runners high?

I have just completed week 3 of the couch to 5k interval program. I can hardly make it thru the last three minutes of jogging. Week four increases the time of jogging! I feel like I am going to die after the first ninety seconds. I wonder, when does that runners high kick in? When do you finally feel like you can actually run, and not just barely make it thru?  I have to admit, I have doubts that I can finish this program. I am taking it one day at a time, but I have doubts! Does that runners high actually exist? I just want to be able to run and not feel like I am going to keel over and embarrass myself. How long did it take you guys to become runners? Is nine weeks a real time frame to be able to run 5k?

I don't get a runner's high, BUT I love running because on the days I don't I definitely get a low.  My boyfriend warned me that it would take 3-4 months to get to the point of loving running when we started, and that's about how long it took.  It's deifnitely worth it though - hang in there!

ETA:  It took me until about Week 5 of the program to feel like I could do it (and I did every week twice).

i think i have moments of runner's high.  it's still pretty transient, but every once in a while i'll sort-of forget that i'm running.  it's not quite an out-of-body experience, but it's definitely an altered consciousness kind-of thing.  i can't even tell you how long it lasts, because i'm not aware of it until i come out of it.

i also find myself sometimes--more and more, actually--running along with a big smile on my face, just happy for no particular reason.  that's usually after about 4k. 

it's been a long time coming, though.  i've attempted to "become a runner" repeatedly over the past five or six years.  i think the difference now is that i've spent the last six months hiking and walking, and my cardiovascular fitness is better than it's ever been.

I'm trying to get there, but I don't really have that 'runner's high' yet, either.  My roommate says she always knows almost exactly where 3 miles is on her run, even if she hasn't mapped it out beforehand, because that's when her endorphins kick in.  I'll believe her--she's run the Boston Marathon the past two years (sophomore and junior years of college), and wasn't a runner AT ALL until second semester of her freshman year.  Let's just see when I get there....

I'm up to about a mile on my way to tryint to run a 5K, and I don't get any kind of a high. I will say that the sense of accomplishment does make me feel really good about myself though. It also seems to depend on the day as to how good the run feels.

Monday: Great, did my mile and felt like I could do more...very proud.

Wednesday: Not so much. Struggled to get through, had to walk for a few seconds toward the end and finished gasping for breath and I know I ran slower than on Monday too.

I didn't have time to run today, but I plan on giving it another try tomorrow. Hopefully, it will feel more like it did on Monday.

wow, thats a tough one.  I think everyone is different.  And I agree with "out of body experience" writer.... I think you start enjoying it when you dont even realize you are doing it.  Key here is to try to take your mind off of the run.  There have been so many times that I am running when I am so focussed on my next break point that I dont enjoy anything about it.  But, if I can remove myself from the pain of it...maybe take in the scenery (really great if you are running around a bunch of people...they do funny things...make funny looks...wear funny clothes...and often look like their dogs!), then I am so much more quickly able to enjoy myself.  Its then that I relax into my run.  And, the after run high....oh yes, this is what brings you back.  I do believe it takes everyone a while to condition your body and breathing...but, I believe its important to remove your mind from the work of the run too.

stick to it, I hope you grow to love it!

Yes, there is kind of an "out of body experience".  You do forget your even running.  I couldn't run 5 minutes without feeling like I was going to die.  That was about 6 months ago.  I run 3 to 4 miles, 3 to 4 times a week now and I love every minute of it.  Look forward to doing it.  I'm afraid of doing more, afraid of getting hurt because I'm carrying about 60 pounds more than I should be. You will be suprised what your body will do when you push just a little out of your "comfort zone" and keep at it.  You will always have a bad day every now and then.  Done let that get you down, it is worth sticking with so keep it up!

