Does running get easier?

Does running get easier?

Your first few runs are always hard. Whether you’re new to running or returning after a period away from the sport, it’s a challenge to get going. Does it become easier over time?

Endurance improvement

Realistically no, running doesn’t get easier. If you speak to most long-term runners, they’ll tell you that the runs they do become more challenging with time if anything. This is almost certainly true from the perspective of how hard they work relative to their potential effort level.

Psychologically, our ability to endure discomfort increases, study after study on endurance has shown this (there’s a great section in the book “Endure” on this topic). It means that out perception of effort is lower, or that our ability to know that we’ll get through the pain is enhanced.

Performance vs effort

There are some correlations between higher performance and higher effort levels, if we consider elite athletes, they’re working to a level of effort, as well as performance, that most of us could never dream of.

They’ve spent several hours each week at uncomfortable exertion rates, for years and years. Many of us hobby runners will only spend 1-2 hours per week at most, at anything like the same kind of exertion level. Their time “in the trenches” is partly what makes them perform so well, but also what allows them to exert themselves so vigorously. Physically and mentally they’ve adapted.

Aside from the elites however, someone running faster than you might be more naturally gifted for running and actually doesn’t work as hard. Don’t make that assumption though, I’ve had plenty of people over the years imply that a hard run for me isn’t as hard as it is for them, just because I run the distance faster or squeeze in more repetitions in the same time.

Effort over time

There is one argument to consider for running getting easier. If you look at race days, someone running at 85% of their maximum heart rate for 10k which takes them 40 minutes, hasn’t worked as hard as someone running at the same effort level for 60 minutes, purely because of the duration.

In reality though, it’s likely that someone working 50% longer, wouldn’t be able to work at that same exertion rate which is why their time is longer.

Don’t compare

Ignore the memes and jokes that if someone overtakes you on a run they’re obviously not running as far as you. Who cares what anyone else is doing or who’s working harder? Have your own goals and aspirations because all you can control is what you do in training, eating, resting, and racing. Focus on what you’re doing, and you’ll get a lot further than people who are comparing themselves to everyone around them.

Written by Kyle Brooks, Running Coach based in Norwich, Norfolk