It's normal that you feel like you “hate running” in your first couple of runs. Running is not easy. But don't give up too fast. Most runners start out feeling bored, but actually learn to love running with time.
Your biological makeup does influence how fast and far you'll go, says Silverman. The point: Just because your body isn't designed to power through a marathon or hit a six-minute mile without breaking a sweat, it doesn't mean you can't run. And it doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Running is a sport that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter your fitness level or current ability. With that being said, from a physical outlook, there are a few exceptions. If you're recovering from a recent illness, surgery, or are experiencing chronic pain, running may not be suitable.
You may be suffering from burnout, whether from overtraining or simply from overwhelm in different areas of your life. Or it could be that you've just lost the enthusiasm you once had for running. You want to be an enthusiastic runner, but when it comes time to perform you just can't find the energy.
Feeling tired during a workout is a key sign that you need to improve your cardiovascular endurance. More than that, it's an indicator you need to work on your mental stamina and how you're preparing for your run.
Any cardio exercise can replace running. Low-impact alternatives include the elliptical, stair climber, cycling, rowing, or swimming. If you can handle high-impact activities, you can jump rope or do circuits or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with bodyweight movements like squats, lunges, and push-ups.
Keep your eyes on an object in the distance and try to clear your mind. Focus on physical sensations, like your breath or your feet hitting the ground. Repeat your running mantra if you have one. When your mind returns to your boredom or discomfort (and it will), keep steering it back to your breath.
Too Tired to Run
You may be tired because you have low blood sugar, so eat a snack or light meal at least an hour before running. If you find yourself feeling really tired as you start your run, start off by walking and then pick it up slowly. Commit to a short run (just 10 or 15 minutes).
Doing so for too much longer can decrease oxygen flow to the brain, causing fainting, seizures and brain damage. In the heart, a lack of oxygen can cause abnormalities of rhythm and affect the pumping action of the heart. It can damage your kidneys and liver as well. Let's discuss what this action does to our brain.
Runner's face is a term used to describe changes in the facial appearance that some runners may experience over time, including leathery, saggy, aging, lean, and tired-looking skin.
Overtraining, often referred to as burnout, is when the amount of training you do exceeds your recovery time, or when you push the body more than it can take with the amount of rest it's given. Symptoms can be physical or psychological and include: Chronic fatigue. Poor or worsening performance.
Fitness coach Niranjan Deshpande suggests, “A good distance to run in a day is between 2.4 to 5 km. This distance keeps all your muscles active and improves your heart health as well.”
O'Keefe says there is no definite age cutoff at which running is no longer good for you, but curbing it with age may be a good idea. “Many people find that their joints feel better if they do brisk walking rather than running after age 45 or 50,” he says.
There is no age limit to running.
To be able to continue running regularly in your seventies and enjoy it, you have to be realistic about your capacity. Your main aim should be to maintain a consistent routine, without getting too tired or getting injured.
No matter what your age is, running can be beneficial to your physical and mental health. Running is a great exercise to improve your cardiovascular system, and staying in good shape and moving your body is especially important as you grow older.