How do they run so effortlessly?

I see people running on my way to or from work, or even some of the folks in my At Home group and they make it look so easy, like running on clouds… Tonight as I ran I dreamed I was running on clouds just to try to see if that helped. While I’d like to say it did, it did not, but it did take my mind off the pounding I feel like I do as I run.  I feel like with every step, I’m stomping/pounding the pavement. But tonight was a little easier. I ran/walked 2 miles in just shy of 35 minutes. To me this is improvement.  And I’m trying not to think about the 20 minute run we will be doing in just over a week. I’ll just dream I’m on clouds the whole way through!