Question for runners - how long until running nonstop becomes easy?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am 35, always been active and sporty since my childhood, more of a sprinter in my youth, and now primarily weight training (although not bulky - 180lbs at 182 cm).

Basically my base fitness is very good. I haven’t really been into running for the sake of running, as I’ve always hated it, and the longest I’ve ever managed in one go without collapsing is roughly 5 miles approx 5 years ago… and it was hell on earth.

So today, having moved near to the beach, I’m determined to crack this running lark.

It’s never been pleasurable, even at slow speeds. I pretty much run a few minutes, walk a few minutes and repeat… but my goal is to run for 30 minutes, or even longer at a slow pace and actually enjoy the process, watch the sun set, think about stuff - not wish for my life to end…

How long should this take, roughly, for a guy like me? 1 month? 2 months? I plan to run about 5k, 4x per week as that’s manageable… but I’m open for strategies…

Opinions please!!

2

I am not a runner but I’ve been thinking about it too. Those C25K programs often project about 8-9 weeks to go from sedentary to a half hour run so I would think an active person could be a little quicker.

3

I am not a runner by nature*, but I used to do local races for fitness and I ran regularly. Trained for some long races (i.e., marathon and 1/2 marathon) and I will be perfectly honest: I never liked it, and it never became easy. As soon as stopped doing races, I figured out I could get all the exercise I needed by doing hikes in the hills, and that was something I actually enjoyed.

Having said that, you might try wearing a heart monitor and pacing yourself so that you don’t get out of the aerobic zone. Alternatively, pace yourself so you can still talk while you are running.

*More of a cyclist, which is something I do like.

4

Been there, done that. Didn’t work. Like the OP, I, too, hate running. Always have. And, like the OP, I just figured it was because I never cracked it.

So, about 10 years ago, I decided I was gonna do it. I committed to running 3-4 times a week, at least 3 miles or 30-40 minutes each time. And I did it. And I got to the point where I didn’t have to stop for physical reasons (mental was a different story) and I was incrementally getting faster/better.

I still hated every minute of it.

In the back of my mind, I felt that I was doing something wrong, or I wasn’t in good enough shape, or… something. Then winter came, and I gave up running because it’s impossible to run outside here in the winter (they don’t clear the snow to the point where it wouldn’t be dangerous to run through much of the winter.)

One day in January, I grabbed my cross-country skis and went out for a ski. Cross-country skiing is pretty taxing, especially around here, where there are plenty of hills. Holy crap, was it FUN. Even though it was hard, and I definitely wasn’t in great shape for it… it was SO MUCH BETTER THAN RUNNING.

At that point, I gave up trying to run. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it, it wasn’t that I was not in shape for it, it was just that I do not like to run, and I doubt that any amount of running will change that. I’m gonna stick to activities I do like - biking, walking, skiing, etc.

Maybe you’ll have better luck.

5

If you hate running, why not try a different activity? You self-describe as a sprinter type so you have a preponderance of fast twitch muscle fibers. Those are not known for having a great capacity for endurance.

Have you tried cycling or swimming? You can make moves in an aerobics class that are explosive or try circuit training.

6

C25K got me to 5K is pretty much in the advertised time period and by the end of it I was running 5K with - well, I wouldn’t say it was EASY. It was exercise; if it had been easy what would the point have been? But there was no doubt I would complete the 5K and not be in agony and would feel fresh as a daisy after a quick shower.

Once you can run 5K, how hard it is is determined by how fast you run it, after all. The key in starting is to run VERY slowly. However fast you start out running is probably too fast.

7

I was never a good sprinter… always one of the quickest 5 or so in school but never good enough for competing properly. I just meant I took to that easily whereas all kinds of jogging or endurance running I hated.

I want to run just to see if I can.

Oh, believe me, I’m running so slowly I may as well stop. :slight_smile:

8

Running, like any athletic endeavor, is mind over matter.

How do you get good at pull-ups? You practice doing pull-ups: (1-3, 3-5, 5-8, etc…)

Did you enjoy doing your first few? Hell no. They sucked and it was disheartening at first, right?

Same with running. You want to stop but you push through and keep running. Lie to yourself if you must. One more block. Two more blocks. Just 3 more minutes. just 5 more… It doesn’t feel like it at first but there comes a point when you find your stride (pace) and your breath comes easier. Remind yourself to relax your neck and shoulders. Lean forward a degree or two (run downhill). Pretty soon you begin to relax and even enjoy (kinda-sorta) the experience.

9

I actually enjoy running, but I can’t do it without listening to music at the same time. Everyone is different, but it took me about two months of running 3 miles every other day before I could run the complete 3 miles without stopping. If you aren’t training for a race and are running just to maintain health, my advice is don’t be so hard on yourself. Run until you start to hurt, then walk til it stops, rinse, repeat. Everyday you go out try to go a little farther. It doesn’t matter how much, just push a little. I’ve discovered for myself, that if I run once a week, I don’t get any better. Twice a week maintains my physical level and three times a week is where I actually start to improve. I’ve been trying to get back into my regular run routine again and so far I’m up to a mile and a half before I have to walk, but a month from now I expect to be doing 3 miles without walking.

10

I’m not sure if this is inspirational or demotivational, but I don’t think it ever becomes easy. I think the thing to know while you are running is that everyone who runs is uncomfortable physically, but I think the more you run this does diminish a bit, but you get over it and even learn to enjoy it. I run several times a week, and I don’t always love it, but generally I enjoy that time. Doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt!

I heard a Radio Lab episode once where they discussed the elite marathoners from Kenya, and one of the conclusions is that running that fast for that long doesn’t actually hurt them any less than a normal person; they just run through it much better.

