Does running get easier?
Mmmmmmmm.
Yes.
Yes, it does.
As you progress through the C25K program, you’re building a foundation.
Once your body has run five minutes straight, it knows you can run five minutes straight. Your body can’t say “I can’t do it!” because it’s already done it.
As your body builds base mileage, adding on a little bit of distance over a period of time your body adjusts and conditions itself to what you’re asking of it. After you’ve run three miles, your body knows it can run three miles.
You can do it.
Your body knows you can do it.
You’ve trained your body as to what it feels like. Your body is smart. It adapts. It files away those minutes and those miles and pulls them back out each time you lace up.
Yes, running gets easier.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Does running get easier?
Mmmmmmmm.
No.
No, it doesn’t.
The longer you run, the more conditioned your body will become and the harder you will start to push yourself.
What used to feel impossible, over time becomes doable, so you step things up. You add more distance or you increase your pace and then it becomes hard again. You start to think “I can’t do this! It’s too hard! It’s going to hurt!”
The battle is mental not physical.
Your body knows it can cover the distance. Your body knows it can keep moving for a certain amount of time.
It’s your mind that wants to differ.
Yes, running asks a lot of your heart, lungs and legs, but it asks a lot from my mind. It’s a battle.
Do you have the stamina to wage war against the naysayer in your mind? Do you have what it takes to push through? Do you have the grit and determination?
. . . . . . .
Now what?
Running gets easier.
Annnnd then again, it doesn’t.
Where do you go with that?
You need to wear two hats, so to speak.
Your “Look at me! I’m seriously hot stuff!” hat and your “Slow down, Trigger! Something’s not right!” hat.
You push through when your mind is saying you can’t. You do an ops check and if everything is working as it should, but it just feels hard . . . you push through.
You throttle back when your body is saying, “This is serious pain. Something’s not right here.” Be wise. You don’t want to injure yourself.
It’s a balancing act.
P. S. I haven’t even been running a year yet. Just a little over nine months. Please keep that in mind when you read anything I say about running. Mmkay?
i like this post.
i have been “running” for like two years.
and it does NOT get easier.
but you are right. i can run for about 8ish minutes (yes after 2 years)
but i used to run for 90 seconds. (c25k progressor, but not graduate)
so, you are right. i am better than i used to be, but still pushing myself, so its equally as hard.
thanks for the encouragement, wise one.
::snort:: wise one?! not.
I’ve run for 20 years and honestly, that is the same conversation I have with myself almost every time I run. It’s a battle of mind versus body, some days it’s just easier to push through it than others. Really love your running posts.
what a beautiful profile picture, alison!
You know I’ve run for almost 20 years and I gotta tell you that I walked home from 1.65 miles out on a 3 miler yesterday. It sucked. It was hard. I hated it. I lost the mental battle. Somedays it’s easy, some days it’s hard. Somedays it just sort of sucks and some days it’s just sort of okay. Some days I get home and feel like I could go right back out again for another 5, some days I think I can never run another mile. I love running because every time you do it, you’re winning the battle, whether it sucked or not.
i think you need to guest post. mmmkay?
i hate running. i hate it before i start. i hate it while i’m doing it. i hate it when i’m done. buuuuuuttttttttt… i love the sense of accomplishment when i finish. so there’s that.
and that… is words from a wee baby runner.
hahahahaha snort
that’s something!
word and amen and all that jazz
what can i add to that?! ;D
I needed this post! Perfect timing. (I’m on my 5th week of couch to 5k, but we have actually repeated each week, so I’m actually starting the 3rd week’s schedule today — about to run for 3 minutes straight!)
Go on with your bad self, Kristen! Rock those three minutes. You can do it!
Yes. Feeling like I’ve really accomplished something after each run gives me enough stamina to get out there the next time. But I really, really hate it sometimes.
I know. I know!
I loved this post. I was just asking my husband about this. When a runner says it is ‘ hard’ or ‘tough’, what does that mean? Because I feel like I am dying, or about to throw up, often. And I still can’t run more than 10 minutes, after 3 months. So I ask him what on earth is wrong with me and he tells me this is normal (he’s been running for years). But when I see other people running, it looks a lot better than what I am doing (huffing and puffing). I guess my question is when do you stop feeling like a fraud and like it’s misleading to say you are a ‘runner’?
I read running blogs written by people who have run for years and they still struggle with that same question, “Am I really a runner?”
Yes, you are.
The longer you do it the more your body will adjust. I promise. What makes you huff and puff today . . . in six months won’t seem so hard.
Thanks for your words, and for all this honesty. ‘Running’ my first 5k this weekend… a bit scared and excited all at the same time.
I thought 1 1/2 minute intervals were hard, then 3 was hard, then 5 was hard…next up 5′s and 8. It is such a mind battle! I thought runners loved what they did? I hate it too. I like to be able to say I did it, but I hate the numbers on the App that say I was 20 seconds slower today. I think I felt good but then my spirits get crushed. I would love a personal trainer who could tell me what I’m doing wrong. Starting to fast, starting to slow, not drinking enough, not pushing hard enough. So instead I argue with myself. Is this a form of torture to anyone else? Explain then why I should continue this?
perfect post.
This is a HUGE encouragement! I can’t wait to get back and really dive in to the C25K. Giving up nursing was hard on my chest–so next week, I hope to begin again.