When Does Running Become Enjoyable?
When Does Running Become Enjoyable?
After hearing about the success of a friend’s running programme, you made the decision to begin your own a few weeks ago.
Running is exhausting and uncomfortable, despite the fact that it burns a lot of calories and makes you feel great.
Despite your best efforts, you haven’t yet reached the stage where jogging is something you look forwards to doing.’ If you’re worried that this goal will never be reached, you’re not alone. How long before running becomes a fun pastime?
At least 30 minutes of continuous running can make running more pleasurable over the course of up to eight weeks.
After that point, you’ll be able to run for extended periods of time without experiencing the exhaustion and pains that come with jogging.
Our focus today is on the reasons why running isn’t fun for you, as well as some ideas on how to make it more pleasurable.
There’s no need to stop reading if you’ve been jogging for a long time and feel like you’ve reached a wall.
Also Read: Should I Run Without Eating Breakfast?
Why You Aren’t Having a Good Time Running
Before you can figure out what it is about running that you find gratifying, you must first figure out what it is about it that you find frustrating.
Here are a few issues that you might be dealing with at the moment.
Also Read: Should I Run Without Socks?-The pros and cons
Running Exhausts You After a Short Period of Time
Given that you’ve tried every time of day and every weather condition, it doesn’t appear to make a difference when you go running.
Every time you finish a run, your energy reserves are depleted for the rest of the day as a result.
You can barely keep your eyes open for the next few hours after your run. By the time it gets dark, you’re passed out on the couch before you’ve even gotten to your bed.
Although you are aware that exercise is supposed to make it easier to sleep, this appears to be something entirely different. When you go for a run, you may feel as if you are sleepwalking through your life at times, but this is not the case.
You are having difficulty keeping up with your running group.
It doesn’t seem to matter when you go running now that you’ve tried every time of day and weather condition. Runs drain your energy reserves for the remainder of the day, so it’s best to avoid them if possible.
After a long run, you’ll be unable to stay awake for the next several hours. The sofa is where you fall asleep first, before you’ve even made it to your own bed.
This does not seem like the expected effect of exercising on the ability to fall asleep. Running might make you feel like you’re sleepwalking through life at times, but this isn’t the case.
You’re Constantly In Pain
In addition, you’re conscious of the discomfort to a great degree.
Even though you’ve been stretching and limbering up before every run since you first began, you’re still aching.
If you’re in the middle of a run and something comes up, you’ll need to stop and rest. After a long run, you are likely to be stiff and painful in the morning.
As a result, you feel even further behind the rest of the team in terms of production and efficiency when you take a few days off to relax and recharge.
Are they not feeling the same amount of discomfort as you are?
You’ve been doing it for a while, but your results aren’t improving.
You’ve put a lot of effort into your running since you’re not a person to give up easy.
Regardless of how long it’s been since you’ve been ill, you may believe that you aren’t getting better.
On top of all of that, you’ve been outpaced by everyone else.
Timed runs reveal that while your speed is stable, it’s not any faster than it was a few weeks previously.
An uneasy feeling permeates through your body that you may be doing something improperly.
You aren’t taking first place in any races.
In order to get better at running, some of you have decided to join up for an event such as the melbourne City Marathon.
However much time and effort you put into training for the race, you don’t even come close to placing first, second, or third.
There is a good chance that you are somewhere in the centre or maybe towards the back of the group.
Also Read: Should I run right after I wake up ?- 7 Helpful tips
The Same Old Routine Is Getting Boring
You go for a run every week on a specific day, and you always take the same route.
This is starting to seem like Groundhog Day in that you’re doing the same thing every single day.
As much as it pains you to admit it, you’ve grown tired of jogging.
When Will Running Be Pleasurable?
Is it possible that running will become more enjoyable at some point in the future? Despite your best efforts, you can’t seem to stick with it.
Running may be fun if you put in the effort to do so. Make sure to check out the section after this one for a wealth of running-related advice.
Running for you will be more rewarding if you feel you have a lack of skill.
Many new runners make the mistake of thinking that running is easy and everyone can do it.
After all, walking faster is all that’s required. They grow disappointed and may even give up if they aren’t immediately good at running..
Walking and running are not the same thing at all. If it were the case, everyone would do it.
You’ll require more energy, stamina, speed, and endurance when you first start jogging. Practice makes perfect, so put in as much time as you can!
Running for 30 minutes at a steady pace is your first goal. Running becomes more enjoyable when you are able to do it comfortably. You won’t feel strained or exhausted.
You should be able to keep up with your jogging group. After your runs, you’ll feel tired, but not exhausted enough to be unable to sleep.
How long will it take you to run for 30 minutes straight? Your degree of physical fitness has an impact on this.
Running for 30 minutes without stopping is possible for some novices after just two weeks of training.
Many first-time runners say it takes up to eight weeks to be ready for a race.
Exactly two months have passed since the last update.
At the very least, give yourself that much time. If you’re in good health and reasonably young, you should be able to achieve your objective in eight weeks.
Tips for Making Your Runs More Enjoyable
Running, as we mentioned in the last part, is only as much fun as you make it.
If you find that your runs aren’t bringing you as much joy as you’d want, here are some suggestions to help you rediscover your love of running.
The Community and the Neighbourhood.
Running is an extremely supportive community that is brimming with wonderful individuals.
As a result of being a runner, I’ve made wonderful friends both locally and quite literally throughout the world.
