Does distance training ever get easier?

[Tom-cat]

C25k completed in my early 60's and went on to run a few 10k distances on varied surfaces, tarmac and trail routes. I decided in my mid 60's to push 2022 to the next level and have enrolled in half marathons in March and May. Training with a group, 3 times each week, the midweek evening runs being between 6 and 8k. Weekend run with my training group has grown an extra mile each weekend. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 miles completed in past Saturdays. Does it ever feel any easier? I was drained after the last run and certainly don't look to next Saturday with any enthusiasm.

[John_W Graduate10]

If you're feeling drained, you need to look at all aspects:

- Pace: is what your training group doing the right pace for *you* ?

- how much other running are you doing away from the group?

- how are your stress levels?

- your nutrition - are you fueling properly?

- are you recovering properly?

- are you sleeping enough?

- do you train by heart rate?

Have read of this... philmaffetone.com/want-spee...

[Roxdog Graduate10]

If you are feeling drained, I wonder if looking at your nutritiin might help? Or have a few rest days? Over a year ago, before an injury set me back, I was running increasingly long distances and did notice that I occasionally felt drained. I started upping my protein intake and also took more fluids out with me on my runs. I never really found out if this worked, as injury struck, but I had noticeably lost weight and I'm not sure if I was doing evetything right to support running those distances. Take care.

[John_W Graduate10]

"and certainly don't look to next Saturday with any enthusiasm."

additionally, if you're feeling like that, why put yourself through it? Sounds like you need to reassess your goals and whether the training group is serving you well.

[Tom-cat Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Some are fortunate and "enjoy" the run. I have never been in that mind set. I enjoy completing the run. I'm not a quitter though, and I can already see the health benefits in terms of heart rate and blood pressure. The training group are a mix of varying levels of fitness. All have done a half marathon and I'm relying on their experience to help me get ready to run a half. Pace is across a wide spectrum and natural selection sees me pairing off on a run with a runner of similar pace. The group last Saturday consisted of eight of us which at the conclusion of 10 miles were spread out by about 20 minutes.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

Definitely. You need to find the right combinations that work for you! In my book you should definitely look forward to a long run. I never think of them as "training" I just think of them as "adventures" 👍🏻😁

[Tom-cat Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

If I had to await looking forward to a long run, I wouldn't have done any. If you experience that feeling, you are very fortunate. It's not in my make up at all.

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you GoGo_JoJo for reminding me to think of long runs as adventures. Generally that is my mind set, but not always. I really enjoy trying footpaths/trails that are unknown to me; hard to believe that I am still finding them! But I am. 😊 Need a period of dry weather to make such routes safe again.Hello Tom-cat , thank you for this post. All very interesting. I almost always run on my own and mostly 2 x 30 minutes and one longer run. I quite often don't really feel like running, but consider it an investment in my health. I don't set off in rain, so I am clearly not as hardy as quite a few others. We are all on our own personal journeys, aren't we? I do hope that you find something that works well for you. I do have a few goals in mind and am pleased to keep up the three times a week running. I like looking at the data my Garmin watch provides. I don't feel drained as you describe. How long does that feeling last?

[misswobble Graduate10]

You could maybe train with the group less often and get out on your own for the long run 🙂

[Tom-cat Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

That will never happen, I'd never do a long run. It's the group that provide motivation and support. Without it I'd be back to c of c25k!

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Tom-cat]

Never say never. You’ll be surprised. Who ever expects to run a marathon after learning to run with C25K? They do though 🙂.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Is the group at an appropriate level for you Tom-cat? It does sound like you’re running at or near your limit if you’re feeling ‘drained’ so often, and not looking forward to the next long run isn’t great either. Is anyone else in the group building up to HM for the first time like you, or are they all seasoned HM runners? Slowing down to attain longer distances is key, so if you’re running alongside experienced distance runners it would surely not help you if you’re running at their speed.

For me, running needs to be fun or I simply wouldn’t do it.

Maybe step back and evaluate your situation. I hope you find a solution and enjoy yourself. 😀

[Tom-cat Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Probably a 50/50 split of those who have already run a half and others like me, aiming to do. Don't get the impression they are an athletic club. Most are nursing, teaching or retired individuals.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Tom-cat]

Ahh ok. So it’s just a group of people running together rather than a running club? Is there any coaching or guidance?

[Cmoi Graduate10]

You certainly don't sound enthusiastic about running further Tom-cat !

Lots of potentially helpful ideas from others, so I don't need to repeat them. I don't have any magic answers either, but I would like to offer you a few things from my own experience to ponder.

I've always run solo and am not at all motivated by running with others, especially those who are faster and more experienced than I am. For me, group running represents too much pressure. However supportive your running group is, and even if there's a significant spread of finishing times across ten miles, it could still be that the pace isn't appropriate for you.

I also absolutely hate "training" as opposed to "going for a run." Many runners find tailored training and structured plans helpful and motivating. I, in contrast, find them restrictive and stressful. I do much better when I run by feel, rather than numbers, and when I can run as the mood takes me. So in that sense, no, "distance training" didn't get easier for me. Running further, however, did.

