The 5 Key Reasons Runners Lack Patience and How to Overcome Them

This episode explores the critical importance of patience in running, addressing why runners struggle with impatience, how to trust the training process, and the mental skills needed to stay motivated during slow progress. Hosted by experienced runners Rochelle and Matt, it offers practical insights for runners aiming for long-term success.

key topics

• Why runners are impatient due to measurable progress
• The importance of easy runs for aerobic development
• How social media fuels impatience and comparison
• The mental challenge of the middle training phase
• Strategies to trust the training process and stay patient

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I'm Rochelle, and today this is my co-host Matt. And together we are Runversation, a conversational paced podcast for your easy-paced running journey. And we're here to chat about all things running, community, and everything in between. Hello, Matt.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Hello, Rochelle.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

And hello, listeners. As always, Matt, what did you see on your run or in the gym this week?

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Well, on the weekend, I had my 3K-specific session in preparation for Cape Town, and I decided to go down to uh Woodbridge where the Woodbridge Park Run is. And as everyone knows, it's a 5k loop out and back. So I decided to make it a 6K, so I ran a bit further, 2K's out, 3Ks back. And on one of my, it was actually towards the start of the session, on one of my six and a half laps of Woodbridge, I got handed a book by a gentleman which was titled In Search of Happiness. So I carried this book for the remainder of that lap. And I thought that was quite an interesting and intriguing item of something to actually see on my run. Something different.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

That is so bizarre. Did they have many books or did they only have the one book and they just thought they'd give it to you?

SPEAKER_00 1:15

He was kind of bizarre. As I was running, he just put his hand out and was like, I have something to give to you. And he just handed me this book and I kept running and I just said thanks as I ran past.

SPEAKER_01 1:25

Did you see them again on your other four and a half laps?

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Absolutely. So it made it quite awkward because I had to put my book down when I got to the other end. And so I did another four or so laps and I was running without a book, so I hope they didn't think I just chucked it out or chucked it in the bin. I didn't do that. I just placed it down where my water bottle and shoes and all that were. Absolutely bizarre. So that was, yeah, that was what I saw. And what about you? What did you see on your run this week?

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Well, Sunday I went for a run up the Heritage Trail and back. Um and I didn't actually see anything particular like on the trails. I just I did see my usual blue wren bird and I saw some kangaroos. But it wasn't until I got to K19 when I was running towards my house, I found a dog.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

No, you're joking, right?

SPEAKER_01 2:14

And you weren't home at the time. And I was all by myself, and I was thinking, oh God, how am I gonna like get this dog home? Because I didn't want him to be hit by a car because we were on a main road. Anyway, I found this lady in her front yard and I asked for a lead or some rope, and she didn't have that. So then I thought, real quick on my feet, and I got some like, you know, men's clothing ties. Anyway, made a noose, put it around this dog's neck, and off we went towards home, which was a kilometer away. Um he was super friendly. I have no idea what sort of dog he was. He was like a long body, but he looked like a Maltese, but he was too fat to be a sausage dog. So I have no idea. But yeah, his owner then was driving around looking for him and came across me, and his dog was named Oscar.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

So the reason that I said you're joking, right? Because this isn't the first time that you come home with a dog from the estate back to our house.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Am I I find dogs all the time. People just I don't know how people just let their dogs run loose or escape, but yeah, no.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

And what did you say his name was, Ben? Oscar. Oscar. Okay, no worries.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

Um, so yeah, but that's what I saw on my run. I wanted to ask you though, so our listeners get a bit of an understanding on your specific run. What are you training towards?

SPEAKER_00 3:30

I'm training towards Cape Town Marathon.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

And when is that?

SPEAKER_00 3:33

In two weeks' time, same day as HBF.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Okay, so how is training going?

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Training is actually going really well. So that was my last long, long run of the training block. So obviously a few more runs this week and then time to taper. So really excited. Um, I actually found this block somewhat challenging in a way, but also um I've been quite consistent. But you definitely know when you're at the end of a marathon block, you just start to go, do I really have to go out for that run today? So I'm at that point, but that's okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:08

So why did you choose Cape Town Marathon?

SPEAKER_00 4:10

So I chose Cape Town for two reasons. First reason was that as everyone knows, last year it was cancelled, and it was its second year last year of being a candidate race for the eighth world major. So it got cancelled due to strong winds and uh bad weather. So this year is sort of a rematch of what it was meant to be last year, and hopefully, all going well, it goes ahead, the race is a success, and it will become the eighth world major for next year. But what they're doing is for those runners that do run this year, if it all goes to plan and next year does become a world major, they will offer all runners this year a star to go towards their uh their world majors. Second reason is that it is the age group world champs, and so I was fortunate enough to uh qualify now that I'm in the 40 to 44 year old age category because I'm an old man. I actually was I qualified with my time from Sydney and also Gold Coast from last year. So thought it was a good opportunity, thought it was too good an opportunity to give up. Been fortunate enough to get there with a lot of help, uh, and so really appreciate all of that. And so here we are, less than two weeks out.

