Why can a steady run feel easier once your body has settled into the effort?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Breathing, circulation and oxygen use adjust to the effort
Core temperature must fall before running can feel comfortable — A drop in core temperature is not required for a run to feel easier. Running generates heat, while adjustments in oxygen use and circulation can make a sustainable pace more comfortable.
The working muscles become numb to all fatigue signals — Feeling more comfortable does not mean the muscles have gone numb. The body can adjust to a sustainable pace without losing sensation or switching off fatigue signals.
Breathing, circulation and oxygen use adjust to the effort ✓ — Breathing, circulation and oxygen use adjust as a run gets underway. At a sustainable pace this can help the effort feel more manageable, but it is not a fixed ten- or fifteen-minute fuel switch.