Enjoying running?

[Summerliving]

So I've just completed week 7 and am wondering if anyone actually enjoys running or if it's the feeling you get when you've completed a run that keeps you going. I hate every second of running but love the feeling when I've completed a run.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

I love running because it enhances my relationship with my environment and is powerfully life affirming.

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.

Say this sentence out loud to yourself "Am I going slow enough to enable me to speak this sentence in one out breath?" If you cannot, you are going too fast.

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.

Enjoy your journey.

[Summerliving in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, I'm not sure I could go much slower, I'm pretty slow already lol. Will def read the guide tho. I'm hoping as I lose more weight it may become more enjoyable. The feeling of achievement after each run is keeping me going tho for now and has got me this far.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Summerliving]

The question is can you speak, not go slower. You can always go slower. It is possible to run on the spot, so is nothing to do with covering ground. The ability to speak conversationally as you run is an excellent gauge of your physical fitness. Going faster than this rate will be less effective at developing your aerobic base.

Slowing down is an epiphany for many.

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

It really is! People don’t understand how slowing down can actually make you faster and stronger in the long term. Slowing down has transformed my running and my fitness.

[H4CS]

Gets better after week 7/8 (7was my grumbly worst) you start getting a buzz about half way through 😁

[Summerliving in reply to H4CS]

I want to enjoy it and the feeling when I've completed a run is amazing. I'm just waiting for that "light bulb" moment when I start enjoying the actual run not just the end lol. Hopefully it will come soon.

[H4CS in reply to Summerliving]

You will absolutely have that in week 9!! Keep going it will come to you 😁

[Summerliving in reply to H4CS]

Thanks, fingers crossed 🤞

[Hidden]

I graduated C25K early January and have been slowly increasing 1 run per week. The weekend before last I reached 60 minutes (my other 2 or 3 runs are still 30 minutes). I have days that I absolutely not enjoy running and that I just do it to have my exercise done with. But there are also days that I actually enjoy it. Those are the days that I feel I have a good cadence (steps per minute), that I have a good pace (km/h) and that I generally feel good. It's when everything comes together just right and then running is enjoyable. But trust me, it generally takes some practice before you find your 'right' cadence and pace. I have been running since mid November now and I absolutely don't succeed in it every run. Practice makes perfect!

That said I also have to 'admit' that I run slow and that I Jeff my runs. This means that I take a short walking break every X time. Most Jeffers (it is the Jeff Galloway method) run 30 seconds and walk 30 seconds and this sometimes even for marathons. I myself have a longer ratio. I run 4:30 minutes and walk 30 seconds. This combined with my slow pace, makes that I can keep my breathing calm, can prevent my heart rate from going into the red and that I in general enjoy my running more. C25K is meant to get you to run 30 minutes straight. I did so too, but soon after I graduated I shifted to Jeffing, it's just more enjoyable for me this way.

So don't worry yet, all you need is time. Time for your body to adjust to running, time to adjust to running 30 minutes, time to learn your preferred cadence, time to learn your preferred speed, etc. Once the planets come in 1 line, you'll enjoy running more

😉

[Summerliving in reply to Hidden]

Thank you that helps

[DawnFreshStart]

The enjoyment will come. I really look forward to morning runs. I get itchy feet on my rest days but I stop myself from going out. I also run/jog super slow on a long run and then pick up the pace for short runs.

Enjoy x

[Mittymoo Graduate]

Hi summerliving. I think that’s a great question. I really don’t want running to be “something else I have to get right”. For me I’m on week 7, run 2 and I have just started enjoying running. I began to realise that I have “transferable skills”, ways of being in other areas of my life that I found pleasurable and wanted to be part of my run. Things that make me happy are - doing things in my own time, music, mindfulness - the joy of just connecting with this moment, aloneness. The feel of the ground under my feet. The more I added those ingredients in to my run - e.g by leaving very early so I got the park to myself - the more pleasure I felt . I’m sure your list would be different but that’s what’s helped me. I wish you all the very best in your running

[Tasha99 Graduate]

You grow to enjoy it 🤣 The secret is going slowly enough that it’s not too hard. It is actually far better for you too as you develop your aerobic base. The post run high motivates me most though.

[Rennur Graduate]

The first 10 minutes are often horrid. These are known as the Toxic Ten! After 20 minutes I go on autopilot. Or maybe it is because I know I am nearing the end. I think it does get better once you learn to run at your comfortable pace. Some runs are better than others. The feeling once I've finished is still the best - I agree with you there. It isn't easy. If it was, then everyone would be doing C25K! You are doing it. Be proud of yourself. You will find it enjoyable I'm sure.

[Summerliving in reply to Rennur]

Yes the first few minutes always feel the worse and I always wonder how I'm going to manage to carry on but somehow i push through and manage to get into a kind of "autopilot" like you say.

[annaruns Graduate]

I honestly used to hate it, and only kept it up for fitness and for the feeling when it was done. But somewhere after graduation (and I really can’t pinpoint exactly when), I realised I loved running. I looked forward to my twice weekly jaunts. Even now, my long run early on a Saturday morning is the highlight of my week. I never believed it would happen to me! Keep going!

[Summerliving in reply to annaruns]

Oh that's really good, I hope this does happen to me. Thank you

[Dexy5 Graduate]

I felt the same when I was on c25k Summerliving, but I am still running 3 years later and believe me, not only do I enjoy it but I am also fitter and healthier as a result.

Parkrun also helped my enjoyment and when that returns (hopefully in June) I will be in seventh heaven.

Just follow the plan at a steady pace and you’ll get to a happy place. Every now and then you get a meh run but that makes you appreciate the good runs all the more.