Explain to me how you HTFU on the run?

More interval training.   Repeats.   But that's just me. 

Mind blocks how?  Are you talking about strenuous efforts like a 5k or something?  Or are you just talking about the tedious day to day runs?

The only way to decrease the "pain" level of a run is to slow it down and get your HR back under control.

Being able to hold a pace that is not comfortable over the length of the effort?  That is what makes the difference between the athlete that can achieve their potential and those that can't.  Interval sessions are good for that, but they should also only last 5 minutes per interval at the most (with equal time to recover).

Tempo runs from 20 - 45 minutes allow you to knock on that LT door without overdoing it and are good for the HTFU mental aspect.

Here are a few suggestions:

Mix some slow and fast together.  Do sets of 30 seconds fast (not sprinting, but pick up the pace a little) and then 30 seconds normal pace.  I do this on days when I can't seem to get in a groove.  It helps pass the time.

Run with an ipod.  (Just be careful to stay alert when running outside)

Find someone or a group to run with.  Even better if you can find someone who is just slightly faster than you.  Even if you dont' run with someone, have a training parter that will ask about your run and hold you accountable.

Mostly just run outside and not on a treadmill if possible.  I find it much easier to get in my running zone outside.  And its harder to quit.  You gotta get back home somehow, so might as well run it, right?

Learn to separate from pace.  If it hurts, slow down.  Who cares if you run your training run 30 seconds faster today, or 30 seconds slower?

I think you need to accept that discomfort pain is going to be part of the process if you want to get faster, but I am not sure that is what you are asking since you talk about slowing down on the bike or gliding along happy when swimming as a way to get through it.  That says you slow down to get by, right?

If you are bored, change your venue (run on a trail) or slap on some earphones and listen to music.  I find both let me run for a very long time. 

Otherwise I agree with Daremo, tempo runs are a great way to get you faster while experiencing discomfort for a short period of time.  It is all part of the process.

The farthest I ran in the 15 years prior to May was from the couch to the fridge and back during football game commercial breaks, so relatively speaking, my running is of considerable frequency/distance to me.   

Lots of good advice for run training in the previous posts. 

I would add that incorporating some road races into your running schedule will toughen you mentally.  There is just something about mentally pushing yourself through discomfort in a 5K or 10K race that is hard to duplicate in a training run.  

Well, from looking at your logs, it looks like all your runs are pretty close to the same pace- always between 9:00- 9:30ish min/mile.  You should probably try to vary your pace more and slow it down and incorporate some EZ runs into your schedule- and run those like at least 30 secs slower than what you're running now.  You should notice a huge difference in how you feel- it should feel super easy.  By doing EZ runs, when you're ready to push it on a tempo run or intervals or what not, you're able to do so and it shouldn't be as painful.  I personally LOVE tempo runs- I can get into a groove, it feels good, and yet I still feel like I'm pushing myself and working at it.

I struggle most mentally on runs.  I used to be a total distaster at the end of a tri, but have improved a lot.  I really enjoy straight running races, which you might try for a change of focus (esp middle distance like 10 or 15k) Some things I have done are:

1. Remind myself during training runs that the distance or pace I achieve is not going to impress anyone so I need to be kinder to myself.  Some times I have bad days, no biggie.   Going the distance is most important.
2. If I am at the end of a run and slogging through, pace is down and I'm tired from a hill perhaps, I actually speed up a bit.  This helps because it makes me more confident (hey, I CAN do this) and seperates mental from physical.  Feeling fast and feeling a little breeze helps me remember why running is fun.
3. If it's really rough, I allow myself to walk a minute.  I feel refreshed when i start again, it's like a restart. 
4. If it's just kind of rough, I slow down to get my HR back under control.  It's not all or nothing.
5. Change my routes.  I love running outside, but you can also change your "route" on the treadmill by changing speed or incline. Or use an iTrain program. 

I think that number 5 is the most beneficial. And if you mean how to HTFU in a race, I'm still working on that one.  Imagining being done helps a lot  

Sorry! I didn't mean to put down your efforts. It's just that many people want to run like experienced runners without having done what's necessary to acquire the experience. IMO, you shouldn't even be worrying about things like this until you have a solid year of a minimum of 25-30 miles/week. It's great that you are pursuing a more active lifestyle, but try not to put the cart before the horse.

I got this same dose of reality when I started a few years ago. I recall thinking that running 10-15 miles/week was huge and when I asked why I wasn't improving I was told I needed to run about 30 miles/week. It took some time to get there but eventually I did, and I did improve.

Your main goal at this point should be to just build a solid base. All that HTFU, speedwork, tempo stuff will come into play after you build that base.

Dealing with your mind in situations like this is like dealing with a child that is throwing a tantrum.  If you choose to fight, you CANNOT lose.  Iff you lose, you will always lose.  If you win, you can win everytime.  So, if you decide you need to HTFU on the run, and your mind starts to question your body, you cannot let it win.  You have to win.  You have to grit your teeth, and keep going.  Your mind will subside and you will feel good again.  All of the sudden, it will come roaring back with a stronger case, more reasons to quit.  You still can't lose the battle. 

Ditto!

The thing we disagree on is when to HTFU. I took the question to be how to HTFU "while" running. Your response points at how to HTFU in order to get out to run. Obviously if HTFU isn't applied as you describe then HTFU while actually running is moot. Learning how to HTFU while running can only come as a result of learning to HTFU to just do it.

The hardest thing for some people is just taking the first step of a run. Many excuses are used to not take that step. It's too hot, too cold, too windy, etc., the list is almost endless. Heck, I've probably used them all at one time or another in my years of running. Now I just go. I ignore all the excuses. There have been plenty of runs where I'd much rather be doing something else, but I can't get to where I want to go if I don't do the necessary work to get there.

I think you nailed exactly where I am... Thanks for the boost  Slugger.