When I started working out at the gym (for the first time ever, not this time around), I found it terribly hard to run for any length of time. I think boredom was my problem.
Hmm...I think a better way of answering your question is to break it down as the following... To run for longer, personally, I : 1) remember that unless I'm eager beaver to run my little heart out, it may take something like 5 mins to get into the groove, the whole rhythm of it all; 2) keep in mind that it may take longer if I'm not feeling good (i.e. tired, unwell, etc) so the key is to stick it out...'cause once I get past the "hump" feeling, my run goes pretty smoothly and is actually fun!; 3) run a route rather than run from point A to B, turn around and then run from B to A...I find that if I arrange things so that I need to finish the run to get home, I'm more likely to do the whole run...plus, the scenery's different the entire way
; 4) sometimes mental games work, like making rules where I'm not allowed to stop running if I'm within sight of someone...or that I have to run the full length of any bridge I cross (I remember that rule from a route I had in Ontario that spanned three/four bridges...one or two were little park bridges so please don't get the impression I was a hyper crazy runner chick or anything); 5) I find that setting a time limit works too...I remember knowing that I HAD to be back at home by 5:30 to shower and change for appointment x, so if I wanted to get my route done, I had to bust my butt--no lackadaisical jogging or walking allowed!; and finally 6) sometimes I have to concede defeat and that trying to sweat out the flu, run on 3.5 hrs of sleep, or what-have-you is not the best strategy for my body at that time...in these cases, I might just go home and give my body the rest it so obviously needs or else if it's just my heart that isn't into it, I'll go ahead and just walk part of the route or shorten the route and go slower. The point is, regarding #5, is that sometimes your body doesn't do what you want it to and you've got to let that happen. That's okay too
(as much as it may mess up your plans for world fitness domination. muah haa haa!)
...it's pretty late here (and EVEN LATER FOR YOU!!!!!!) so I'll add more the next time I'm on tfs. but...i should still write some more. in the above, I just addressed how I get myself over the running grumbles. As for running for longer: well, to tell you the truth, I'm kind of mean to my body. (not as mean as Prep, but it sounds like she's on her uni's varsity track team or something, so her body's probably used to that kind of punishment.
) I just decided that enough was enough. Three months of chips, couch, chocolate, chips, couch, etc and NO EXERCISE was gross. plus, I would rather endure a whole bunch of hard work outs STARTING RIGHT AWAY than the personal shame and a** kicking that will arise should I not make it back on the team at the end of April. So, I've been motivating myself in fear of self-recrimination. And because for some reason some people look up to me and I would hate to let them down. (guilt and shame are so powerful!!!)
Okay, wait a second...I'm still not answering your question. I'm sorry for the babbles; it is quite late. Let me try again. Yes, I have been pushing myself, but like you having problems going >1mile, the first two, three times I went out were ugly. I was running as if through cement (you know, like you do in dreams), I was easily out of breath, my stride was laborious, and I looked like the out of shape fool I was.
ha ha! I guess the biggest advice I can give to you is to be realistic with your goals. I knew that I had
a lot of cobwebs to get off, so I had to realise that I was going to look like a moron in the meantime. Concurrently, I realised that I had two options: a) to crawl back to the couch, collect more cobwebs, and suffer the dramatic consequences of NOT making it back on the team (aside: I'm going to need encouragement later for this, tfs!! I'll let you know when the tryouts are); or b) to push through because the harder I work to get the sticky suckers off me, the less moronic time I am going to have to suffer. Also re: being realistic...I had a route that I liked to run (shorter than last season, but I'm okay with that...see the "realistic" theme working here?) and I think I subconsciously made a commitment to stick to it, regardless of how long it took me to get it done. There was more walking in the beginning, but that's gone now.
Or, your issue may be that you simply don't find running all that exciting. I used to hate running. I thought it was a ridiculous waste of time and boring, so why the heck would I force myself to do it minute after minute? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED, but I suddenly fell in love it one pre-season training stint. Maybe it was because it took me off campus and away from the stresses of school. I dunno. Anyway, if that is the case, I don't see why you can't continue to switch up between the cardio machines. The elliptical is virtually the same as running, anyway. minus the wear and tear on the joints. Since I started going to the gym again (TWO times, people!!! count them, ONE. TWO. ahhh...i like the outdoors), I've used the elliptical instead of the treadmill for the joint-love. OR...it could be that you need to take on a more gradual program to build up your running endurance.
oh boy.
i definitely run off at the mouth when I'm tired.
It's all because of last night. I had too much fun and now there are all these boy issues + butterflies in my stomach.
I am officially in grade 8 again. But a better Grade 8.
ps I'd like to say that as much of a geek I've presented myself as in my epic posts, I have to say that in real life I DO NOT use "cool" to the pathetically numerous extent of my last long email (113). I cannot believe I did that.
hmmm..hopefully I'm tired enough to go to bed now.
Good night, folks. I hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow. (it's raining here
)
Now he's lightened up a bit since I got into law school so I guess he trusts me and figured out I can motivate myself good enough without him always being on my back. 
