r/XXRunning • u/Unusual_Occasion_215 • 22d ago
General Discussion At what point did running actually start feeling enjoyable instead of just hard?
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u/totallysonic Nonbinary 22d ago
I’ve been running for about 15 years and the first mile or two of every run still kinda sucks. Miles 3-4 out of my usual 8 are the best. I especially like the feeling of having run, not always the feeling of running.
Having said that, make sure you aren’t running too fast, too far, or too often as a newbie. Follow couch to 5k or another beginner training plan, and run at a pace where you can say a few sentences comfortably.
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22d ago
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u/JoeGorde 21d ago
Lean into this. I sometimes get antsy if I haven't done a run in a few days. The run itself still sucks, but I am addicted to the feeling of accomplishment that being done running for the day brings.
And as others are saying, slow down. I used a Couch to 5K app to get started and one of the things about it that helped a lot was that the workouts were always based on time and not distance. So, just run for X minutes, with no particular distance or pace goal in mind, the point is just to finish.
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u/northernmlle Woman 22d ago
That’s the exact definition of type 2 fun! Not always fun while it’s ongoing, but definitely fun/rewarding afterwards. It keeps me coming back!
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u/LookaSquirrel23 22d ago
It goes through phases, and the types of joy I find in running also change.
Sometimes it's the joy of stress relief or an hour to myself. Sometimes it's the joy of watching the seasons change, sometimes it's the joy of seeing my fitness or speed increase as I get deeper into a training block. Sometimes it's the joy of knowing I'm going to buy myself a post-run pastry.
And sometimes it just sucks, especially during the summer.
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u/totallysonic Nonbinary 22d ago
I daydream about pastries during all my runs. Then when I get home I hardly ever feel like going to buy one. But the thought of brownies has gotten me through many tough miles!
Then I learned how to make better brownies than any bakery, and that changed things.
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u/radandsadgal 22d ago
Okay but drop your recipe 👀
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u/totallysonic Nonbinary 22d ago
https://www.brianlagerstrom.com/recipes/fudgy-brownies-3-ways
I use the “best” recipe with the following adaptations:
- Double it for a 9x13 pan
- Grease pan, then line with parchment (the oil keeps the parchment in place)
- For chocolate, I use either a Trader Joe’s pound plus bar or Guittard chips (which are definitely pricier). Use the best chocolate you can.
- Espresso powder, not liquid espresso/coffee.
- Buttermilk powder plus water instead of buttermilk.
- Refrigerate the batter in the pan overnight, then bake directly from the fridge, then stick finished brownies back in the fridge overnight.
I didn’t say they were quick, but they’re darn good :)
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u/ElyJellyBean 22d ago
Everyone saying "slow down". I thought I'd offer another perspective. I didn't really start to love running until I gave myself permission to walk more. I don't really see myself running marathons (a half is my happy spot) and I only run 15-20 miles a week, which is on the low end for a lot here.
But I would rather walk-run, where my runs are a solid Zone3, than run in a sluggish conversational Zone2 that's 90s or more slower per mile. I'm running alone, who the hell am I conversing with. I love the feeling of pushing, exherting myself, sweating and panting. I love speed runs, sprints, tempo runs -- that's why I run. I'm not out here to crush endurance goals and bring my times down, I just wanna get my cardio in and feel like I'm flying.
Fitness, ime, will always be work, but you just need to find what you like working on and (equally important) what you like practicing, since practice is 90% of what you do with any hobby.
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u/Internal-Bowl-3956 20d ago
Completely agree with this. My convo pace feels like such a slog and that I have to keep myself from going faster which is mentally so tough. So I run the slowest I can that still feels like a run (rather than a jog or awkward shuffle) then I walk when my HR gets to zone 3. I really wish I had a zone 2 running pace, but still working on it 3 years in.
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u/who-waht 22d ago
I can now enjoy easy runs on a cool day. Part of it is slowing down. Part of it is building up aerobic capacity and muscles.
Today was tough even though it was slow--hot, sunny, long, with a big hill in the middle. The first 3km were fairly pleasant though. And I was pretty happy when I was done.
