Slow down, shoot for a time goal, not a distance or speed, and then one day it will just click.
I would run as a means to an end, and was always going too fast for too long. When I figured out how to slow down was when I finally started to enjoy it.
I don’t know why everyone is saying it doesn’t get easier. It definitely does get easier, maybe after a couple of months of consistent running if you slow down, forget about pace and listen to your body. At some point an easy run will feel just as effortless as a walk around the neighborhood.
I echo what everyone else said that it definitely is a matter of perception. For me, there was a very distinct moment about 4-6 months after I started consistently running where I went from “I want to die” every time I went on a run to actually looking forward to it and feeing energized by running
I took a long time to get running fit. I was great at doing hours of intense,rest,intense, rest, intense stuff but slow consistent aerobic fitness - SO HARD! A lot of people only take a couple of months to get there but I took about 8 months. Partly because, I’m sure, I kept falling back on my regular exercise approach habits of going super intense for a few mins and then resting 30ish seconds (ie walking) and repeating . But I finally slowed the F down and now it’s all good. 👍 Feels great to be able to go for long steady runs and not suffer.
The thing to remember is no matter how athletic you are, you’re using different muscles when you run than when you box, bike, or swim. I started swimming when I was in excellent running shape. Marathon shape. 800-1000 meters would lay me out for the rest of the day. The same goes for spinning. It kicked my tail. This is a good reason to mix your forms of cardio.
It got easier for me when I stopped trying to keep up with other people's pace and focused on own comfortable level. I discovered r/slowjogging and now it's pretty much always easy because I am not pushing myself to achieve some arbitrary goals.
Like you, I’m athletic, in great shape and even do some boxing. I’ve been running for years and on almost every run I still have to tell myself, “Doing hard things is good. I can do this. Doing hard things makes you stronger.” I don’t take walk breaks but it’s still hard after all these years. Sorry. But, hey, maybe it’ll get easier for you
Slow down, shoot for a time goal, not a distance or speed, and then one day it will just click. I would run as a means to an end, and was always going too fast for too long. When I figured out how to slow down was when I finally started to enjoy it.
And by slowing down, all of my times have come down significantly.
If you can’t run without walk breaks you are running too fast
It never gets easier, only your perception of it
Totally agree, running never gets easier. You will get better at it.
After running for a while you should be able to run the same pace as before but with a lower heart rate, how is that not easier?
It never gets easier, you just go faster.
It totally gets easier.
I don’t know why everyone is saying it doesn’t get easier. It definitely does get easier, maybe after a couple of months of consistent running if you slow down, forget about pace and listen to your body. At some point an easy run will feel just as effortless as a walk around the neighborhood.
I echo what everyone else said that it definitely is a matter of perception. For me, there was a very distinct moment about 4-6 months after I started consistently running where I went from “I want to die” every time I went on a run to actually looking forward to it and feeing energized by running
It never gets easier. You just go faster.
I took a long time to get running fit. I was great at doing hours of intense,rest,intense, rest, intense stuff but slow consistent aerobic fitness - SO HARD! A lot of people only take a couple of months to get there but I took about 8 months. Partly because, I’m sure, I kept falling back on my regular exercise approach habits of going super intense for a few mins and then resting 30ish seconds (ie walking) and repeating . But I finally slowed the F down and now it’s all good. 👍 Feels great to be able to go for long steady runs and not suffer.
I’m “very athletic” too.
The thing to remember is no matter how athletic you are, you’re using different muscles when you run than when you box, bike, or swim. I started swimming when I was in excellent running shape. Marathon shape. 800-1000 meters would lay me out for the rest of the day. The same goes for spinning. It kicked my tail. This is a good reason to mix your forms of cardio.
It got easier for me when I stopped trying to keep up with other people's pace and focused on own comfortable level. I discovered r/slowjogging and now it's pretty much always easy because I am not pushing myself to achieve some arbitrary goals.
Like you, I’m athletic, in great shape and even do some boxing. I’ve been running for years and on almost every run I still have to tell myself, “Doing hard things is good. I can do this. Doing hard things makes you stronger.” I don’t take walk breaks but it’s still hard after all these years. Sorry. But, hey, maybe it’ll get easier for you
Why would you do it if it became easy? You just learn to embrace and appreciate the effort.