Does running ever get a bit easier? I'm on week 9 of the app, so my first 30 minutes run this morning, and it always absolutely kills me,

[Hedgehogs123]

When does running get easier???

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on almost completing C25K, running gets easier if you run slow and steady, good luck for your graduation run 🏃🏾 😊

[Newbie59 Graduate]

I'm not sure it gets easier, there always seems some part that is a bit hard, whether it's the first few minutes until you find your natural pace, or the last 5 minutes that seems to take forever, but I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the running, and usually the middle bit is the best bit! And when you finish, of course

[HelsyM Graduate]

Aww, I know just what you mean. It's got harder for me and the negative voices in my head are starting much earlier in the run telling me I can't do it and I could just stop any time. I absolutely loved starting this programme and the first 6 weeks were really good and completely enjoyable but weeks 7 and 8 have been so much tougher - possibly the weather hasn't helped as I fare much better in the cold! 3 more runs to go and way too many negative thoughts, I clearly need to give myself a good talking to.

What is it that you aren't enjoying? What is it that is killing you - is it breathing or tiredness or something else? I think mine is partly my legs are tired (I've been back to the gym outside and too many squats) but mainly it's all in my head and I can't really work out why.

My sister is a runner and she said she always finds the first 1k the hardest but then settles into a rhythm, and I have definitely found that my breathing settles down after about 5 minutes or so. But whereas I used to be able to just listen to music, I now seem to spend the entire time noticing all my niggly pains here and there and thinking of all the reasons why I should stop.

You are so close - just two runs to go! Good luck!

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate in reply to HelsyM]

Hi, atleast now I think I look forward to my run every other day, so it's not that I don't enjoy it, it's more I struggle with pacing myself and yes I tend to notice how tired my legs are and so I try to tell myself that I will concentrate on my breathing and I tell my legs to just keep going, one foot Infront of another! Haha, does anyone else talk to themselves??!

I agree with your sister I definitely settle down a bit after the first mile. I used to swim and found I needed to do 20 lengths before I settled down, so I guess this is the same. I want to park runs, but don't want to come last! 😁

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Any run can be hard or much, much easier, simply depending on the pace you are running at.

Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.

Slowing down to the recommended easy conversational pace makes it more achievable and for most, more enjoyable.

If you went out and did W1 again, after a rest day of course, then you would no doubt find it much easier than you did first time around..........physically you have moved on, but you are still battling the mental challenge of pushing your body for a sustained physical effort, which it may not be used to.

Try to relax into your running........don't battle.......it can become almost meditative, if you let your mind wander and don't think about the physicality of running or time.

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, that's really helpful. I might come back and do week 1 just for practice runs and to remind myself how far is have come. Maybe now I could listen to some motivation music rather than trying to work out how many mins I've been running.

[HelsyM Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Great advice, thanks. I do find that if I think about my breathing I suddenly can’t breathe properly and I’m sure it’s the same with leg twinges etc. It’s mind over matter. Maybe I need a new playlist. X

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Yeah I’m not sure easier is the right word, but your body definitely becomes more used to the exertion with every run 😊

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

I guess you're right. 9 weeks ago I found running for 5 mins hard and yet this morning I ran for 30.

[ForestGrump63 Graduate]

You get some good runs, you get some bad runs, you get some bloody awful runs but you get some absolutely fantastic runs and that is the holy grail i work towards in each run. The bloody awful ones makes the fantastic ones more fantastic x keep going x

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate in reply to ForestGrump63]

Thanks, yes I wondered about why some days I have a real bad day, my pace is awful my legs feel weak, my breathing is bad, but this morning on my 30 min run, I'm so proud I did it. My pace was a lot slower though, so a bit disappointed with that, wondering if I should get a Garmin or something like that , that would measure my pace after each kilometre.

[ForestGrump63 Graduate in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I’m still fairly new to it tbh. If my breathing is bad I slow down and if you enjoyed this mornings run the slower pace was maybe what you needed? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get quicker. I’ve just bought a basic Garmin , it came today and it’s charging up so I can’t comment on them. I did ask on here and it was recommended so I’m happy with my choice 👍

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate]

I am assured it does but yet to discover it myself!