Hmmmmmmm. Not sure if I should answer this post. I'm not a gifted runner, but I don't think running is as hard for me as many. Having said that, here it goes.

Running is not easy. Running can be made easier with drill work (and weight loss). Running is actually much more technical than many realize. Imagine how hard it is to swim if you have poor technique. Running is the same way. The only difference is you're not going to drown if you don't do it right and everyone knows how to run at some level. On this same vein, some people are gifted with excellent form and get that floating feeling. The rest of us have to learn to run that way, if it's possible given your body type.

I used to go out and push on every run. I suffered through them all. Then I started working with coaches. I adjusted my form and my training plan. Now I only do one hard run a week, one long run (this is hard but not in the same way) and I do one easy run where I work on form.

I think it's very important to run/jog/walk at a pace that feels very comfortable at least once a week. To get me used to what this means, one of my coaches had me start my form workouts by running 10 to 15 min without letting my HR go above 115 BPM. I had to run slowly and with good form, if my HR went above 115, I was to walk until it was below 100 then start up again. It took months until I was able to run a full 10 min with my HR in this zone. Now I can run indefinitely on flat ground at 115 to 120 and a pace of 11 to 12 min/mile. Now I can run and it feels pretty good. The hard workouts and long workouts still hurt. Oh well, you have to suffer a little to improve.

Most of the drills I use are from Friel's Triathletes Training Bible.

This website has some good drills and descriptions as well:

http://www.endurancecoach.com/Running_Drills.htm

Have fun.