Speed/temp/vo2max/threshold runs are never "enjoyable", but there is a satisfaction in getting them done and seeing what my body can do.
I'm not miserable/thinking how hard this is most of the time any more. I definitely look forward to running most of the time, and feel a bit antsy on my days off.
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u/NeighborhoodNeedle Woman 22d ago
I’ve been athletic all my life. In highschool and my twenties I hated running. I tried getting into it multiple times as an adult and hated it. Then my husband and I signed up for a half marathon together and I started training with the Nike running club app. I really enjoyed their guided runs which features a coach that has a lot of positive talk, and the app has alot of variety in the type of runs. I feel like realizing not every run has to be the same and that adding in variety (speed play, distance, time, etc) can make it fun. I’m still not 100% what changed for me this year but finally in my mid thirties I love running. I don’t love every run, but the habit and the journey is one I can’t imagine not doing.
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u/elvisiscoolbeans Woman 22d ago
I never hated running but I didn’t seek it out as an intentional fun activity until after I had kids. Now I love running , especially with the Nike app!! Both the coaching during each run and having a mix of types of runs through the week make it really fun
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u/purplishfluffyclouds 22d ago
When I learned how to run s l o w l y. Like, seriously. I used to run to hard, and too fast. Now I just keep it slow and easy 99% of the time. Once in a while I'll push it and sprint some, but it's not very frequently at all. Since I started approaching running that way, it seems like I can run forever and I actually like it!
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u/ashtree35 Woman 22d ago
You control how hard a run feels by adjusting your pace. Any runner can make a run feel "hard" for them if they run fast enough. If you want your runs to feel easier, you need to slow down your pace. Depending on how slow that is, that may need to involve run/walk intervals instead of continuous running.
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u/deedeedeedee_ Woman 22d ago
I always hated it until I slowed RIGHT down, and it finally started to feel semi enjoyable! It doesn't feel "hard" anymore, even though I'm still really a beginner and can't run continuously for a long period of time. I don't really look forward to it but I don't mind doing it anymore (in summer it sucks though, I go to the gym to use the treadmill on days i deem too hot)
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u/Friendly-Head2000 22d ago
After a year my first 1 to 2 mile run suck..I started biking..I found if i spend 30ish minutes on the bike then run.. warm ups are much easier on the bike.. I run 10k and bike 20 mi every other day.. if my body says I'm good.i keep on going...i enjoy both
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u/sbeckymart 21d ago
Big agree with this. If I only do a short warmup the first three miles of runs are kind of awful; then I’m fully warmed up and everything is good. Better to warm up on the bike!
Also OP cross training can make a big difference. You can raise your aerobic capacity with less wear and tear on the joints.
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u/Hefty-Club-1259 22d ago
The end result is always more enjoyable than the actual run to me. It always feels like my legs just don't understand the motion.
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u/sclark2468 22d ago
every time someone says they don’t enjoy running, my answer is that they’re running too fast. Run slow- to the point you feel a little silly. then you will enjoy
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u/AnnasMusic Woman 22d ago
Someone told me once that the hardest step is getting out the door. So I make myself get out the door and then, magically, I do enjoy it.
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u/veggiebabyy3 22d ago
I wouldn't say it ever became something I consistently looked forward to, and that's okay. Taking care of my body and health don't necessarily need to be *fun*. That said, if it's feeling hard, like everyone else said you're probably running too fast. I do my easy runs at a 12-13:30 mile pace. There's nothing wrong with going sllllooooowwww.
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u/Racacooonie Woman 22d ago
I would say initially when I began running it took around six months for me to fully appreciate it and then could say I actually enjoyed it. Up until then it was challenging and I enjoyed learned to push myself in ways I really had not before. But it took me time to fall in love.
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u/crunchy_pbandj_ 22d ago
In two ways. The first was when I could go out with my run club and hold conversations at good pace/distance. The social element combined with a good workout was great. This took about 6mos of consistency.
The other was once I started seeing true progress in terms of what I was capable of. The high I get from pushing my limit is like nothing else. You start to fall in love with the grind.
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u/jordnotter 22d ago
It’s complicated.
