What's wrong with me?! (A question about running)

Sorry for the long post in advance but I could really use ideas of how to fix me :)

I started running with the C25K program back in April.  I finished it and was in love with running by August.  I got up to running a max of five mile distances, four times a week (ranging from two to five miles each week) mid-September.  Then, of course, I had an injury.  My knee and hip start popping and became painful, so I took a week off.  That week off was Oct 6-11th.  After that I gradually increased my running starting from one mile working up to three miles.  I still haven't gotten past three miles.... I cannot get back into it the way I was.  Everytime I run it feels like a struggle my body gets fatigued so fast and every step takes effort.  I used to always get into the 'peak performance' mode after one mile, now I never get there.  What could be wrong with me?!?

I've tried uping my water to at least 80 ounces a day.  I've tried taking in more protein (I just started tracking that yesterday was 79 grams, today will be about 60 grams).  My fiance thinks it's partly psychological and partly due to the colder weather.  He says the cooler weather can make your muscles get tired faster.  What else can I change or try?

I eat between 1400-1800 calories per day (average around a 600-700 deficit).  I am 27, 167 (SW 238, GW 150ish), 5'7 and female.  On a side note I haven't lost any weight in the past three weeks.  I work out six times a week (three days of running, two days of swimming, five days of strength training - it is all detailed in my journal if anyone wants to look). I'm just getting so frustrated with activity and weightloss!

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? 

Thanks!

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ETA - Specifically what happens is this:  The first 0.5 mile or so I feel ok then my muscles start to feel tired, especially in my butt and thighs.  If I push through that eventually I am hit with a bit of nausea.  If I push through that I start to feel dizzy like I'm going to pass out.  When I get to this point I stopp.  Today we went to do speed work (0.5 mile of slow jogging followed by 0.5 mile of a sprint), I could never finish the sprint - I had to stop or risk passing out.

Well, the cooler weather might be a factor but generally I find that once I've warmed up cooler weather increases performance since there's no issue with heat dissipation. To me it sounds like you've hit the limit for the two-factor fatigue/fitness model and need to take another week off - you sound like a classically overtrained athlete.

 Actual clinical overtraining is comparateively rare, but it's fairly easy to push yourself to a point where accumulated fatigue masks your fitness, even after recovering from an injury. Cut your planned workload by 75% for a week, or take another week off, and then retest to see if this brief rest week helped.

i agree with melkor (not that i'd dare to disagree  - what do i know?).  i really believe that four days a week is too much, except for those marathon-types for whom a 5 or 10k is like a day off.  take that week off, then start again slowly, and aim for two or three days a week.  recovery days are really important.

and when you do start up again, instead of going for that 5m distance immediately, plan on a 2-miler or something.  if it feels good, you can decide to go further, but give yourself permission to be kind to your body.

Three miles per day (even seven days a week) is not all *that* much depending on your age. How old are you? Is your weight in check?

It may be something as simple as not wearing the right shoes, running on too hard of a surface, or that you're just not cut out to be a runner.

Have you tried running on a treadmill to see if you can reproduce the fatigue?

Ohhh.. not what I wanted to hear but I will attempt to comply.  Can I still do my weights and swimming normally (I don't feel the same fatigue with those activities) or should I cut down on everything?

I'm 27 and right now am 166 (was 238 and am trying to get to about 145-150ish).  I can't run on a treadmill, I have a psychological block :)  If I attempt to I don't run normally for fear of falling off (yea, I'm weird!).

Thanks for your input!

Similar to you I love running. I am 26 and almost two months ago i injured my hip and havent been able to run since. Whilst this has been psychologically very hard as I am not getting my endorphin kick my body was telling me i was doing to much. I have enjoyed my break as I am not getting up so early to fit it in and funnily enough I am sleeping better.

I would run up to 8km 4 times a week and three times weight training. I think you need to stop being so hard on yourself. take a look at how far you have come. Take time off from running. If you feel like it go for a long walk whcih is what i have started doing as I am still not allowed to run for another two weeks.

Slowly ease yourself back in and you will start to reach your target again. It also sounds as if running is a chore and not an enjoyment anymore and on a subconcious level that can stop you reaching your peak.

relax with exercise, dont see it as a neccesity more as an activity you want to do through choice.

good luck

ps) also agree that new trainers might help.

I think you may be doing a tad too much, especially coming back from an injury. 5 days of cardio and 5 days of strength training is a lot! I would suggest cutting back. Try 3 days of strength training and 3 days of intense cardio with maybe your other 2 cardio workouts being more relaxed "recovery" type workouts (ie walking instead of running or a slow swim instead of hard laps). I hope this helps and that you can get back into running!