Of course, it could be that you just don't enjoy running longer distances. Plenty of people don't, and it's not compulsory. If it's not for you, then don't! Find what makes you happy - you're more likely to stick with it.

Oh, one last slightly more technical thought - generally, HM and marathon plans build in cutback weeks. Constantly pushing for more is indeed likely to leave you drained.

I hope you find the right solution for you.

[smartoak Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

I second cut-back recovery weeks - every 4th if you have the time. It’s a great way to realise how far you’ve come when you notice how much easier your two miles shorter outing is. Also, you could announce your official retirement from long distance running in May and throw a party?

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to smartoak]

Thanks smartoak for your reply - tagging Tom-cat so he'll see it 😀

[Hidden]

Is it possible that the increases are going too fast for you? Increasing 1 mile every weekend sounds a lot to be honest. Maybe you'd do better to increase eg. 1 km every other weekend or even every 3 weekends and consolidate on that distance the other weekend? You are now pushing your body rather hard, not giving it time to adapt to the new distances.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

🤔 there feels like a lot of negativity towards your running. "It's not in my mindset" "I'd never do a long run"

Did you not feel before c25k that you probably wouldn't want to run, wouldn't finish the programme, wouldn't go further? And yet, somehow, you did?

It really is all about mindset and only you can change that. Find something positive and build on that.

Alternatively you can get the health benefits from other forms of exercise, maybe try some and see if there is anything you can enjoy.

[Tom-cat Graduate10]

Lots of replies, but not a single one answered my the initial question. Does it get any easier? Those that suggest I pack it in. I won't. I've said I'll run a half marathon and I will. I tried being a little more technical with last nights run and set an alert on my garmin watch for an upper threshold of 140bpm. I live and run in East pennine towns, so lots of inclines and declines to negotiate. The downhill and level sections felt ok, but remaining under 140bpm on inclines felt very slow. I'll continue for the next few weeks sticking with the 140bpm threshold and see how that goes. It brought my overall average rate to 131bpm for our 4.5 mile run last night. i certainly didn't feel tired, but it did feel very slow. My previous averages were about 140-145bpm for a run.

[roseabi in reply to Tom-cat]

Pretty good HR result, nice work! It'll be interesting to see how you progress.

I'll answer your question, although apologies because this anecdote relates to marathon not half-marathon training, but it's the effort rather than the distance that's the point.

I have found that the long runs DO get easier.

When I first decided to train for a marathon I had little idea of what I was doing, but one thing I read about everywhere was that most marathon plans peak at a 20 mile run. I enthusiastically looked up a local 20 mile route, and when the day came, off I went. It took me a LONG time and I almost melted, but I made it through somehow. My body ached all over and I took days to recover. I tried it again a couple months later and it didn't seem quite so hard, and by now I must have run it... hmm maybe 8 times? And it's really not all that hard! The route has its ups and downs - quite literally, there's a great big hill in the middle of it 😂 Because it's 20 miles long there's lots to see on the way so I haven't got bored of it. But basically, I got stronger over time and got the hang of it, so it has become an awful lot easier! Practice makes better.

I'm glad you're not going to give up, a half marathon is such a wonderful achievement - I felt amazing after I finished my first one! And yeah, for me the feeling AFTER a run is very often the best part, as you noted yourself. And the feeling of being strong and fit enough to complete such a goal is priceless. The work you have to do to get there can be pretty gruesome, but if it were easy it maybe wouldn't be worthwhile. Although of course some easy things are, personally I love my Netflix too 😊😊😊

But anyway, keep at it and see where it takes you! Why not?

[Tom-cat Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

Thanks for that. I'm going to stick with my self imposed 140bpm limit for a few weeks and see how that goes. Whilst it seemed excessively slow on ascents, I was far from the slowest in our group. I will run the 1/2 later this year. In fact I've registered for two. Wilmslow in March and Manchester in May.

[Tom-cat Graduate10]

Last evening saw run two of my self imposed upper heart rate limit. Yes, I have to admit, the pace seems artificially slow. The benefit is the feeling of comfort. Being able to run and chat with a younger ex work colleague of mine. In fact I felt so comfortable at the end of the 9k run, I ran back along the route to run back in with some of the slower of our group. I very nearly smiled! But lets not get carried away, the long run is on Saturday morning. Will I smile after 11 miles of running?

[Tom-cat Graduate10]

Well, last night didn't go quite as planned. A later than usual finish at work saw a hurried departure for the evening run with my group. I forgot to charge my Garmin watch! With no buzz on my wrist to alert me of 140+ heart rate. I just winged it. I finished the 7km run right at the front with the faster runners of the group. It didn't feel draining and I'll return to my self imposed 140bpm ceiling when I next run on Saturday. This will be another distance increase to 11 miles. Determined to adhere to the 140bpm max this time. Watch charged and ready for action. 30 months ago I hadn't run any distance since my school days.