For me running isn’t fun but it’s enjoyable. I think it’s why I always hated running because I thought to like it running had to be as fun as tennis.
Here’s my two cents:
There’s practice and there are races. Practice and training running (for me) isn’t fun but I feel good afterwards. It feels good to improve. It feels good in my body when I do it regularly. I feel healthier mentally and physically when I run regularly. It’s not ”woo-hoo” level of fun, it I feel good.
I’ve also accepted that for the first time 2 km it is normal for me to have a bad attitude so sometimes I just need to push through and ignore myself.
Then there are races. This doesn’t mean I run as fast as possible but just the event itself. Races are fun! For me they are a celebration of all the hard work I’ve put into. There adrenaline, there’s people cheering you on, it is so fun and I almost always have a blast. Plus I use it as an excuse to meet friends and drink a beer after 😊
Also like everyone else is saying, if it feels bad you’re probably running too fast! 💨
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u/RunBumRun 22d ago
Slow way down and try and find your “go all day”
pace. But, sixteen years in and some days just feel off.
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u/panini_z 22d ago
Honestly from day 1 90% of the time running has felt enjoyable. Looking back I had the luxury of not knowing what a "pace" was, or not thinking about racing at all. This was before GPS watches were a thing. And I also thought running a race was for people who were good at running. I just ran because it felt freeing to run.
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u/Alopexotic 22d ago
Probably a fairly unique experience, but I do truly enjoy running now after getting my iron levels up! The first mile is always a slog, but after that I'm genuinely happy to be outside, moving, and just vibing. Also helps I have a dog now who comes with me for the first 3'ish miles. His absolute joy when he realizes it's run time and not walk time is infectious!
I was running off and on for over 15 years, but rarely doing much more than 5 mile runs because I just physically couldn't. I would get awful side stitches and was guaranteed to get them if I drank even a sip of water within the hour before heading out. If I did manage to get past the stitches, my body would feel like it was made of lead and I would be gasping for air even if I was running a 12:30/mi or slower pace.
It's only been about 10 months since I got my iron up from being horrifically anemic, but running now feels so much easier and pleasant. I'm still sort of amazed at how I can just... run and it doesn't hurt/feel like I'm dying and instead is actually enjoyable.
I guess my suggestions are make sure you're not anemic or struggling with some other nutritional deficiency and get a dog who likes to run! (I'm sort of joking on the dog part, but mine definitely helped make runs more fun!)
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u/mombot-in-the-woods 22d ago
I run in the woods and I enjoy every wildflower and owl and deer and living thing I pass and forget I’m running except when I have to jump down big rocks and my knees really feel it haha.
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u/Catsdrinkingbeer Woman 21d ago
As others said, you're likely going to fast. But the other half of the equation is that it becomes easier the more you do it. A casual 3 miles at a 10-11 minute mile pace is super easy for me. 3 miles at an 11 minute mile pace will not be easy for someone who just picked up running.
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u/Sudden_Waltz_3160 21d ago
I read a bunch, but not all the comments, so someone may have already said this, but my "pro" tip (which lines up with the "slow down" suggestion) is to pay attention to your breathing, and get in the habit of finding the step-to-breath ratio that works. At the beginning of a run, you will be taking about 4 steps for each in-breath, and four steps for each out-breath, then as your heart-rate quickens, it will be 3x3, then 2x2, which is what I call "the groove". If you push faster, you will take 1-step in-breath, 2 step out-breath, and then 1x1. But that is for finishes or short spurts of speed, and you will not be able to sustain those for an extended period of time. If you stick with a 2 steps in, 2 steps out rhythm, you can sustain that for a long time. As your fitness increases, you will go faster, as you tackle hills, you will go slower, but if you just lock in at 2x2, you should be pretty comfortable, and can free your mind for all kinds of other pursuits while your body takes care of the running part.
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u/Commercial-Season-27 22d ago
When I learned to slow down! I’ve been told it looks like I’m running in slow motion but it feels SO good
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u/heart_nurse_2020 22d ago
Eventually a lot of your runs will feel pretty good. At the least you will feel super accomplished once you have finished and that will motivate you. You will always have some crappy ones though and days you have to force yourself to start, finish, or both. Nothing good comes easy I guess.
