The first 10 minutes

[Markee]

Many c25kers have mentioned that they find the first 10 (approx) minutes of their run is the hardest. Does anyone else, besides me, find the opposite?

[misswobble Graduate]

My first ten minutes is usually the hardest as it involves a hill. Anything after that is much easier

[waletta Graduate]

Nope. 1st 5 to 10mins is the time when I contemplate giving up & going back home. Then I remember that it's going to feel better in a minute & I start feeling better straight away usually.

[Rockette]

Every single time in the first ten mins I think this is tough , I cannot do it , I allways do it's weird but after that something kicks in I get my rhythm & alls well

[ned63 Graduate]

takes me a good 10 mins to get things right after that it feels good just have to push though the first bit

[Terraldinho Graduate]

Me too! My chest tightens after 5-10 mins so it becomes harder!

[Soozz Graduate]

Same here, The first 10 mins are a struggle and then (hopefully) I settle into the run. Just off out in a minute, couldn't run yesterday because of the horrendous gale force winds. I could barely even walk down the road!

[notbad Graduate]

I used to find the first 10 minutes hard but not recently, my pattern seems to be that the mid way section is harder, then usually I settle back into it. I'm only running 30 minutes though.

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

The first 10 mins or so will always be more difficult if you haven't got your heart rate up and steady, even very experienced runners get some of this, they just don't fight it because they know it's all ok. I believe it's because when you start your run the adrenaline kicks in and your heart speeds up really quickly in flight or fight mode and it's almost out of sync with your breathing as you try to get loads of extra oxygen , but it will quickly get into step and you can feel things settle down and then off you go for a nice long run...............just don't panic, take the first few mins really easy and try to breath deeply in and out through your mouth from your diaphragm and relax.........

[Nerdio Graduate]

I would agree that on the whole the first 10 mins are the hardest. However recently I have very consciously set off at a more relaxed pace (Endomondo reports back to me every km, so I know if I am going a bit hard). Starting off more gently definitely helps, and fits with the last comment by Mummysaurus.

Try just going for a slow run, with a frame of mind that says 'I am going for a run, don't know how long, just a steady run'. It might help, its helped me, and I find I have more 'in the bag' at the end.

[lemondoodle]

I definitely find the first 10 minutes the easiest - feels like I'm flying (at a slow pace).

[Markee Graduate]

Apologies for not replying to everyone individually, only just found the time to read your responses. Thank you all for replying.

Well it all seems inconclusive - think I was just looking for a reason for not doing too well, running-wise. I think the problem is the breathing, slowing down is not an option as I already run at a snail's pace! Probably just need more practice.

[Oryxx Graduate]

Someone once told me that when you first start running, your body enters 'fight or flight' type mode, where it doesn't know what's going on... It takes about 5-10 mins for it to realise that it's just having a run, rather than actually running out of 'flight'. Not sure how true this is but it makes sense really, first 10 mins is always tough for me too!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I find the first 2k of any run hard, especially if my muscles are cold. I do find starting slower and then building it up makes a huge difference to the overall run and my sanity!!!

[Stevetheb Graduate]

I'm preparing to run my first Half Marathon in March (Having struggled to run for a minute back on Week1!) so quite often on a Sunday now I'm running 10 miles plus... As juicyju says, it takes me the first 2k to warm up and I don't feel I'm really in my best running stride till 6 or 7k!

I've been deliberately setting out at a steady pace and try to keep to that for the whole distance, rather than hammering out at the start and regretting it later on in the run.

[achydunlin]

It takes me 10 minutes to get into a rhythm or pace (these vary depending on how I feel - somedays I fly along, some days I stumble). And I often wonder in the first five minutes why on earth I'm doing it. Weirdly, once I'm warmed up and sweaty I'm ok.