I'm into week 8 now and feeling great about the progress I've made.
However, every step up it feels like I have to make a superhuman effort to complete it to the point I really don't find it enjoyable, actually it's more like a form of masochism! For example, today I was doing my 28 minute run and felt knackered by half way through, and by the end it was just a case of getting one foot in front of the other. Part of me thinks the difficulty curve is maybe a bit steep for me.
Will there ever be a point I can do 30 minutes of running fairy comfortably? I've no plans to go further than 5k, I just want to enjoy it and get fit.
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ShamblingSnotMonster
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Cheers and thanks for your reply :)I covered 4.89km today on the 28 minute run round my local park. Would that be what about right for a 50 year old man? It might feel a bit weird slowing down but I'll definitely give it a try. I really want to start enjoying this! Swimming is more my thing these days but it would be great if I can mix the 2 post-virus
on your progress.When you can run for 30 minutes in a few weeks time, the early weeks will seem very easy. When you have six months of regular running on your legs, 30 minutes will be much easier than it is now.
and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.
Enjoy your journey.
Yes it definitely gets easier- especially when you slow down and find your sustainable pace. I love running and never ever thought I would say that during C25k
Hi there... From the sound of it you are going way too fast... We all come into the programme at different ages and different fitness levels, so can't put yourself into a specific fitness category. If you are "knackered' on all your runs....there's only one thing to do....and that's slow down, and slow down some more. Best advice I took from joining this forum. Your pace is fast...seriously!!! Yes it gets easier once you slow down. All the best. 🦌🐢🐌🏃♀️🙋
Looking at how far you're running in that 28 minutes, I would suggest that is rather fast. Slowing down quite a lot would help you finish these runs strongly and more confidently. Then you will enjoy them more too!
OK, i'm going to try and adopt a slower pace on Friday when i do my next run. I think I might find it strange going slower. The speed I run at now feels quite natural but obviously I'm struggling to sustain.One weird thing I noticed today was that I tend to run faster into the wind according to my watch, even though I feel like I'm crawling along, so that might be an area I can try to consciously slow down more.
Well, you've been well and truly told about your speed, SnotMonster!🐌 I picked up a great tip recently for when the running gets tough. I used to try to distract myself listening to music lyrics or thinking about other things, but my brain always came back to screaming 'stop!'. Now I force my mind to stay in the moment by counting my steps: 100 on the right foot, followed by 100 on the left. Apparently, it's what Paula Radcliffe does, so it's good enough for me!
It took was about three months after I graduated before I really felt like a 'proper' runner. It is something I had to plug away at, but the reward has been life changing.Good luck and keep going. If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. 👍
Yes, I'm going to spend this evening on the naughty step haha!
That's not a bad idea because I have the same issue... I find it so hard to switch off. All the time I'm thinking 'God I hate this! God I hate this! God I hate this!' But after the run I feel great. So if i can go a bit slower and distract myself with the counting technique I reckon it will really help.
So glad I found this forum with all you helpful chaps and chapesses!
Good music also helps to switch your brain off from thinking “I hate this” or “this is hard”. And yes, slowing down really helps. On some
of my runs, I make myself notice- and really notice- a different aspect of the outdoors each time. For example on one run, the leaves turning on each tree and which side was more orange, then next run, the birds, and where they were on each tree, another run was the squirrels, another was counting the trees in the park, cloud shapes, and so on....the outdoors changes so much, there’s a treasure trove out there- if you’re running outdoors, that is! 😃
Agree with all the running oracle's. Slow down, example I ran the 5k for my last run on Sunday. It was slow, but I enjoyed it and could probably have gone a bit further (not much - maybe a metre or so 😏). So my 1st run after, I tried to pick up the pace a bit, and I did. But my god, it was hard going and no, I did not enjoy it at all. Lesson learnt, I'll go back to my slow speed and let nature and consistency do its thing.
Like so many people have already said, you are running at quite a quick pace, so you need to slow down. Been there myself and it is hard to slow down as it feels strange at first, but try shortening your stride and it starts to feel easier. Otherwise don’t be too hard on yourself as you have only been running for 8 weeks. So whilst you have come a long way, it will still take some time of regular consolidation runs, before running 30 mins become effortless, or something close to effortless 😂😂
Stick with it as it does really get easier the more you run !
Yes it does get easier. 6 months on from starting C25K running is comfortable and not torture. It feels enjoyable during the run and not just afterwards because it’s not so very very hard anymore. Stick with it and it will happen.
Many thanks for all your helpful comments. I'm going to slow it right down tomorrow and see what difference it makes. Doesn't look look too windy tomorrow too thankfully... I've got a real thing about running into the wind at the moment... so draining!
I'm determined to enjoy this as I love the 'feel good' benefits 'post run' 😁.
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Does it get any easier? (Facing W9R2)
does it get any easier.. :~
Does it ever get easier! 
Not getting any easier
Does this ever get easier?
