I get so frustrated when I have been working hard to get faster as far as running goes and I havent seen much improvement. Everyone around me is getting faster though and they havent even been running as long as me. I dont understand why other people can get faster but I cant seem too. I have worked really hard to be able to run, having asthma and could never run before. I know that is an accomplishment in itself but I really want to get faster and I am starting to get discouraged because today my SIL told me about a couple of girls that last year I ran faster than improved their times one by 8 minutes the other by over 2min and I cant even bring my times down by 1 minute. what is up with that? I didnt run the same race as them but I keep hearing about other people improving their times and for some reason I cant seem to. I run at least 3-4 days a week, started doing itread and cardio coach workouts 1x week thinking the intervals would help this has been almost two months and nothing. It really makes me feel like a failure. this really means alot to me, dont ask me why maybe because I could never run before and I want to really achieve a better goal and prove to myself I can do it but nothing I have done is working. any tips or advice, did any of you try to get faster and couldnt? or if you couldnt and finally did what made it work for you?
frustrating
- Thread starter laura35
- Start date
lioness
Cathlete
Hi Laura,
First of all...Congratulations on working hard on your running. I don't have asthma but I know people that do and I know how hard it is to run with that condition.
I don't know how much help I will be to you. I just started running last October and have done four 5K's and one 10K. I'm not an expert in running and I probably never will be but since no one has responded, I'll give you my opinion.
I have a love/hate relationship with running. It's hard and there are days that I literally hate it but then there are times that it feels right and I love it. I love crossing the finish line. It's the best feeling in the world. Even if I didn't set a PR for myself it still is a sense of accomplishment. I did my fourth 5K this weekend and had my worse time EVER! Granted I didn't do a whole lot of running before it but I figured my time would be close to what it normally is. Wrong!! I didn't know the course and it was hilly...3 of them, with the highest and longest at the end. I literally didn't think I would finish it. I was dead but in the end, I passed 3 people right before the finish line. Yay!!
As I was scrolled through the photos from that race I realized that you can't label yourself. You can't say, well I'm 25 and I can outrun a 50 year because you might not be able to. Runners come in all shapes, sizes and ages. I think genetics play a HUGE role in running. There were people that finished ahead of me that were older and looked more out of shape. I could probably knock out twice as many push ups as they could but they could still out run me.
What I'm trying to say is that running is about YOU. It's not about those girls that run faster than you. It's about doing YOUR best. Don't get discouraged. Don't be down. You are doing something that many people can't do. You are doing something that many people won't do because they are afraid. In that way you are better and stronger. Keep running and keep working towards your goal. The prize is not being better than everyone else. It's being YOUR best.
HTH,
First of all...Congratulations on working hard on your running. I don't have asthma but I know people that do and I know how hard it is to run with that condition.
I don't know how much help I will be to you. I just started running last October and have done four 5K's and one 10K. I'm not an expert in running and I probably never will be but since no one has responded, I'll give you my opinion.
I have a love/hate relationship with running. It's hard and there are days that I literally hate it but then there are times that it feels right and I love it. I love crossing the finish line. It's the best feeling in the world. Even if I didn't set a PR for myself it still is a sense of accomplishment. I did my fourth 5K this weekend and had my worse time EVER! Granted I didn't do a whole lot of running before it but I figured my time would be close to what it normally is. Wrong!! I didn't know the course and it was hilly...3 of them, with the highest and longest at the end. I literally didn't think I would finish it. I was dead but in the end, I passed 3 people right before the finish line. Yay!!
As I was scrolled through the photos from that race I realized that you can't label yourself. You can't say, well I'm 25 and I can outrun a 50 year because you might not be able to. Runners come in all shapes, sizes and ages. I think genetics play a HUGE role in running. There were people that finished ahead of me that were older and looked more out of shape. I could probably knock out twice as many push ups as they could but they could still out run me.
What I'm trying to say is that running is about YOU. It's not about those girls that run faster than you. It's about doing YOUR best. Don't get discouraged. Don't be down. You are doing something that many people can't do. You are doing something that many people won't do because they are afraid. In that way you are better and stronger. Keep running and keep working towards your goal. The prize is not being better than everyone else. It's being YOUR best.
HTH,
thanks jane for responding. I didnt mean to sound like I want to beat those girls because that isnt what is bothering me. I am frustrated because every other runner around me is seeing their times improve and I am not,no matter what I have done. I thought the CC and Itrain workouts would help me, they havent. Of course I have only been doing them 1x week and plus two other outdoor runs usually 5-7 miles. So I thought maybe I need to do the interval runs more, maybe 2-3x week in order to see results. I have been running for 4 yrs now. I didnt do any races but one last yr and this yr I got back into doing them and My times are still the same as the yr before. I feel stronger and I thought I could bring my times down but nothing . I just feel that maybe I cant get any faster and it frustrates me. If other people are seeing dramatic changes in their times in a short time frame I dont understand why I cant see improvement. I was thinking that maybe I need to run more than 3x week and do the interval training more often and then maybe I could see my time drop, if not then I dont know what else to do. I want this for myself , as a personal goal not to beat anyone else I know. I always try to strive and do better for my own personal best not anyone elses. Didnt you ever want to do something or accomplish something so bad? well this is something I really want to accomplish for myself,dont know why, I just do. I guess I never really felt strong or secure when I was younger,never was encouraged to do anything and I never felt confident enough to do it . as I have gotten older I am doing things that I never did as a teenager and I guess that is why I want this so badly. I always felt that I wasnt good enough when I was younger and I know that I am and I want to prove it to myself. sorry for rambling on, thanks for your advice.
