Peaks and Troughs - why?

[SVR28]

I'm in week 7 and I have been finding that, in general, my first 5min or so are rubbish, then all of a sudden I feel great, like Forest Gump and can run forever, then about 10min later I feel like death again only to rally for the last 5mins.

Does anyone else experience this and anyone got a possibly reason why?

[Goatskin]

I can't give a proven explaination, but I certainly experience a similar thing - although I'm not sure I could go so far as to say I feel like I could run forever. I think most people experience a difficult first 5 mins or so, and it might just be a case of having to really warm up, and getting into a good stride. For me, I know that as I find it harder I slow down, which in turn seems to allow me to recoup a bit of energy and push on again, I don't know if this is something you do too?

[SVR28 in reply to Goatskin]

Yes, that makes sense for the first 5mins.

But I don't know if I slow down then recouperate because I'm pretty slow already! I watched my shadow running yesterday in the park and I look like I'm walking, albeit quicker than "normal" walking.

I feel my pace is pretty consistent overall but maybe it does change. I really need to get one of those pace gadgets to tell properly.

Thanks

[runningnotwalking Graduate]

I've experienced this so you're not on your own and it usually happens when I'm tired before running or sometimes a combination of that and the heat.

I tend to compensate by changing my pace a little or breathing deeper to get more oxygen in. I guess whatever works for you - just treat it as part of the challenge of graduating.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

It takes me between 12 - 15 minutes to settle into my run. To start with, I was really despondent about this, thinking that I would never be a proper runner, would never be able to run for longer than 10 mins etc. Then several other people said that they hated the first n minutes and I realised that this was me! Today, for instance, the first 12 minutes was awful - I was out of breath, my legs hurt, I wanted to stop but because I know that this often happens I carried on and sure enough things eased off and I carried on and did 42 minutes. I'm not sure about feeling great (I wish!) but I know I slow down again at the end because I'm tired. It will be interesting to see if anyone comes up with a scientific reason that the peaks and troughs happen. Meanwhile, keep it up and enjoy the Forrest Gump moments

[Plinth Graduate]

Yeah, I could easily give up during to first 5 mins!

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Have just the same experience almost every time - and knowing if I keep going through second slump it will get better again doesn't always work and then feel really frustrated for stopping.

[greenlegs Graduate]

I'm not sure I've ever much enjoyed the first ten minutes or so (except when I've gone out intending to only run for 5 or 10 minutes - so I should be able to trick myself into believing I'm going to stop?)

I wrote a blog partly about this, this morning - greenlegs7.wordpress.com/20...

Anyway, for some reason, it seems to be the same for everyone, even seasoned long-distance runners. You just have to keep going past that first bit. Then sometimes it gets better.

[SVR28 in reply to greenlegs]

Thanks - that was an interesting blog. I'm running again tonight (W7R3) so I'll see if this is my running pattern of bad, good, bad, amazing, horrible, good. Maybe it's just me and will it be for me.