Well done Keith keep it up it is hard coming back from injury.

That is interesting Peter you may have something there and I will certainly try it. That is exactly how I heave been feeling struggling to breathe. I did try going back to basics though on Thursday and did a 4K in 30 mins it was sooooo easy and I throughly enjoyed it. I could have run further but decided to stop at the 4k while I was feeling good. Did 15 mins out and then back to the start.  It has certainly given me the boost to go on. Thanks for all the support and good advise its a great help. Peter we need to get some summer before we look to the winter LOL but I know what you mean :-)

1. Just a thought but do you think you could be suffering with the high pollen count. I have never suffered before but this year found myself struggling to breathe on my hard runs and races. My training one day would be fine and then two days later I was struggling to complete them. I started to take one Pireton tablet each day and found my training improved. And last Monday I forgot to take one and found myself at the back of the group sweating and finding it a big struggle to keep up, but no other symptoms you could pinpoint it to. It’s like running at high altitude you know something is wrong, but if you didn’t know the air was thinner you would think it was down to training or illness. Roll on the winter LOL.   

Back on the road again! Did a 3km run this eveningin new trainers. First run in 11 days. And it was TOUGH! Just shows how quickly things can change.

Thanks Keith and Adrian all good advise.

I think your right when you say it is probably speed. When I first started was running at around 37 mins for a 5k also been doing a lot of uphill where I was pushing hard. Recently been a much flatter course and I have been pushing hard as the mental thing with the uphill is gone, so mind has been telling me I can go for it.

Will take the advise and let you know the outcome. Thing is as you say no matter what I do really enjoy it just wish I had taken it up years ago. Won't be beaten will as you say Adrian fool the body into thinking it's one.

Tricia,

Not much advice but certainly sympathy!

Went "off the boil" a bit myself recently- just wasn't getting the times in that I hoped. I think I over-compensated and tried to push to hard, so ended up with an injured Achilles tendon.

I would go back to the shorter distancem get comfortable in running that and then build up. Through that process I'd check your kit, trainers, etc. to make sure tht you feel ok. Perhaps also start to vary the route, distance, speed, etc. It might be that your body has got completely used to doing the same thing, so you are getting less payback for teh amount of effort. To get over a hurdle, I sometimes think you have to fool the body into thinking it has won!.

Hi Tricia...good work so far! Well done! My first thought is that you may have improved to the point were you are running quicker than you did to start with. It might just be that the speeding up is a little too quick so isn't sustainable for the whole run, so slow down a bit, relax and breathe steady I would imagine that will see you through. It might also just be a sign that you need a little break. Try a swim or cycle instead. Also when varying your runs try some hill sessions which will build strength and stamina, and some fartlek sessions where you run at a steady pace, then speed up, then slow down this helps develop different capabilities for your body. Overall just enjoy it ! 

Hello,

I have been running since February started out with a mile and built up up, until  I was able to run a good 5K in around 28mins. I'm 55 and not having done much running before was really pleased with my time and performance.

 However the last two weeks I have been really struggling to get to a mile and a half without having to stop. My runs are always first thig on a morning which up until now have been a great start to the day. I have also changed my route to try to resolve this but still the same.

Nothing obvious i.e not been ill or injured but I get to a mile and a half which in intself is a struggle and just can't continue I find myself having to walk a fair bit I am completing the 5K but having to walk about half of it.

I have thought about going back to basics and starting out at the mile again and building it back up. Any advise would be appreciated. Tricia