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Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier?
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 2010-05-04 8:58 PM |
Expert  2852     Pfafftown, NC |  Subject: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier?I basically went from "couch" to where I am, today. I started (basically) the last week of March. I did 54mi. in April......and my longest run to date was last Friday (7.8mi). My event distance(s) for the two sprints I have signed up for are 5K's. The dates are 6/5 and 6/20. My plan from here on out (the 7.8mi. run was a bit much for me to undertake, I now know) is to do a 4; 5 and 6mi. run/wk....right through to my events. I've slowed my runs down from when I started. But, they're not getting any easier. Am I just not running enough to see gains? I'd love to add more runs. But, honestly, it's all I can do to get in 3ea. of bikes and runs in/wk. I haven't been able to do it, yet. I want to do 2 rides/wk right up to my events......totalling about 50mi. Both of my sprints have 12mi. bike legs. I'm having to swim 4X/wk right now just on the chance it'll be enough to get me to the 300yds dist. by race day. My swimming is struggling. When I get a better handle on the swim leg, I'll add in another bike or run. How much am I gonna need to run to start seeing the gains I'm looking for? I'm not talking about time. The 6mi. run I did tonight still taxed me more than I think it should. Thanks for your input. jeff Edited by nc452010 2010-05-04 9:00 PM |
| 2010-05-04 9:04 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
| New Haven, CT | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? you have been running for 2 months, give yourself a little more time. couch to a 50 mile month is a lot so be careful. Keep at it build slowly. |
| 2010-05-04 9:06 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
| Extreme Veteran 502 Washington | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? Thats not a whole lot of time, be patient. Progress in the run isn't measured in days or weeks, its measured in months and years. Edited by ionlylooklazy 2010-05-04 9:06 PM |
| 2010-05-04 9:12 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
Expert 2852 Pfafftown, NC | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? I was running a "little" before I started training for my sprints. But, I was doing it all wrong (too fast). Can I assume that I am "OK" doing the 4; 5 and 6mi. runs/wk preparing for my sprints? Thanks. jeff |
| 2010-05-04 9:25 PM in reply to: #2837348 |
| Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? ionlylooklazy - 2010-05-04 5:06 PM Thats not a whole lot of time, be patient. Progress in the run isn't measured in days or weeks, its measured in months and years. x2 If you really did come off the couch...your mileage may be too high. You can't force your running fitness to improve at the same rate you force yourself to run more miles. I could force myself to run 200 miles this month...but I will not see 3x more improvement as I would compared to the 65-80 miles I plan to run this month. I would however be 10x more likely to get injured. If running 54 miles last month was comfortable for you...then that's great...SLOWLY increase and be patient. If not...you may want to back off a bit and let your body naturally adjust. Good luck. |
| 2010-05-04 9:46 PM in reply to: #2837380 |
Master 2484 St. Louis | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? tri808 - 2010-05-04 9:25 PM ionlylooklazy - 2010-05-04 5:06 PM Thats not a whole lot of time, be patient. Progress in the run isn't measured in days or weeks, its measured in months and years. x2 If you really did come off the couch...your mileage may be too high. You can't force your running fitness to improve at the same rate you force yourself to run more miles. I could force myself to run 200 miles this month...but I will not see 3x more improvement as I would compared to the 65-80 miles I plan to run this month. I would however be 10x more likely to get injured. If running 54 miles last month was comfortable for you...then that's great...SLOWLY increase and be patient. If not...you may want to back off a bit and let your body naturally adjust. Good luck. Yep, you should consider backing off a bit IMHO. That is a huge increase. You might be better off changing your runs to 4-3-4 then shortening your bike a bit and throw a mile of running in after each ride. If you haven't tried it yet, it can be tough for the first 1/2 mile to mile. Doing it for a few weeks will help. |
| 2010-05-04 9:52 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
Master 2484 St. Louis | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? nc452010 - 2010-05-04 8:58 PM I basically went from "couch" to where I am, today. I started (basically) the last week of March. I did 54mi. in April......and my longest run to date was last Friday (7.8mi). My event distance(s) for the two sprints I have signed up for are 5K's. The dates are 6/5 and 6/20. My plan from here on out (the 7.8mi. run was a bit much for me to undertake, I now know) is to do a 4; 5 and 6mi. run/wk....right through to my events. I've slowed my runs down from when I started. But, they're not getting any easier. Am I just not running enough to see gains? I'd love to add more runs. But, honestly, it's all I can do to get in 3ea. of bikes and runs in/wk. I haven't been able to do it, yet. I want to do 2 rides/wk right up to my events......totalling about 50mi. Both of my sprints have 12mi. bike legs. I'm having to swim 4X/wk right now just on the chance it'll be enough to get me to the 300yds dist. by race day. My swimming is struggling. When I get a better handle on the swim leg, I'll add in another bike or run. How much am I gonna need to run to start seeing the gains I'm looking for? I'm not talking about time. The 6mi. run I did tonight still taxed me more than I think it should. Thanks for your input. jeff To answer your question about when it gets easier. For me (keep in mind I'm old (44) and slow), it is when I trained for a 1/2 mary building up from 3 runs at 3 miles a week to 5-3-5-11 at the longer weeks (plus swimming 1-2x and biking on a trainer 1-2x per week). Then 5 or 6 miles felt easy. Since your sprint is a 5k, you don't need to run much more than 4 miles except for the confidence boost and really, race day excitement will take care of that. |