Like most people here I started with a learn to run 5km program over 3 years ago.  It's true that you get different highs at different times!  For me, the first 10 minutes ALWAYS hurts ALWAYS!!!!   But I've been running long enough that I know if I get past that hump the next 30 minutes are easier and I don't feel like my lungs are bleeding, haha!  Funny though, I get the "runners high" at 40 minutes, it's like a whole new kick of energy and you just feel like youre walking not running, it's so strange.  And then of course you feel like you could just run forever, I've gone 2hrs and the only thing that stopped me was my ligaments getting sore, but I wasn't really breathing hard.  It's all accumulation, you'll get there.

For me, it happens about 5-10 minutes into the run. My legs take over and I feel like I can run at warp speed forever and my lungs don't protest.

It is a very freeing feeling, enough that my memory of the experience motivated me through the sluggish and painful struggle of muscle fatigue and wheezing that I always experience when I'm trying to get back into shape. You really have to push yourself near the point of exhaustion each day, going just a little bit farther and a little bit faster. Then one day you realize that your legs are sort of taking off on their own, and much faster than you knew possible. It's something of a surprise and you'll probably smile a little bit too.

You'll get there, and when you do you will never forget how it feels.

I'm doing week 2 of Couch to 5k! I really like it but just as you, I feel like the workouts are getting harder and I'm not getting much better at it! I'm going to stick with it til the end, though!

What skookum said makes me feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel! We ARE pushing ourselves to exhaustion like she said, so someday we'll get there! I guess you have to be an experienced runner to get that "high"!

So, after reading all these other responses I wanted to add that I do get that feeling that I am no longer running and that I could do what I'm doing forever (but I don't get that out of body experience as some spoke of).  It's after the first 10 minutes when I feel like everything has 'clicked' and is working perfectly.  That's when I can think about other things without being distracted by my breathing or pain in my side or legs.  I would have never called this a runner's high on my own though, I just view it as getting into the run.  I have a feeling, that a true runner's high comes at longer distances and this is just like Step 1 in getting to that high.

9 weeks from nothing to 5k? Thats a tall order. Anyways, with some people it comes naturally. I run cross and it probably took me a couple of months of running to get used to it now I run every day, with no problem. I have run 16 miles and felt GREAT the whole time. Also, that high can depend of distance but also on intensity. After a 5k race and running extremely hard I always get a huge runners high.

Original Post by minie13:

I (and most people I know) don't usually hit that "runner's high" until after mile 6 or 7...after about 50 or 60 minutes of running.  I've never heard of someone getting a runner's high after 3 or 4 miles.

If you race over 3 or 4 miles you do. I personally feel good after any run but in general your right...you have to run further.

Original Post by minie13:

I (and most people I know) don't usually hit that "runner's high" until after mile 6 or 7...after about 50 or 60 minutes of running.  I've never heard of someone getting a runner's high after 3 or 4 miles.

well, minie, you might have to consider that experiences vary.  the way i see it, runner's high is no different from any other peak experience; some people achieve it more easily and naturally than others.  if it takes you 50 minutes to get there, maybe that's because you have to have seriously deprive your brain of oxygen in order to get out of your head.

me, i've had peak experiences since i was a kid.  it's not that hard for me, and running is only one route.

i think i also have an advantage in that--although i've never been a jock--my body is well-suited to running.  i get tired, but it virtually never hurts.  pain can be a big distraction.

I stated running last Sept.  I am now training for a full marathon.  I agree with others that the beginning of every run is never the best part.  It takes several kms for me to get into the grove.  I am not sure if I have ever experienced a runner's high while running but I have felt it at the end of speed work and races.  When I finished the 1/2 I felt like I could do darn near anything. I didn't even feel any acks from the run until the day after.  I was so happy I went to bed that night with a smile on my face.   Hang in there lulufit. Give your body a change to amaze you. I know that I still can't believe that I now can run 40.5k in under 4 hours.  Last September I couldn't run 100m without gasping for breath.

sorry double post.

I just recently restarted the couch to 5k program.  The best thing about that program is if you don't feel like you are ready to progress to the next level - you don't have to. If you are having trouble completing the week you are on, just repeat it - there's no rush!

