Why am I struggling

[Nevil]

Hi all. Sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I found this topic and site while trying to make sense of my own struggles with running. Been at it for about 4 months and I know I have improved a lot. Before that I was I poor shape. I feel like I still have a long way to go. Its just the last three weeks have been so difficult. I wonder if I simply have not yet been able to judge my pace and have just tried going to quickly for my ability. I get out of breath and tired. I tend to go twice maybe three times a week. I used to walk to the top of a local hill then run back but after a couple of months i started running it all. Although the hill is steep so would have to take lots of short walk breaks. Now I do a different route that's flatter. I thought it would get easier as I improve but it seems like I'm going backwards now. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks Nevil

[misswobble Graduate]

Have you followed the Couch to 5k programme? That’s why this site exists 😃 it’s why we’re all here

The programme teaches you to run to a point where you can run non-stop for 30 minutes

It’s free and can be downloaded as an app or podcasts It’s an nhs thing so has credentials 🙂 you can probably download it here. If not nhs livewell site

Hills are terribly off-putting at first so doing flat is fine til you can build strength 🙂

[AnnieW55]

Download either podcast or app as suggested by Miss Wobble and try with that. You are probably trying too hard and going too fast for (I assume) a beginner. Give it a go and keep posting on here for encouragement, support and, if necessary, quick kick up the wotsit. The structure may be something that will help you.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Maybe start the C25K programme as misswobble suggests... it could be just what you are looking for.. and will as she says take you forward...

nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

Just start it steadily, follow and because you have run, you should find the first few weeks a doddle Just run, enjoy and move forward

[Millsie-J Graduate]

As suggested above try the programme. Then slow down. You can do this!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

It sounds like you have improved? Running takes time and I am assuming you have completed the C25k programme? Keep perservering and it will pay off

[Nevil]

Thanks for the replies and support. This forum is brilliant. I think I have posted this I the wrong place. Strangely I have done something similar to the C25K on my own. I didn't know about this forum when I started and really wish I did as there seems to be so much help and support here. I have been running decent distances. The route I do now is about 5 miles. The last two runs I have cut short at about 4 but I do run it all. It's just that I thought improvement would be a steady getting easier every time I go out type thing. Its been nothing like that for me. Sometimes I feel great, sometimes I have to really dig deep just to keep going. The last three weeks have all been really hard. I have really had to do some soul searching while running. Go it would have been so easy to give up but fortunately I have resisted that and stuck at it every time. But it feels harder now than when I started 4 months ago.