Beginner Runner

dum de dum

Hi,

I'm hoping to get some advice please. I have recently taken up running and at the start I was surprised with how well it was going. I was up to about 3km in the first two weeks and I was finding it tough but pretty manageable. In the last couple of weeks I feel like my fitness has gone backwards. I'm running the same distances but I'm having to slow down to take walking breaks.

I'm getting really disillusioned with the whole thing. I'm pretty active, would walk to work everyday, I also play tag rugby a couple of times a week. I just don't get it - why am I getting less fit? Can someone please help before I end up a failed runner!!! Thanks

madon

I don't know why it happens so can't advice you there but it happened to me too- I was going great then I just seemed to stall for a few weeks, I was getting to the point where I thought this is it and all of a sudden it passed and I hit a new 'level'
What I done was I changed my training- I took a few days off, then I found new routes to run, I do a couple of runs a week for time and a couple for the distance ie I run for an hour twice a week and I run one 4km and one 5km then the other run is more of a fun run I don't time it or measure the distance I go cross country a bit and end up walking half of it coz its up and down rocky paths etc. Before I ran the same route every run.

ecoli

dum de dum wrote: »

Hi,

I'm hoping to get some advice please. I have recently taken up running and at the start I was surprised with how well it was going. I was up to about 3km in the first two weeks and I was finding it tough but pretty manageable. In the last couple of weeks I feel like my fitness has gone backwards. I'm running the same distances but I'm having to slow down to take walking breaks.

I'm getting really disillusioned with the whole thing. I'm pretty active, would walk to work everyday, I also play tag rugby a couple of times a week. I just don't get it - why am I getting less fit? Can someone please help before I end up a failed runner!!! Thanks

Have your paces changed at all?

RayCun

How often are you running? You might have pushed yourself a little hard, and now your body is recovering?

You should be able to keep it up. If you slow down, you'll find it easier to run for longer (and your pace will improve with time). Take rest days in between your runs. Don't always run the same distance, mix it up a bit with shorter runs and longer runs.

dum de dum

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I think I could be running a bit faster, I'm finding it really hard to pace myself. Also run in the mornings before work and I can't eat beforehand (would be sick) so not sure if that is part of it. Have zero energy some mornings. Anyway will hopefully just keep at it.

Gibs

Perhaps you are running low on 'fuel'? If you don't eat beforehand for some time and if you have low bodyweight you may be experiencing low blood sugar. Try eating some carbs before you exercise. It might also be worth gong to visit your gp to make sure there isn't a medical explanation.