Re-starting running is such misery.

[Susie]

I ran the Philly Half on 11/17, and then took a generous month off to totally rest my Achilles that had flared up this training cycle.  I swam and/or rode my bike on the trainer 3-4x/week during that time, so I didn't gain weight or sit on the couch.  I went for my first run last week, and it was tough.  I chalked it up to being hot, being on the TM w/o a fan at the gym, and having given blood 2 days prior.

So this weekend I went for my usual 3 mile loop outside.  I thought it'd go better.  (Fail.)  I went suuuuuper slow, needed a walk break to get my heart rate down, and am still feeling it 2 days later.  WTH happened to me!?  Two runs ago I was doing a half marathon at an average pace faster than I ran this weekend. 

A year ago I had to start from scratch after 9 months off following a stress fracture.  It'll come back easier than last time, right?

[hannahb]

I'm hoping it gets better because I'm in the same boat you are. I am running but it's sooo slow. It'll come back!

[runaways]

I've done this a couple times in the past few years thanks to school and started to notice that getting back to that minimum level of a comfortable 3 miles run was really hard, but once I got some momentum I was able to build mileage pretty fast. I think you'll be okay soon!

[gt7301b]

This is why non-runners think running sucks. They go out and it feels like your run and they never want to run again. Keep at it, it will get better.

[jordylee]

I hear you! I ran a PR marathon in October, and I've been pretty slack-tastic ever since. Last week I decided to get back into the swing of things, and I am dying. Holy crap, I feel so slow and sluggish and wimpy. Hopefully my legs will remember what they're supposed to do after a few weeks.

[jchokie79]

This is me too! Except I'm worse off than you are. I pretty much stopped running after my first Half in SEPT!!!

Starting my 18 week training today for a May Half. I already know it ain't gonna be pretty!!!

[pixy0stix]

ungh, I'm in the same boat, except I didn't run a half.

[Wines Not Whines]

Yeah, I'm with you. I've basically been a slug since Thanksgiving, and almost all of my runs have sucked. I'm supposed to be training for a half marathon, which I'm running in less than 2 weeks, but I haven't been doing anything. I'm in trouble.

[taratru]

This is not what I want to hear right now.

I'm sorry your run was blah....it'll get better!

[labbie]

Dec 30, 2013 13:41:29 GMT -5 runaways said:

I've done this a couple times in the past few years thanks to school and started to notice that getting back to that minimum level of a comfortable 3 miles run was really hard, but once I got some momentum I was able to build mileage pretty fast. I think you'll be okay soon!

I agree- what is it about the 3 mile mark? No matter how much I run/have run in the past, I pretty much always hate the first 3 miles. Ugh.  I'm worried about what my couple week hiatus has done to my beginner running levels. Will find out tomorrow I guess.

[kams]

Hang in there Susie. I think it will return faster this time. Like runaways said, keep at it and get some momentum going, and your build will happen quickly.

[skwcm80]

I'm sorry you didn't have a great run, I hope they get easier soon.

[gt7301b]

Dec 30, 2013 14:41:26 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Yeah, I'm with you. I've basically been a slug since Thanksgiving, and almost all of my runs have sucked. I'm supposed to be training for a half marathon, which I'm running in less than 2 weeks, but I haven't been doing anything. I'm in trouble.

I see you on mfp.  If you're a slug I'm a dead rat

[joenali]

Before you know it, you will be feeling great!

[thebulldog]

Dec 30, 2013 15:29:30 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

Dec 30, 2013 14:41:26 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Yeah, I'm with you. I've basically been a slug since Thanksgiving, and almost all of my runs have sucked. I'm supposed to be training for a half marathon, which I'm running in less than 2 weeks, but I haven't been doing anything. I'm in trouble.

I see you on mfp.  If you're a slug I'm a dead rat

Ditto. You are far from slug.

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[Susie]

I am not glad so many of you are doing this too, but I am glad not to be alone if that makes sense!

[humpforfree]

This will be me in march/April. I had to stop running when I got pregnant (this summer!) due to pelvic rest and then later/now sciatica that makes it hard to even walk. I plan on restarting c25k ASAP and doing a May 5k and attempting to train for MCM (I had to defer from this year). Yikes.

[wanderlustmom]

It is indeed misery.  My nephew is a freshman in high school and he's a nationally ranked swimmer. Poor kid has to train for his swimming on our vacations, without fail, Eric is in the pool two hours a day.  My DS loves soccer (now he's not as good at soccer as his cousin is at swimming but still) and he can take a few weeks off or a month off to recharge and relax and he's fine.  It's been a huge problem for Eric.  He's an incredible swimmer and he might get a college scholarship but it's the pits that he gets burned out so much.  Running is the same.  Damn price you pay for this kind of exercise.  Just keep with it, you will be fine.  But I agree with you.  It's so hard to see yourself lose fitness but it's also so critical to avoid injury. I tell myself frequently to run for health not the time.

[Susie]

Dec 30, 2013 17:10:43 GMT -5 wanderlustmom said:

My nephew is a freshman in high school and he's a nationally ranked swimmer. Poor kid has to train for his swimming on our vacations, without fail, Eric is in the pool two hours a day.  My DS loves soccer (now he's not as good at soccer as his cousin is at swimming but still) and he can take a few weeks off or a month off to recharge and relax and he's fine.  It's been a huge problem for Eric. 