| 2010-05-04 10:15 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
Pro 4824 Houston | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? I know it's hard but try to be patient. I've been running 15 months now and just as it was getting easier around the 10 month mark I got injured so now I am starting all over again. Take your time and do the things to stay injury free and it will come. |
| 2010-05-04 10:34 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? What do you mean by "not getting easier"? It would be quite normal to struggle through your longest runs ever. Are you still struggling in 2 & 3 miles runs? |
| 2010-05-04 10:39 PM in reply to: #2837337 |
Veteran 582 Golden, CO | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? I have been running for 26 years and I am still waiting for it to get easier. Seriously, if you have gone from the couch to running the miles you have in 6 weeks, in addition to swimming and biking, that is pretty impressive. It took me a lot longer than 6 weeks to build up to those levels. Your goals may be a bit too high if you are expecting to be able to ramp up volume at the rate that you have been doing and for it to feel easy. I did notice some real gains in speed as well as comfort when I went from running 2-3 times a week to 4-5 times a week, but it wasn't until my second year in triathlons that I was able to build up to that much running, both because my body wasn't really to handle that much running and because like you I spent most of my first year learning how to swim. Give yourself some time. |
| 2010-05-05 5:51 AM in reply to: #2837337 |
Expert 2852 Pfafftown, NC | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? WHat I menat by it not getting easier is.......the long runs still make me hate every second of them past 3 mi. or so. It's the toughest discipline for me to get "up" for (training). I've never had a problem getting motivated to run. But, my "runs" used to be 3.5-4mi. in 30min. and some change. Running slower and trying to build a good base is killin' me. I just thought it would get easier, when I slowed down. It's not. I appreciate the responses (and PM's). Thanks. |
| 2010-05-05 6:32 AM in reply to: #2837357 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? nc452010 - 2010-05-04 10:12 PM I was running a "little" before I started training for my sprints. But, I was doing it all wrong (too fast). Can I assume that I am "OK" doing the 4; 5 and 6mi. runs/wk preparing for my sprints? Thanks. jeff What you propose for your running plan is ok, but I wouldn't expect to see huge improvement based on that running plan. You said the sprints you are doing have 5K runs. Some over-distance training is not a bad plan, but if you're struggling with running 6 miles, then you don't really need to do that right now. I think you might get more by adding a 4th and maybe eventually a 5th run per week. Starting with maybe something like 3, 4, 3, 5. Same total mileage you're doing now, but spread out among 4 runs. You can eventually stretch out that 5 miler to 6, and maybe build one of the 3 milers in length. I think the increased frequency would probably help you. Here's a question for you, though -- you say that slowing down is killing you. How did you determine HOW MUCH you needed to slow down? Are you running by feel (RPE)? Heart rate? Pace? Figuring out what your training pace should be based on some real world data (LT test, race results, etc.) might be helpful, too. |
| 2010-05-05 7:39 AM in reply to: #2837337 |
Expert 2852 Pfafftown, NC | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? Completely fair Q's. I started out using the HRM. I then went to just going by feel. Right or wrong, if I can carry on a conversation, I feel like I'm in an OK zone. Just being honest. I think I can run the 5K in under 30min. I train at +/- 11min/mi. on my runs. Sometimes they're faster. Sometimes they're a little slower. I'm 45 (46, in Oct.). I've never trained for ANY race in my life. My sprint on 6/5 will be my 1st race (in any discipline) ever. Edited by nc452010 2010-05-05 7:41 AM |
| 2010-05-05 7:45 AM in reply to: #2837337 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Running doesn't seem to be getting any easier? I guess I'm not real clear on what your expectations are. Do you expect the running to be getting easier as you continue to increase the training load? Because that's not really how it works. Whenever you add mileage or intensity, you're going to have a bit of a struggle. Give it a few weeks, and you should start to get used to it. Eventually, you get to a point where you can finish your shorter easy runs without too much huffing and puffing. Keep in mind that your legs will take a little longer to catch up to your lungs. So you might be breathing easier, but your legs are still working a bit. Be patient. Give it a few more months. |
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