11

I started C25K about 6 years ago and am still running at least 11-12 miles per week. My short runs (~5k) are still not easy, but it’s a habit now so I feel bad when I have to miss a run. When I was training for a half-marathon, I found that my long runs (6+ miles) were almost enjoyable. I think it was because my long runs were at a slower pace than my short runs. So you might try working on speed on your short runs, then doing a slower longer run every week.

12

I’ve been a runner for a while, and I hadn’t actually enjoyed running for 25 years. I liked being in shape, but I didn’t like running itself. I’d done a few half-marathons, and training for them sucked. Then I decided to run a full marathon while I could, and the training was in a completely different league than anything I’d done before (and it still sucked).

But after that, I found that I no longer dreaded long runs. I felt like I could run anything. And even better, I found I actually enjoyed running. Running along a trail through a park, running under moonlight or as the sun came up, just getting outside - I finally understood why people liked running. I think the difference for me was simply knowing I could do it, so I no longer dreaded what was coming.

I’m not sure if that helps you, since you probably don’t want to jump into marathon training. But try pushing yourself beyond what you think you can do. When you run a few minutes and feel like you need to walk, don’t - push yourself to keep going. At first, it will really suck and you’ll like running even less. But as you see you can do it, you’ll find yourself focusing less on what you think you can do, instead just start enjoying the moment.

13

My experience is much like Doubticus - give me some tunes and a cool morning sunrise, and I can keep running.

When I first started running as an adult in my early 40s, after years of mainly cycling, I thought I was in good enuf shape to tackle it. Wrong. The pounding on my joints jolted them awake, and the muscles I had built for cycling were not much help. As I understand it, your body needs some time to reconfigure things to make running comfortable, and I daresay, fun.

At first, I selected a flat 3-mile loop in my neighborhood. The first few times I had to jog/walk. I had a hard time understanding how anyone could do this for 26 miles. But, I stuck with it - running 3 or 4 days a week around that loop. Eventually, I was able to make it around without stopping, and then I tried to increase my speed, as well as adding more distance very gradually. That took several weeks to get around without stopping, but adding another half mile, then a few weeks later another mile, etc. I just added milestones.

Be patient, eventually you will start to enjoy it - but at first it is very hard. Like anything else, once you make it routine, it becomes easy(-er).

14

Interesting, so in your experience, it’s that your body is simply adjusting to this alien concept?

That does make sense. I can imagine how the joints take a beating and it can seem like you’re not cut out for such a thing.

I know many women who take up running after being relatively unfit, and they can keep on like Forrest Gump - my reasoning is that because they are generally lighter and carry less muscle than men, their joints take less wear and tear, and thus can handle the demand a little better.

15

I think so. As an aerobic activity, it takes a little time to develop a higher capacity with your muscles, oxygen use, joints, etc. That’s why if you just throw down and try to run 5 miles out of the gate, your body revolts (for most people). That’s why they call it “training” - you are training your body.

Also, I don’t think of it as alien - it’s what we are meant to do. We are not meant to be sitting in front of computer screens all day long, but if we go a long period without doing any running, it will seem like an alien concept for sure. Once you get to your cruising speed (whatever that may be) you will be able to handle that easily. But you need to keep it going, because when you stop, you have to start small again, and retrain.

16

One thing to keep in mind is that your longest run is always going to suck. So, if you goal is to run 30 minutes and like it, you have to do lots of longer runs. Longer than 30 minutes, by quite a bit. Otherwise, that 30 minute run is always going to be your longest.

You might try to supplementing with some interval training on the track. Run a 1/4 mile as fast you as can, then walk a 1/4 mile. Repeat 3-5 times.

17

Am I crazy, or do different people just enjoy different sports? I actually like running/jogging, and I am so NOT what you’d think about “running”. I’m short and fat. It’s probably really bad for me, due to being short, and fat, so I do take it easy. But I like running. And swimming. And cycling. Other sports or activities, I hate. And I won’t force myself to do them. But if you hate running, why keep trying? Find something else - swim, cycle, walk?

Just completely off topic: it took until I was 49 years old, seriously, to understand and learn that moving my body and sweating and breathing hard… felt good.

18

Not crazy, that’s the way people are.
I didn’t even think of running until the summer between soph. and junior years in high school. I decided to go out for cross-country. First run I took, I knew I had found my sport by the end of the block. Cycling is alright, swimming is right out.

19

I think a couple of people hit on it running sucks and doesn’t really get better. A couple of years ago I ran a half marathon after that I was doing short distance runs to build up my speed so the next year I could run the same race faster and I could run for half an hour with some good tunes and I was in good enough shape that the suckitude of running wasn’t able to district me from the music and I could look down and be surprised that my run was over. That being said every time I got dressed saying I don’t want to do this.

As for why people who hate running run - its easy. I spent a bunch of money when I was done running that half to buy a road bike so I could do a triathlon and road that bike twice and I have never been so terrified as riding a bike in traffic. I’ve though about trying mountain biking but I’m never doing a road bike again plus the bikes are crazy expensive. As for swimming I get to push my daughter in her stroller and have the dog on a leash while I run, to go swimming I’ve got to hire a baby sitter and do something with the dog. I’ve never figured out a way to improve my cardio doing sports even if they were the reason that I’m running (football and rugby specifically).

After taking a year and a half off from exercise I’m back at the bottom doing a c210k program with plans to run a half marathon for my birthday. Every run sucks again but it sucks so much less then being fat and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m getting an energy bump once I recover from the run which makes my days much easier.

20

I did the C25K thing years ago, and I still do it now. Yes, it still tires me out, but I can do it, sometimes easier than other times. I find the music and terrain help. I hate trail running (but I’ve done it). I prefer running in the track or flat areas.

I don’t see it as “some day I won’t get tired” so much as “some day it’ll take me less time” or “my recovery will be faster and easier after each run” (which is true).