Man, that was my life; I feel for him.  Swimming is so hard with that, because unlike running (which you can more or less do anywhere if you put your mind to it), pool access can be hard to come by when traveling.  Especially any kind of decent pool with an empty lane. 

I love traveling now (see my poll on MM, lol) because I couldn't when I was a capital-s Swimmer.  I was in the pool 50 weeks a year, and the 2 weeks I wasn't, I was at the beach with my family and swimming open water.  I loved it at the time, but it's a really limiting lifestyle.

[wanderlustmom]

Dec 30, 2013 17:18:14 GMT -5 Susie said:

Dec 30, 2013 17:10:43 GMT -5 wanderlustmom said:

My nephew is a freshman in high school and he's a nationally ranked swimmer. Poor kid has to train for his swimming on our vacations, without fail, Eric is in the pool two hours a day.  My DS loves soccer (now he's not as good at soccer as his cousin is at swimming but still) and he can take a few weeks off or a month off to recharge and relax and he's fine.  It's been a huge problem for Eric. 

Man, that was my life; I feel for him.  Swimming is so hard with that, because unlike running (which you can more or less do anywhere if you put your mind to it), pool access can be hard to come by when traveling.  Especially any kind of decent pool with an empty lane. 

I love traveling now (see my poll on MM, lol) because I couldn't when I was a capital-s Swimmer.  I was in the pool 50 weeks a year, and the 2 weeks I wasn't, I was at the beach with my family and swimming open water.  I loved it at the time, but it's a really limiting lifestyle.

Thanks for that perspective.  It has been hard for him.  He just wants to goof off and be a normal freshman.  His parents did let him take a break and he played basketball in eighth grade.  He sat the bench even being 6'3".  LOL.  His athleticism only translates to the pool. Now he's back and motivated but you are right--major commitment. I did not grow up with athletic family members--so seeing him in the pool doing the butterfly is really a work of art. I love that you swim and run and I love your MM poll.

[libbygrl109]

I am right there with you. I dropped off to only a couple times a week since Stockadeathon. My runs this past week have gotten progressively better, but I'm still not where I was back then. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow night during my 5K.

[Susie]

Dec 30, 2013 18:14:58 GMT -5 libbygrl109 said:

I am right there with you. I dropped off to only a couple times a week since Stockadeathon. My runs this past week have gotten progressively better, but I'm still not where I was back then. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow night during my 5K.

Totally off topic:  I just had a little chuckle seeing that typed out.  Someone in my tri club posted on FB about that race a couple months back from his phone, and apparently if you type it on an iPhone, it auto corrects to "Stock a death on".  It became a running joke name for the race. 

[zoidberg]

I've run maybe 3 times since Labor Day. I hate everything. And I am scared for myself when I get back to it.

[gncorman]

I am right there with you!! I am restarting this week and am actually nervous about running!! I know it is going to be hard, I will hate it, and not want to run again. Your perspective is helping me know the mindset I need to have.
Hang in there with all of us!!

[MrsE]

I hear ya, Susie! It is *so* hard to come back. This is my 3rd comeback in 4 years (mainly due to injuries/surgeries) and it's tough!

Good luck!

[libbygrl109]

Dec 30, 2013 19:22:06 GMT -5 Susie said:

Dec 30, 2013 18:14:58 GMT -5 libbygrl109 said:

I am right there with you. I dropped off to only a couple times a week since Stockadeathon. My runs this past week have gotten progressively better, but I'm still not where I was back then. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow night during my 5K.

Totally off topic:  I just had a little chuckle seeing that typed out.  Someone in my tri club posted on FB about that race a couple months back from his phone, and apparently if you type it on an iPhone, it auto corrects to "Stock a death on".  It became a running joke name for the race. 

LOL! I definitely felt like that at times running up some of those hills at the end!

[Deleted]

Lol.  Yeah, starting back I really questioned how I ever ran and decided I was crazy.  It feels so much better now. 

[water*drop]

I'm here, too. I took a planned couple of weeks off after my half on 11/9, and then there was snow and ice and just being super busy with no race on the calendar for motivation made it too easy to skip runs...so here I am, struggling through short runs that were easy two months ago.

[spunkypenguin]

I'm in this boat too. I just started back training for my next half in March. I ran high mileage pretty much all year since my half last march, but got burnt out and cut WAY back after my half and tough mudder in October...like I haven't done more than a 10K since then. The highest mileage I ran this month was 4mi...and I ate like I was still training for a half! Needless to say, running 7 miles this past Sunday felt like torture and made me wonder how I ever ran a half before! Getting back on track with running and gotta get these extra holiday pounds off too!

[elletr13]

Hope this boat is big because I'm on it too. I trained for a half that was scheduled for 12/7 then cancelled...I've ran maybe 5 times since. I'm squeezing every last drop out of my vacation (read: lots of movies and naps with the dog) and have my training plan for a 3/16 half ready to kick off on 1/6.