There are some great podcasts on the web that you can put on your ipod to coach your through the program.  Here is the one I use: http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/

There is also a big difference between running on a treadmill and running outdoors - its going to be much more difficult if you are running this program outside 100% of the time - but i think thats the best way to do it if you can :)

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by minie13:

I (and most people I know) don't usually hit that "runner's high" until after mile 6 or 7...after about 50 or 60 minutes of running.  I've never heard of someone getting a runner's high after 3 or 4 miles.

well, minie, you might have to consider that experiences vary.  the way i see it, runner's high is no different from any other peak experience; some people achieve it more easily and naturally than others.  if it takes you 50 minutes to get there, maybe that's because you have to have seriously deprive your brain of oxygen in order to get out of your head.

me, i've had peak experiences since i was a kid.  it's not that hard for me, and running is only one route.

i think i also have an advantage in that--although i've never been a jock--my body is well-suited to running.  i get tired, but it virtually never hurts.  pain can be a big distraction.

 I have to disagree with you here.  There is a difference between hitting peak performance (when it all just clicks & you feel great) and hitting a runner's high.  When runner's refer to hitting their "runner's high" they are referring to euphoric-like state.  For me, everything comes together and clicks after my first 10-15 minutes of running and I am running at my peak performance, but I don't actually get the "high" feeling until much further into a run.  There are many runs when I never get that high, even after running 10 or 12 miles.

Original Post by minie13:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by minie13:

I (and most people I know) don't usually hit that "runner's high" until after mile 6 or 7...after about 50 or 60 minutes of running.  I've never heard of someone getting a runner's high after 3 or 4 miles.

well, minie, you might have to consider that experiences vary.  the way i see it, runner's high is no different from any other peak experience; some people achieve it more easily and naturally than others.  if it takes you 50 minutes to get there, maybe that's because you have to have seriously deprive your brain of oxygen in order to get out of your head.

me, i've had peak experiences since i was a kid.  it's not that hard for me, and running is only one route.

i think i also have an advantage in that--although i've never been a jock--my body is well-suited to running.  i get tired, but it virtually never hurts.  pain can be a big distraction.

 I have to disagree with you here.  There is a difference between hitting peak performance (when it all just clicks & you feel great) and hitting a runner's high.  When runner's refer to hitting their "runner's high" they are referring to euphoric-like state.  For me, everything comes together and clicks after my first 10-15 minutes of running and I am running at my peak performance, but I don't actually get the "high" feeling until much further into a run.  There are many runs when I never get that high, even after running 10 or 12 miles.

yeah, you don't know what i'm talking about.  a peak experience has nothing to do with peak performance.  it's closer to a transcendent state or (self-)actualization.

I'm not quite sure of what week on C25k I'm on, but I most assuredly did some weeks twice. I'm currently running 25 minutes with ease. I run with my friends, which helps SO much. I honestly don't think I would have made it to this point, if I hadn't been running with them. Now though, I actually ENJOY running. It's relaxing for me, not a bother or frustrating. I know that if they wouldn't be able to run with me anymore, I would definitely keep doing it on my own. Yes, I like it THAT much. I have to say that up until I was running 20 minutes straight, it was pretty tough for me though. I really didn't like the intervals much, because I felt it messed up my rhythm; I get in this running trance, and it's hard to get back into. The first weeks of the program were the hardest for me, definitely. As for the "Runner's High", I definitely feel it. I think it's a combination of an actual chemical reaction, and a psychological thing... you just feel so good about yourself! Even half way into this program, you are definitely in better shape than the average person. The real key to this is diligence. Going those days you don't want to. Even if it's not much, you should praise yourself for going, when you know a couple of weeks ago, you wouldn't have gone at all.

Whew, sorry that was so long!

P.S.- I would invest in a heart rate monitor if I were you. It helps me SO much. I swear it makes the time go by so much faster, trying to stay within a certain range. The one I got was only $30 dollars. I think that's a pretty good price, considering it doubles as a stop watch, clock, and a bunch of other functions I don't know how to use. :)