SPEAKER_01 5:35

And do you feel that you're in PB shape or PR shape?

SPEAKER_00 5:39

I feel like I'm around the mark, I'm not going to lie. I think, as I said earlier, training's been consistent this time around. I've probably managed my load, my training load, and my sort of weekly mileage a little bit more than what I probably have in the past. So not necessarily doing the large amount of K's, but getting in those quality specific sessions and also allowing my body to absorb those important specific sessions. I think something that I've really focused on this time. So I've been quite proud of the way that we've worked together to allow me to do that this time. So the body is feeling in really good shape. So we'll just have to see how we execute on race day.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Well, I wish you all the best.

SPEAKER_00 6:23

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

That's okay. So today I wanted to have a little bit of a chat to you about something that every runner has struggled with some point, and that is patience.

SPEAKER_00 6:34

Patience, yes, such an underrated skill, I believe.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

Honestly. We talk about this a lot, and we talk so much about workouts, races, recovery, nutrition, but not enough about the mental side of simply waiting for progress.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

Exactly. So, yes, because runners are terrible at wanting results immediately.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

Well, you really are.

SPEAKER_00 7:00

Yes. So today, why patience matters, why runners struggle with it, and how to actually trust the process when it feels like nothing is happening. So let's start here. Why are runners so impatient?

SPEAKER_01 7:14

I think because running is measurable. So you can measure your pace, your distance, your heart rate, your splits, your PRs, everything that you do gives you feedback. That's great until it becomes obsessive. If you have one bad session, suddenly you think that you're losing fitness or you're not quite where you need to be. And if you don't PR quickly enough, you think that the plan isn't working. But fitness actually doesn't grow in a straight line. So do you think social media makes it worse?

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Absolutely. I think you see everyone posting their PRs, their race medals, you know, things like had the best block ever, but you don't see the flat weeks, the weeks where there's potential injuries that have evolved, failed sessions, or the months of just boring consistency. Comparison kills patience. What about the awkward middle phase of a training block where runners feel like nothing is changing?

SPEAKER_01 8:13

That's honestly where a lot of the magic happens. And I've said that before. So the first few weeks feel exciting because it's new. The last few weeks feel exciting because the race day is close. But in the middle, that's where people start to get itchy because you've got the same early alarms, you've got the same easy runs, you've got the same workouts, and they start to ask, Am I actually getting bitter? So are they?

SPEAKER_00 8:43

Usually, yes. Fitness often builds quietly. Your body is adapting behind the scenes long before your watch shows it. Capillary growth, mitochondrial adaptations, improved efficiency, stronger connective tissue, that stuff doesn't scream for attention.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

I reckon this is a big one. Runners think easy runs should actually feel hard.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

Yes. This is probably one of the biggest patients' tests. People think if this feels easy, it can't be doing anything. But easy running is foundational. That's where aerobic development happens, that's where recovery happens, that's where consistency becomes possible. The runners who sabotage themselves are often the ones who turn every easy run into a moderate slog.

SPEAKER_01 9:29

Okay, because harder feels more productive.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Exactly. That's correct. But smarter is productive. What about runners who race every workout?

SPEAKER_01 9:39

Classic. Trying to prove fitness instead of building fitness. That's the big difference. So every hard session shouldn't be a test. Not every workout needs to end in absolute exhaustion. Sometimes discipline and holding back is actually beneficial.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

That's hard though.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

Very hard because effort feels validating, but patience is understanding that the goal is race day, not your Tuesday session.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

Okay, so how do runners actually trust the process?

SPEAKER_01 10:10

A few things. First, let's zoom out. Stop judging your fitness workout by workout. Look at four to six weeks, not four to six days. Secondly, understanding adaptation lags. So your body often responds after the work, not during it. And thirdly, detaching the emotion from one session. So one bad run means you've had one bad run, not you're unfit.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

That's a such that's just such a runner thing though, hey? So like catastrophizing one bad workout.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

Absolutely. We make one tough session mean absolutely everything.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

Have you had moments where patience was hard yourself?

SPEAKER_01 10:52

Of course, absolutely. Even as an elite athlete, there were a few times that I felt flat. I've doubted the process. I've questioned whether things are working. But when I look back, the breakthroughs often came from those uncertain periods, not during the ones where I felt most confident.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

I think that is comforting for your everyday runner to hear, right? So even experienced runners doubt themselves.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Of course. Well, doubt is only natural, and doubt is allowed to be felt by anybody and regardless of any situation.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

All right. Biggest mistake impatient runners make.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Doing too much too soon.

SPEAKER_00 11:31

Best mindset shift.

SPEAKER_01 11:32

Building, not proving.

SPEAKER_00 11:34

One thing runners should remember.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Consistency beats urgency. So if you're in the middle of a weird training phase at the moment, or feeling like progress is slow, or questioning whether your easy runs are doing anything, stay patient because fitness is often being built long before you can see it. If this episode has resonated with you, or you know somebody who just needs to hear a little bit about being patient, make sure you subscribe, share, and like. And until next time, let's keep the conversation going.