One of the things I enjoy most about coaching novice 5K groups is how the group develops a sense of community after a few weeks.
It is a collection of individuals that have similar reservations and are confronted with comparable difficulties.
Pace groups form naturally and new friendships are formed. It’s a lot of fun.
Run to a New Location & Explore New Places around your Local area
Every runner has their tried-and-true routes, but travelling to the same location all the time becomes monotonous. Worse, you’re not challenging your muscles in new ways.
You are familiar with every turn, curve, and bend on the road, so there is no need to push yourself.
You’ll be lot more attentive when running somewhere new because you’ll be getting to know your surroundings.
You’ll engage your muscles in ways you wouldn’t if you were running with your eyes closed.
As a word of caution, whether you’ve done it a hundred times or it’s your first time, always select a safe jogging route.
Wearing earbuds or headphones might make it difficult to hear someone or anything (such as a car or a dangerous animal) behind you.
Keep your eyes peeled and don’t run alone. After all, you want an enjoyable experience, not a scary, dangerous one!
Move at a Natural Pace that is suitable for You
You don’t have to strive to run like Usain Bolt, especially if you’re a complete beginner to running. You don’t even have to be the quickest person in your jogging group to benefit from this strategy.
Give yourself permission to run at a pace that seems manageable for you at this point in time.
Yes, your starting pace may appear to be a little sluggish, but here’s the thing:
If you continue to run, your speed will naturally begin to accelerate as you go.
Starting now, you’ll be passing folks in your running group who used to be able to run circles around you, and it’ll feel wonderful when you finally do.
The Reward.
Running can be hard, especially for beginners. You may ache, your lungs may burn.
But you will almost always feel better after a run. It’s hard to beat the sense of well-being and accomplishment gained from a tough workout.
You’ll also feel less guilty about the occasional indulgence in a favourite food or drink if running is part of your regular routine.
I tell my 10K group that I run so I can eat what I want, and that’s not far from the truth!
Get running game App.
In the event that you are having difficulty making jogging enjoyable for yourself, you can always turn to a game for assistance.
Apps that simulate running, such as Zombies, Go!, will transport you to a zombie-infested environment.
To avoid becoming a zombie yourself, you must flee from the voracious monsters who are after you.
A game like Zombies, Go! may completely change any jogging route, even those you’ve done a thousand times before, which is why we strongly suggest it.
You’ll be having so much fun that you’ll forget you’re even working out at all!
Find a group of people that you enjoy running with.
While we usually recommend that you run with at least one other person, it is OK to reevaluate your running companions from time to time.
If they are people who have a great deal more experience or abilities than you, you may not want to run with them until you have gained more experience or skills.
Every time you join them on a run, you’ll just make yourself feel worse about yourself, which may lead you to give up jogging entirely.
Begin your running trip with a partner who is at your similar level as you. Together, you and your partner may learn more about running, progress at a similar rate, and provide each other with encouragement and support along the road.
Furthermore, jogging with a friend holds you accountable, preventing you from skipping too many runs
Stress Release:
The escape from the daily grind’s pressures is truly enjoyable. Fresh air, strong sunlight, and a little perspiration may all contribute significantly to decreasing your stress load.
It might be difficult for a beginner runner to notice this since those early runs can be excruciatingly difficult, but after your body has acclimated, an easy run is one of the finest ways to unwind after a long day.
Run at a conversational pace.
As a novice runner, you should run at an easy, conversational speed, which means you should be able to converse easily (in whole phrases) with another runner while jogging.
If you’re jogging alone, a good indicator that you’re running at a conversational speed is your ability to sing a short song like “Jingle bells ” easily. If you are unable to do so and feel as though you are gasping for air, slow down or take a walk break.
Concluding Remarks
When Am I Going to Experience a Runner’s High?
While some runners have yet to experience the runner’s high, or the joyous, serene state experienced at the finish of a run, evidence suggests that it does exist.
Researchers in Germany used brain imaging to analyse runners’ brains following a two-hour run for the increased production of endorphins — those feel-good chemicals.
There is, however, no magic distance or length of running necessary to enjoy a runner’s high.
The answer, like with the preceding question, When Does Running Become More Fun?, varies according to the individual.
Following their first 30-minute continuous run, some runners may feel a runner’s high, while others may have never felt one in their years of running.
Additionally, once you’ve had the sensation, it does not necessarily mean you’ll feel the same way after every run – you may go a long period without experiencing it again.
Is it possible to “force” a runner’s high?
If you run the same distance and speed consistently, you may want to shake it up a bit and raise your effort somewhat to start creating those feel-good endorphins.
Change it up by running intervals or increasing your distance to see if it makes a difference.
Additionally, bear in mind that even if you do not feel a runner’s high, you will still benefit from a variety of benefits, ranging from stress reduction to increased self-esteem to improved cardiovascular health.
About the Author: I am a Digital Artist and also a fitness enthusiast, I am driven by my passion for fitness and wellness.
I love sharing my knowledge and experiences with others through writing, and I believe that by educating and inspiring others, I can help them live healthier and happier lives.
I write about fitness, diet, Muscle Building for men, and general wellness. I connect with readers and offer practical advice from my personal experiences and knowledge. I write useful, relatable articles for magazines, blogs, and books.
I’m a fitness, health, and wellness Enthusiast who’s always learning. I assist others to reach their fitness goals because I believe exercise and diet can change lives.
