Should jogging be this hard?

fasty

Forgive my ignorance here, I'm new to fitness but have been getting in shape over the past few weeks by visiting the gym and doing a little cardio and weights and watching what I eat

Basically I *thought* was at a fitness level that would allow me to go for a jog in the mornings but this morning at 6am I realized I'm just not able for it.

I found I could only jog one or two hundred meters before gasping for breath. It just seems to tough to get the pace right and the impact of it makes it hard to keep my breath! With cross trainers and rowing machines it's easy to find a rhythm.

Any pointers on what I should do? Is it normal? Should I just stick with it?

Oh, I have a history of pulmonary sarcoidosis, an inflammation of the lungs that has left *some* scar tissue but I was told there's no reason I can't lead an active life, I don't expect to be able to run flat out for 30 minutes, just to be able to jog a few KM every morning without choking!

comer_97

if you are out of breath after a couple of hundred metres either you are really out of shape or you are going too fast.

Try purposely going slowly. it seems weird at first but you will notice you will go further this way.

Alternatively you can jog / run until you are out of breath and then walk until you get your breath back and run / jog again and repeat...

hunnymonster

try to walk a little bit before you break into a run. It might help.

Money Shot

If your not used to it, Running is tough, very tough, and like the poster above stated, try going slow and forget about distances covered. Jog slowly for as far as you can, then walk a bit and get your breath back, and repeat. Call it a day then. Try and increase the time you jog initially each time you go out, even by a minute or two. After a couple of months, you should be able to stop talking breaks and be able to run 30 minutes plus without stopping.
It's always very very hard starting jogging again after a while - don't get disheartened, a lot of people will be in eve a worse situation than you are and have to start of walking, then walking faster and building from there. Take it slowly - there's no rush, just don't give in.

hunnymonster

Another thing is that in my experience is you will be surprised how quickly you get used to it. On the 11th August 2004 I was a complete couch potato. On the 12th August 2004 my friend dragged me to the gym. I had been a competative sprinter as a child. We got on the threadmill and 5 minutes later I fell off it in a miserable heap of redness and sweat. Another friend, only half joking, offered to call an ambulance. I thought I was going to die! On 25th October 2004 I ran my first marathon.

fasty

Thanks folks, that was just what I needed to hear. Even though my attempts this morning have knackered me and I was on a downer during breakfast, I actually feel awesome at the moment!

It was the same when I was getting used to equipment in the gym (I'm still getting used to it), it's slowly but surely getting easier. I just didn't expect it to be so much harder to jog/run.

Brown_Eyed_Girl

Have you tried jogging in the evening ???? I ask this as I have taking up jogging in the last few months and have found it though going tbh, but I find that I just am not able for it in the morning at all, I have pulled my back, hurt my ankle, the lot, but I have absolutely no problem going for a 6 km run in the evening.

Also building up slowly from a fast walk to a run is definately the way to go, you will find yourself improving every single week,

fasty

I haven't tried going in the evenings yet but I'll give it a shot and see if I fare any better.

rubadub

hunnymonster wrote:

Another thing is that in my experience is you will be surprised how quickly you get used to it.

I think this is true. I am no use at running, I dont do it. However I can cycle very fast and pass probably 95%+ of people on the road on my bike. In a similar way though I have mates who can run well who could not hope to catch me on a bike.

I have no need nor desire to be able to run fast so dont really bother trying to. If I was taking part in sports like soccer I probably would include it in my exercises, but I mainly exercise to lose weight and be fast on my bike to work.

davyjose

hunnymonster wrote:

Another thing is that in my experience is you will be surprised how quickly you get used to it. On the 11th August 2004 I was a complete couch potato. On the 12th August 2004 my friend dragged me to the gym. I had been a competative sprinter as a child. We got on the threadmill and 5 minutes later I fell off it in a miserable heap of redness and sweat. Another friend, only half joking, offered to call an ambulance. I thought I was going to die! On 25th October 2004 I ran my first marathon.

That's very impressive hunnymonster - well done

hunnymonster

davyjose wrote:

That's very impressive hunnymonster - well done

I'm just lucky I guess. Running was just a case of putting one leg in front of the other. Learning to swim however is proving to be a whole other ball game. weights are really helping though and this morning for the first time ever, someone complimented my stroke. <beam>