then it settles.. or maybe I do🤔 Oddly I have found the longer my runs have become the longer the toxic time, but as I have no wish to run more than 10k I will live with it. I am told by friends that have run longer than me that one day I will just find it clicks, so like you here's hoping 🤞
I read somewhere that if you do a good warm up at home before you leave it doesnt happen. And I always mean to .... but then I just do a 5 mins walk to warmup and gasp through my Toxic 10. 🤣🤣
🥳 for your first 10km!!! It gets addictive... and yes, I find my first km (and strangely my 7th km) horrendous - doesn’t matter what route I do - so I try and “sing along” to my music - probably sounds like local cats fighting but it gets me through!
My first race event - Chester 5 mile
First 10 mile run..
First 10 Mile Run ! New Toy Along For The Ride Too
Walk a mile. Run a mile. Smile!
