Will I ever like running?
I am about to go on my week 7 run 2 this evening and I absolutely hate running. The last 2 long runs I have hated every single minute up until the last 5 minutes. I somehow pick up the pace and feel ok and the aches and pains subsided. However from minutes 7-18/20 I am forcing myself to continue.
I thought by this point I would be enjoying it a bit more but I’m not. Is there anyone who runs and still hates it? or is it just me?
Hi,
I'm similar to you. I have done the programme a couple of times but then fell out of it only to return. I'm about to do week 7 run 2 today.
I find that I start off running really slow and it takes me 5 mins to settle into some kind of pace. But then I start to feel my calves and other muscles/tendons in my legs. I have had advice given to me to slow down, but I am running so slow, to go any slower would be walking and I can walk faster than I run. Even walkers over take me when I'm running so I don't know how much slower I should go to follow the advice lol.
Anyway, after about 10/13 mins the aches tend to subside and I start to feel better. As I get to 20 mins I feel ok and start to enjoy the run and feel I can go faster. However, at this point, when I check my fitbit (before I pick up any pace or change anything) it shows my heart rate as being high, in the peak zone, and I think maybe I shouldn't go faster even though I'm not out of puff or feel like I am working at all. So I just keep it going at my snails pace which is about 13 min/km (that's not measuring my warm up/cool down walk).
After the run when I get home, I feel great for the rest of the day and actually look forward to the next one. The long and short of it is that I have no idea what I am doing, if I am running right or if the tech is right so I just go out and do it and as long as I'm not in real pain (I think an ache or two is ok) and I'm not gasping for breath/bright red faced etc then I'm ok and will survive the run. From what I remember the last time I did the course, I was on about week 12 before it started to feel a bit more settled and easier, but that could just be me. I'm the wrong side of 45 and I'm about 3 stone over weight which doesn't help. Keep going, you're doing a great job and it will get easier.
Thank you so much for this, it’s really helpful. I also suffer with pains in my calves and parts of my legs. Also, I can definitely walk much faster than I run and I have to remind myself I’m still a beginner when it comes to running. I’m also glad to hear that it took you to about week 12 till you started to enjoy it more. I am determined to finish the program and I have actually done 2 runs since posting so I’m now on to week 8!
I agree, although this morning I wasn’t in the mood to do it and yet apparently ran my best!! Not sure how, as I felt I was slower than I have been previously. I can honestly say this is the first one I wasn’t looking forward to but hours later I feel great!
I’m kind of guessing all these feelings we’re experiencing are pretty normal 👍🏻
Thank you! I’m glad you say these feelings are normal. I’m not overly competitive person in terms of targets / speed, but I like to feel I’m making improvements. Glad to hear your run made you feel great afterwards 
One of my friends says she has a love/hate relationship with running. She’s been running for 10 years. She says that she hates the thought of running and the running itself, but loves the feeling afterwards and the health benefits. So she keeps running for those! Maybe you’ll learn to like it, maybe not. I suggest that you keep running for now, and perhaps that feeling you get for the last 5 minutes will spill over into the rest of your run!
Haha well that makes me feel a bit better. Thank you
I guess I like "some" of my runs! I don't like my weekly hard 5k. Yep it's a great feeling after if I get a PB but gasping for air isn't much fun! The longer, slower runs I enjoy. Music on, running at a pace I can sing along to if I want to, breathing easy, not sweating much. It's great.
At week 7 your body is still adjusting. I'm not sure I liked many of the runs back then apart from when I stopped. As you get fitter and understand more about pace, you'll be be able to get in a groove of running a comfortable 30 minute run. I am sure at that stage you'll begin to enjoy it more
Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.
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.
Enjoy your journey.
I would say I enjoy the feeling after running more than doing it. I’ve had the odd run where I’ve enjoyed it as a de-stress/alone time but most of the time I literally have to force myself out of bed to do it and i literally spend the whole time thinking about the finish. But still doing it so I guess that’s all that counts.
That’s great to hear, I have similar feelings to you. Definitely enjoy the feeling afterwards and if I have 2 days off my body gets restless so I think I do start to look forward to it, and hopefully more so when I’ve been running a bit longer
Wk7 run 1 will I ever get faster?
Discovered I like running!!
I kinda like this running 
Feeling depressed: will i ever run again?
What is it about running that you hate? Do you listen to any music 🎵 that you like to take you mind of running 🏃♀️ Have you tried podcasts. Running 🏃♀️ is like meditation for so many people. Are you using the C25K app or C25K podcast as most people get tired of listening to the music from the C25K podcast.
I enjoy running because it gives me freedom and alone time. Running is not a punishment, so if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it do something else.
I think it’s the pain in my legs. My breathing is pretty consistent. I was listening to music. Tried something a bit more upbeat and did get a bit further than usual but not the best distraction. I think I try the podcast. I currently have Laura for the app. Thank you