Running mentality- is it just me?

[cransplash]

I am sorry to ask these questions and it could just be me since I am fairly still new to running. I have only run 1 5k and am trying to get to 6k mileage (and eventually 10-11 miles to run Ragnar FLK).

Mile 1- Why am I doing this? Do I even enjoy this?

Mile 2- Eh, it is ok. Not bad, not great. Just going through motions and trying to push through

Mile 4- I feel really good- I am actually enjoying this and smiling. I may be able to crank out another mile

Is this just me? I am hopeful it will continue getting easier to do longer distances.

[hannahb]

It's not just you. It takes me a few miles to warm up and I feel all tight and "why am I out here?" Then I feel good (most days). Running is never the same on any given day. Some days are good, some are bad, some are just ehhh.
Keep at it. The rewards far outweigh those bad days and yucky miles

[hannahb]

And don't feel silly asking questions. That's what more experienced runners ("fast" and "slow" alike) are for!

[loremipsum]

For the first 15 minutes of every.single.run, this is basically on repeat in my head: "Why am I doing this? This is awful. I feel stiff. This sucks. Who the hell voluntarily gets out of bed at the crack of dawn to do this?!" Most days it improves, but the start is pretty much always the same.

[clseale]

Totally normal. I can't remember the last time (if ever), that I enjoyed mile 1.

[mrshandy]

It took a while before I really didn't have that "ugh I hate this" for the first mile. Now I get it around 5-6 miles or more depending on the mileage usually around 45-55% through my run. When I've gone a decent amount and still have a decent amount left.

I'm like "why am I doing this? I don't want to run anymore." Then I just keep going and try to chill out.

[bostonmichelle]

I've only been running since November so take it with a grain of salt, but most days I feel like this until about mile 1. Then I hit my stride and am like oh I can do this, I can run a million miles today, I feel great. Somedays it is just a sucky run and I feel like WTF am I doing out here the entire time.

I talked to my sister's boyfriend one day while warming up for a race and he was like I've realized that mile 1 of any run just sucks and that's it, once I get thru that I'm fine.

[gt7301b]

Right now my thoughts are more along the lines of, "why the hell am I waking up so early to run if it is still hot and humid?"

But I wanted to add that it is okay to not enjoy running, maybe some other sport is more your thing. 

[ebeth]

I was just thinking yesterday that I have been running for nearly two decades and the first mile is still the hardest.

I would say like 75% of my runs involve me wanting to quit and questioning why I do it at some point. most of the time it's just a fleeting thought that I can work through. which is an important skill to have for racing.

as a whole, I would say that I enjoy myself though. if you don't walk away from most of your runs feeling like you enjoyed yourself you might want to explore a new activity. you also might just be someone who doesn't like exercise very much but recognizes the need to do it for health reasons and find that running is the exercise you hate the least/works best with your schedule/most affordable/or whatever and continue running and that's fine too.

[no0b]

It takes me a couple miles to get into my groove.

[gummybear]

I hate running for the first 3 miles. This is why I despise 5Ks.

[trigal]

Totally normal. I don't feel like I'm really running until I hit 4-5 miles.

[finallykrisb]

Not just you. I hate life for the first two miles of every run.

[biomaj5]

I am not happy until around 3 miles into a run. Lately, I haven't been able to get my breathing under control for at least the first 2 miles if I'm running outside. I've been running for 2.5 years.

[derbycitycook]

Definitely not just you. It takes me a mile or two to get in my groove. It doesn't help that the first half mile from my house is all uphill!

[boston340]

I'll echo the other ladies and say that it takes me 1-2 miles to really get in the groove. For me, the last mile is almost always craptastic too: no matter what the distance. I think the last mile is a mental issue for me.

[taratru]

Ugh. I was just thinking this morning "get to mile two". Then it took til three and I was worried the whole run would suck. It didn't.

[jene]

Totally normal!

[sassystace]

Yep, totally normal. It takes me like 2.5 miles to warm up to where its not a mental struggle. I think it gets easier with time but probably b/c you know that it will get better as you keep going.

[tuggyruns]

Jul 24, 2014 7:34:59 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

Right now my thoughts are more along the lines of, "why the hell am I waking up so early to run if it is still hot and humid?"

But I wanted to add that it is okay to not enjoy running, maybe some other sport is more your thing. 

THIS. 

But also, glad to hear other echo my sentiments of "why do these first 2 miles suck, I thought I was a decent runner?!" It's been hard for me to get out the door with the aforementioned combo!

[Wines Not Whines]

Completely normal. I don't start to enjoy my runs until after I hit mile 3, which is when I get into a good groove. I have a lot of friends who have done Couch to 5k and they've continued doing only 30-minute runs, and they say they don't really enjoy it. I really don't enjoy 30-minute runs either. I do, however, enjoy 60-90 minute runs.

[labbie]

It is not just you- I thought running sucked until I made it past a 5K distance. To this day, I truly enjoy my long runs much more than my shorter ones. I must just  need more time to warm up/find my groove.

[AHappierHour]

I have the same thoughts too. I just keep pushing and I'm happy I did it when I'm done.

[sadlebred]

For me, it completely depends on the ride. There are some that I am good from the start. There are some that it takes me 10-15 minutes to get into my groove, and others that I never find my rhythm on. I push through it and almost never regret finishing my ride.

[cransplash]

I'm glad to read it isn't just me. Overall, I truly enjoy running- more than just the health and physical benefits. I am glad I can get to 4 miles and feel "great". Hopefully I can increase my mileage (slowly) and still feel that way. The last 2 days, it has felt refreshing to get to mile 4 and feel "I can do this, and I FEEL like I want to go more!"

[secretlyevil]

This is why I listen to music, it helps drown out my brain and let's me zone out. It's definitely not just you. First 10 minutes or so I take stock of every muscle. It's really dumb.

[spunkypenguin]

I agree with the others who say it takes a good 3 miles to really get warmed up and feel good, so I really limit my 5Ks...by the time I start to enjoy it, it is over! You are definitely not alone!

[venice2007]

Jul 26, 2014 11:22:21 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I usually hate life until mile 4.

Me too. Somewhere between mile 3-4 something clicks and I'm all I love running! Wheeee.... Until then I hate running. Every single run I'm all, this sucks, I'm turning around (miles 0-3) then I zone out and at some point I come back to my thoughts and I'm all, wow I feel great. What was I thinking. Running is the best
That's why I love my long runs. They are harder but I enjoy them soooooooooo much more. Short runs I feel wonky, short of breath, sore, like I've never run a day in my life.
Anything under 3-4 blows