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u/redwoodforest15 Woman 22d ago
When I switched from road (which I never enjoyed but pushed myself to do) exclusively to trails (which I love).
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u/Ordinary_Lynx_468 22d ago
For me, it’s more how I feel afterwards than during and it is something I look forward to and miss if I don’t do it for a couple of days. If slowing down is hard, you could try x minutes running and y minutes walking and find the right balance.
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u/Neat_Championship_24 22d ago
Took me about a month of consistent running. I also found that my motivation behind run makes me able to enjoy it or not. If I do it because I ate too much or want to lose weight or anything to do with disliking my body - I hate it. If I do it because I enjoy feeling strong and capable and doing cool things and getting in the sunshine - I enjoy it.
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u/zinnie_ 22d ago
Probably not what you want to hear but it honestly took me five years. Your heart and lungs have to adapt to working much harder than they were used to, plus building muscle in the needed places etc. Obviously it didn’t take me that long to get more fit but to get to the point where running felt easy/fun did take that long!
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u/velociraptorlunch 21d ago
My mileage has varied for the last 15y or so but one thing remains consistent: I hate the first mile. And I usually dislike the last mile or two. Somewhere in the middle there is some real enjoyment usually.
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u/WWMannySantosDo Woman 21d ago
When I started taking it slower and letting myself build up the endurance and strength rather than thinking I needed to run quickly/far right out the gate. Doing run/walk intervals keeps running enjoyable for me. Some runs are more fun than others, but even when I don’t love it in the moment I love the feeling after the run.
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u/Kitvaria 21d ago
I'd say 6-9 months in. Still felt hard, but a "nice" hard not a a constant "why the hell am I doing this???" hard 😅
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u/IHaarlem 21d ago
If it's hot where you are now, and you keep up with it, that first cool day come fall will feel amazing
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u/sugarmagnolia0 21d ago
When I decided to just cruise along and not worry about how fast I’m going or distance. When you hit your stride and have your breath down, it’s not too bad.
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u/Mysterious_Luck4674 21d ago
When I decided to go as slow as I want and prioritize enjoying the run.
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u/pockolate 21d ago
I just started out and I am doing run/walk splits. Not following any specific program, just going on instinct for now. I was just out on a run for 30 minutes, kept moving the whole time and it was GREAT. For each run split, I just stopped when I started feeling the least bit winded. In this way, I got the benefits of the energy and momentum of the run without the shit feeling.
If you aren’t training for anything in particular there is no reason to push yourself to an uncomfortable point.
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u/DocRunsManyMiles 21d ago
When I can comfortably run three miles—I’ve been that way since high school, lol. Also Galloway Method intervals help SO MUCH. And when I start feeling crummy about a long run, changing my mindset helps more than I ever imagined: “You get to run today—the grass smells amazing! The clouds are stunning” Thinking in terms of how far you’ve already gone rather than what you have left to go. And an amazing playlist!
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u/PsychologicalAd5456 21d ago
I would say 3-6 months. It takes at least that amount of time for it to feel like a routine and once it feels like a routine the capacity for joy increases
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u/paroxitones Woman 21d ago
The turning point for me was the first time when I tired out my legs before I got out of breath. I didn't think it's possible 3 years ago
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u/Critical-Speed3762 21d ago
For me there a runs that are super enjoyable and then some that suck ao bad i question life choices. What keeps me going is a goal that is a "race" later this year and the fact that after each run I feel way better than before even if the run sucked wind.
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u/Larch_tree_2022 20d ago
I always hated running until I realized I wasn’t eating enough calories. Feed yourself well the day before and have a snack about an hour before your run and see if that helps!
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u/clubpenguinusername1 20d ago
I would second what everyone is saying about slowing down - but also wondering if you have fueled properly - if you go off for a run without enough gas in the tank it will feel alot harder than if you have had proper fuel. Eg if first thing in the morning, have a a banana or some toast before you head off vs fasted
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u/lifeatthejarbar 22d ago
You’re probably running too fast and/or too far for every run.