I ran W9 R1 this morning and it was great, but at the start I seriously doubted that I'd be able to keep going for the whole 30mins. By the end, I felt like I could keep going forever.
So my question is: why does it feel so easy at the end? Is it just psychological, since I know I've finished, or should I be pushing a bit harder during the run itself?
It's called the Toxic ten, someone else will explain a more scientific reason to you., congratulations on almost completing C25K, only 2 more runs until you graduate, good luck for your graduation run.
No, don't push harder !
If they are easier at the end then you have probably started the run at the correct pace leaving enough fuel in the tank to finish the run strong ! And as AlMorr has suggested, you also have the toxic 10 at the start
Here is an explanation.
drjulietmcgrattan.com/2021/...
The explanation you have linked to is very interesting reading, thank you.
That's fascinating. I think it must take me about fifteen minutes to get through the adjustment (though perhaps just now that's just me getting halfway through the run!)
I know exactly what you mean. I struggle for the first ten minutes & often think I’ll not make it, then I get into it , by the end I could do further.
There is obviously a psychological element but also as we exercise we release endorphins & feel happier .
We will finish by the end of this week.
Congratulations 👏.
You too. It's exciting!
A comment i read on this forum a couple of years ago really helped me: Running. It's the opposite of drinking. You feel crap while you're doing it, but great afterwards. And you will find you develop a ‘sweet spot’ when you feel like you could run forever. Go find that sweet spot!
That's so true 😂
I get a toxic 20... after that I'm fine 🙂
Yes... I think my toxic bit is longer than 10, too
As has been said... Toxic 10... it is really well documented, and believe me that 10 can be 20 or even longer!
It all to do with aerobic exercise.... husband explained it to me in great length... but to simplify, and this is very simplified...
If we think of our body like a car on a cold winter's morning. We generally, would not expect to just get in and drive off. Many of us would let the motor run for a short while until everything warms up? The same thing applies to us when we run. We have to give our body body time to adjust to the increased demand for oxygen and body supply.
Sometimes it happens sometimes not, so this is why we need to make sure we have warmed up well before we begin to run , if it does happen, then you just relax, ease back and let the new running legs find their happy pace.
The more you run, the more it all evolves...but t can still happen.. I had a toxic 20 the other morning!
Some useful info here..?
drjulietmcgrattan.com/2021/....
So, you are not alone... don't ever push too hard, no need for that at all 
Well done you!
PS
Just seen that you have that link
Ranulph Fiennes the explorer did write quite a lot about toxic 10 tin the Antarctic, oo!
Here is an article written 5 years ago by one of our previous mentors... someone who helped get me to where my running is today... the amazing , poppypug
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Thank you! It's comforting to know it gets better as you run more as well.
When I was a kid out for long walks with my parents they used to tell us that the first two miles were always the worst. I'm guessing they were talking about the same thing.
They were exactly right!
I’m glad you asked that question, I thought it was just me!
Warm ups are key! I only occasionally get the toxic ten. I do deep breathing exercises before heading out and swear they help. Good luck.
Oh okay. That gives me hope! I've just been doing the five minute walk, but it sounds like I should be doing more!
Think of your body like a cold petrol or diesel car.
The car (engine, tyres etc) needs a period of warming up before it's working efficiently.
Similarly, if you've been sat down for a while, watching TV, or at the cinema, then we can all be a bit stiff when we stand up and get going again and after 1-2 minutes, we're fine.
Exactly the same with jogging/running ... you're putting extra strain on the joints and muscles and it takes the body 10-15 minutes to properly warm-up so that you're doing it more efficiently than you were at the start.
NOTE: the more effective your pre-run warm routine, the less 'toxic' you'll feel when you start.
I didn't really think about warming up (I said this above too but it's a revelation so I'll say it again). I'll try some of that and hope it de-toxifies the start of the run!
As I've said elsewhere on this subject:
- the more effective your warm-up, the less 'toxic' your toxic will be
Your question was exactly the same as mine after my week 7, run 3 challenge this morning. As I walked afterwards, I asked my partner why it is that I struggle so much for the first 5-10 minutes and then can do a 60 second sprint at the end - for ‘sprint’, read ‘fast jog’ as opposed to ‘slow jog’. The answers to your post have reassured me that I’m normal! Thank you
It was worrying me too. It felt like I was doing something backwards because the start was so much harder than the end!
Why is it still so hard?
Why was that Wk6 run so hard?
Why so hard and what next? 
Week 9 run 1 - why so hard?!
Week 7 Run 3 - why so hard?