I used to get really frustrated with my running times and decided to just let it go because worrying about my time was ruining the joy of running for me. I would come home from what I thought was a great run and look at my watch and then feel terrible because of the time on it. It would completely erase the feeling of accomplishment I got from my run. I stopped wearing my watch and just try to enjoy the experience of running instead and be grateful for what my body can do.
I know this doesn't help you as far as getting faster, but you did ask if anyone tried to get faster and couldn't. That would be me! Some days I have fast days, others are slow. I try to just focus on how lucky I am to be out there running.
Erica
I know this doesn't help you as far as getting faster, but you did ask if anyone tried to get faster and couldn't. That would be me! Some days I have fast days, others are slow. I try to just focus on how lucky I am to be out there running.
Erica
amyg
Cathlete
I do the same thing Erica described when I'm getting frustrated with myself. You know what, I've done my PRs on those runs I don't have a watch! Wacky.
I think maybe the people who improve their times have done so in large part because their "starting" runs were so relatively slow that they were nowhere near their physical capability at the time.
If you've ever tried to lose those "last 10 pounds" and see the 400 pound person lose 25 pounds their first 10 days, you know how difficult changes can be when you're close to your physical "best".
That said, when I read your post I wondered if you had some form issues going on with your runs. Maybe even if there aren't coaches around you know someone with a video camera who could tape you running a bit, close to the end of a longer run for you? Then YOU watch it and evaluate (1) the length of your stride, (2) your posture, etc.
You might want to bump up your intervals to twice a week, and some weeks not do any interval workouts. I know I get faster when I stop running for a number of days! Wacky, again!
PS I re-read your post again; I think maybe you should spend more time on a good taper before you go for your PR. I have really been amazed at what happens when I trust the fact that I am conditioned and don't *need* to run for a week before a race.
All the best,
I think maybe the people who improve their times have done so in large part because their "starting" runs were so relatively slow that they were nowhere near their physical capability at the time.
If you've ever tried to lose those "last 10 pounds" and see the 400 pound person lose 25 pounds their first 10 days, you know how difficult changes can be when you're close to your physical "best".
That said, when I read your post I wondered if you had some form issues going on with your runs. Maybe even if there aren't coaches around you know someone with a video camera who could tape you running a bit, close to the end of a longer run for you? Then YOU watch it and evaluate (1) the length of your stride, (2) your posture, etc.
You might want to bump up your intervals to twice a week, and some weeks not do any interval workouts. I know I get faster when I stop running for a number of days! Wacky, again!
PS I re-read your post again; I think maybe you should spend more time on a good taper before you go for your PR. I have really been amazed at what happens when I trust the fact that I am conditioned and don't *need* to run for a week before a race.
All the best,
kathryn
Cathlete
I don't run, but I walk, and I want to walk FAST!
I find that having a Garmin (a wrist-mounted GPS) really helps me keep up speed (I can see exactly what speed I'm walking at at any given moment) and compete against my previous speed.
I've lately been alternating interval workouts (some CC-- but they don't adapt quite as well as some others--Kathy Smith--her level 2 LeanWalk has aerobic and anaerobic intervals-- and especially Podrunner--free downloads from www.djsteveboy.com ) with fast steady-state walks from DJSteveboy. They help me keep up the pace (though I still haven't gotten a 5K average as high as my 4.85 mph top speed from last summer). And the beat of the music makes my pace automatic (just 'follow the beat') so I can concentrate on form and technique.
I'm also walking with a weighted vest, which is supposed to improve your speed when you're not wearing it (though I'm not sure I'd wear one if I did running instead--more impact and risk of injury).
Have you done a web search on "running faster"? There have got to be some tips out there for free. Make some of your runs technique runs, where you may not run as fast, but work on technique (though I'm not sure it helps as much in running as in walking).
I find that having a Garmin (a wrist-mounted GPS) really helps me keep up speed (I can see exactly what speed I'm walking at at any given moment) and compete against my previous speed.
I've lately been alternating interval workouts (some CC-- but they don't adapt quite as well as some others--Kathy Smith--her level 2 LeanWalk has aerobic and anaerobic intervals-- and especially Podrunner--free downloads from www.djsteveboy.com ) with fast steady-state walks from DJSteveboy. They help me keep up the pace (though I still haven't gotten a 5K average as high as my 4.85 mph top speed from last summer). And the beat of the music makes my pace automatic (just 'follow the beat') so I can concentrate on form and technique.
I'm also walking with a weighted vest, which is supposed to improve your speed when you're not wearing it (though I'm not sure I'd wear one if I did running instead--more impact and risk of injury).
Have you done a web search on "running faster"? There have got to be some tips out there for free. Make some of your runs technique runs, where you may not run as fast, but work on technique (though I'm not sure it helps as much in running as in walking).
I also have a garmin and wouldnt leave home without it. I have picked minds everywhere and gotten on running websites and I have tried everything except practicing running 2-3miles once a week as fast as I can, maybe I need to. I will try these interval runs 2x week and see if I get results if not I will try something el\se, if that dont work well I guess then I am not meant to run faster.