Does it get easier?!

[Annthepan]

I graduated a couple of months ago and since then have been going out 3 times a week and doing a tiny bit over 5km each time. It takes me about 42 minutes which is fine as at 62 I don't expect to be speedy, but I what I did expect was for it to start getting a bit easier! I do try and control my breathing - 2 in and 3 out as I do find this helps me, particularly on any slight rises, although others on the forum say don't worry about the breathing. Each to their own I guess. Any one any idea of when it might become a bit easier? I do enjoy going out though even though it means I get up early and am out in the park by 7:15am - and I always thought I was a night owl!

[roseabi]

You mention breathing, so I'm thinking that you mean it's hard because you get out of breath?

One thing to try is to get yourself even more out of breath! Try adding some faster intervals into your runs. Start off with a gentle jog for 5-10 minutes. Then, choose two landmarks (e.g. that tree, then the bin 50 meters or so beyond the tree)and speed up between them so that you feel quite uncomfortable. Then slow down to recover your breath (walk or stop altogether if needed), then pick up the pace for another interval, then recover again. Repeat a couple or few times. Then finish with a longer interval at your regular pace, and then your usual cool down walk. You may soon notice that your regular pace feels easier just by comparison, but with time you'll find it easier because you are getting fitter!

Also, mix things up - new routes, shorter runs, longer runs, miss a run sometimes even. Keep things fresh!

Good luck and have fun xxx

[Annthepan in reply to roseabi]

Thanks, the interval idea sounds interesting and I'll try it for sure. I do try and mix the routes up a bit - certainly did today as I tried to avoid the trees as it's so windy! The idea of doing shorter and longer runs sounds good too, as I've got into the mindset that I must do 5km but what I really must do is enjoy it! Thanks for the tips.

[roseabi in reply to Annthepan]

Gosh it's SO windy!!! 😂

[roseabi in reply to Annthepan]

Also, have you looked at the Magic Plan? If not you can find a link to it just above the replies here.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Annthepan]

Building on what roseabi said, I occasionally went back to the W1 or W2 podcasts but instead of walk/jog/walk reps ran the "walk" bits and my regular pace and went faster on the "run" bits. The end result is the same, I got faster and my regular pace felt easier.

[Annthepan in reply to sTrongFuse]

Interesting idea, thanks I’ll try it

[Hidden]

I was once told that it does not get any easier, you just get used to enjoying the pain Seriously though, it dose get easier you just don't notice it. Think back to week 1, at that point 1 minute of running was like running a marathon. Now one minute is nothing. If it is easy, you are not pushing yourself. I did find that there was a point where I went from running because that was a means to a goal, to running because I love it.

[Annthepan in reply to Hidden]

That is very true, it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come, so thanks for the reminder.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

It definitely gets easier but I’m with roseabi mix up those routes and distances. One truck to try is give yourself a monthly target distance then every run counts eg a fast 1k one day, a slow 50minute run the next. Happy running 🤗

[Annthepan in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks, I do like that my running app tells me how far I’ve been in a month, it really adds up, so as a challenge I could go further or longer.

[Ian5K Graduate10]

Have you thought about training for running? I found it a quicker way to running fitness/improvement than just running.

So I only run twice a week since finishing c25k, but now I do a fifteen minute runner’s workout exercises each day. It’s not too hard. The benefit is amazing. I follow routines on youtube - there are plenty of running channels and coaching channels.

Breathing is important. 🙂

[Annthepan in reply to Ian5K]

Thanks, I’ll have a look on YouTube, any particular ones you can recommend?

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Annthepan]

There are a number of channels I watch now, and mix and match the tips, but one I’ve found especially good and instructive is from James Dunne. I did his 30 day Challenge - which is how I got started on daily workouts. If this isn’t on youtube, it’s on his professional website “Kinetic Revolution”.

[Annthepan in reply to Ian5K]

Thanks Ian, I've got several ideas now to go on.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I found doing 5k every run started to get boring and got no easier. So I switched to running parkrun for my 5k (pre pandemic) and as part of juju’s plan a 4k to try intervals or something different and then slow down for a longer run. This built up my stamina and improved my fitness all round.

[Annthepan in reply to Dexy5]

I’m hoping the Park run near me will start by the end of June, I imagine running with others is motivational in itself.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Annthepan]

Oh it is. I feel for everyone who started running during lockdown and haven’t yet had the experience of parkrun. But you have that to look forward to. Which is your local event?

[SkiMonday Graduate10]

Because my goal is to just complete the event that I'm training for, I'm varying distance, not pace. I've found that some long runs turn out to be easy but others can be a hard slog. It does seem to make the short runs easier though.

That said, I think that the suggestions about varying pace should help you.

[Annthepan in reply to SkiMonday]

Thanks, good luck with the event you are training for

[Newbie59]

I wondered if you had had a break since you started running? Certainly doing different lengths of run makes a change, as does a different route. Most runners hate having time out, but to be honest, if you took a week or two off you wouldn't lose any of your fitness and you might come back to it fresh and find that it is a bit easier

[Annthepan in reply to Newbie59]

No breaks so far but this will soon change as we have the odd long weekend trip planned now we are allowed to stay away from home. But I did wonder about taking my running gear! It would make a change to run somewhere different but in all honesty I probably won’t as we’ll be out walking or cycling most days so that will be enough. I’m certainly planning on doing some intervals this week to see how that goes.