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MyFitnessPal Community

I want to love to run...

dcmitchell01

So, I haven't been running for very long. I started C25K, got good shoes, and have a treadmill at home. But I so dread the workouts. As a matter of fact, I've been weak (mentally) for several days and fallen off with the c25K plan. I have gotten through the week 1 workouts, I just dislike it. I know many people love it. I was just wondering what tips people might have to help me enjoy it more. I have a little route I can run/walk/C25K in our neighborhood too. And that helps a little to get out, but it's just still hard for me. I know its supposed to be work, and it definitely is. I just want to dread it less, if that makes sense. I know its going to take more mental toughness...
I am hoping as the weight comes down more that I'll enjoy it more. Any other suggestions for beginners?

I am doing ChaLean Extreme as well, and I enjoy that a lot. I'm on week 2 of that now.

Replies

LoosingMyLast15

So, I haven't been running for very long. I started C25K, got good shoes, and have a treadmill at home. But I so dread the workouts. As a matter of fact, I've been weak (mentally) for several days and fallen off with the c25K plan. I have gotten through the week 1 workouts, I just dislike it. I know many people love it. I was just wondering what tips people might have to help me enjoy it more. I have a little route I can run/walk/C25K in our neighborhood too. And that helps a little to get out, but it's just still hard for me. I know its supposed to be work, and it definitely is. I just want to dread it less, if that makes sense. I know its going to take more mental toughness...
I am hoping as the weight comes down more that I'll enjoy it more. Any other suggestions for beginners?

I am doing ChaLean Extreme as well, and I enjoy that a lot. I'm on week 2 of that now.

take your time, go slow and if you have to repeat the weeks then repeat them. as the weight comes off it will get a bit easier. also get outside and stop focusing so much ON the program and focus more on being outside breathing fresh air, flowers, trees, etc. start thinking of it as YOUR TIME. your ME TIME. no one can take your ME TIME from you.

michellekicks

1) Run slower than you think you should.
2) Buy yourself some super cute running clothes that make you feel super sexy

MoreBean13

1) Run slower than you think you should.
2) Buy yourself some super cute running clothes that make you feel super sexy

This.

And try going outside. Lots of people hate the treadmill.

michellekicks

1) Run slower than you think you should.
2) Buy yourself some super cute running clothes that make you feel super sexy

This.

And try going outside. Lots of people hate the treadmill.

Oh yeah. That too. Outside always.

cwolfman13

Maybe running just isn't your thing. I don't do exercises that I hate...I'd never stick to a training regimen if I did.

misskerouac

I've gone from HATING it to feeling indifferent about it, which I call a win.

I go for a run outside when I need to relieve stress or just am feeling restless in the house and I do find it's good for that.

At the gym I've learnt to just push myself on the treadmill and do intervals of 40sec run 20sec walk and I find that makes the time go by and I am concentrating more on pushing myself and doing better each time which is what keeps me going.

I've made peace with the fact that I will never be one of those people that LOVES running. I will take a lifting over cardio any day, but do cardio simply to keep up my cardio health.

holliebevineau

Maybe running just isn't your thing. I don't do exercises that I hate...I'd never stick to a training regimen if I did.

^^This.

mournemaid

i have tried running several times but I just hate it. I bought a cheap second hand bike and found I love cycling. I also enjoy Zumba. I think its important to find what you do like if you are going to stick with it.

Absonthebrain

1) Run slower than you think you should.
2) Buy yourself some super cute running clothes that make you feel super sexy

This.

And try going outside. Lots of people hate the treadmill.

Oh yeah. That too. Outside always.

^^^this!

Otterluv

1) Run slower than you think you should.
2) Buy yourself some super cute running clothes that make you feel super sexy

This.

And try going outside. Lots of people hate the treadmill.

Yep, all of this. It takes time to learn to love it. This past year I started running, I was significantly heavier than I am now. It was tough, no question. I hated it at first. It was easy to blame my weight, but my thin cousin and my thin husband both started running shortly after I did. Just like I did, they said that the 30 second running intervals were torture, that it felt like we just couldn't do it. We all three kept pushing through, and within about a month we were hooked. Through the years we had each told ourselves that we wish we were runners, but that we just weren't and couldn't run. What we didn't realize is that the only thing that separated us from being the runners we wanted to be was one month of pushing through.

Keep going.

3dogsrunning

You've gotten a few good tips already.

One thing that I used to do when I started running was focusing on what I did like about running, at first, that was how good I felt after I finished. I even kept notes. On those days I didnt want to go out the door, I re-read and reminded myself how good running made me feel even if I didn't love it at the time.
I also really enjoy being outside and tend to focus on that as well.

I really didn't know I 'loved' running until I was injured (not from running, well, sort of by not as a result of the running itself), and couldn't do it. On those nice fall days all I wanted to do was get outside and run.

I also strongly agree with slow down and keep going.

ETA - apparenlty my brain is not working and I missed entire words .

Otterluv

I really didn't know I 'loved' running until I was injured (not from running, well, sort of by not as a result of the running itself), and couldn't do it. On those nice fall days all I wanted to do was get outside and run.

The same thing happened to me. A few months after I started running, I had an injury pop up that had me waylaid for over 4 months. I went from watching people running in the rain and thinking that they were crazy (what I thought before I started running) to sighing wistfully wishing that I could be running in the rain, too. It surprised the crap out of me.

Keep going.

ThickMcRunFast

Good advice here: hit the outdoor/ditch the treadmill; know that you don't have to if its not your thing

I would add that I adore running, but even for me, not every run is pleasant. Sometimes they are horrible and I hate them. They won't all be winners.

unknown

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arl1286

I'm in the same boat as you. I was so eager to join the track team in 7th grade because all of my friends were doing it and I thought the jacket looked cool. By the end of 8th grade, however, I realized how much I HATED running. Fast forward to last March (spring of freshman year of college). I decided I wanted to run a 5k in April, so I started running again, and have been running since (with the exceptions of about two 2-month spans with minimal running). It wasn't until this spring that I realized-- everything I run AFTER the 3.5 or 4 mile mark I really enjoy. I get into a rhythm and it's genuinely enjoyable.

That's not really great advice, but stick with it! You may start to like it, like I did.

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

I went thru c25k this spring and thought I loved it, but I soon started to loathe it with a passion. IT band injury, strict rules, painful knees were only the tip of the iceberg. It really pissed me off that running negatively impacted my other workouts. So I went back to speed walking. I'm like a race horse behind the gate waiting to get back out. I've bloodied my feet, blistered my heels, sunburned my nose, but it's nothing like the hell of running. I truly love every minute I am speed walking (12 min/mile for now). Running made me want to trip people. Speed walking makes me happy.

newdaydawning79

I absolutely hate to run. I think I look stupid and foolish.

In my mind if you hate it there's no reason to do it. Find a workout you enjoy.

3dogsrunning

I absolutely hate to run. I think I look stupid and foolish. In my mind if you hate it there's no reason to do it. Find a workout you enjoy.

I agree that if you really don't enjoy it, don't do it, and was prepared to give that answer when I read the title. After reading her post it seemed to me that she wants to like it and isn't just doing it out of some sort of obligation (like " if I want to lose weight I "have" to run") which is why my answer was different.

PetulantOne

1) Run slower than you think you should.
2) Buy yourself some super cute running clothes that make you feel super sexy

This.

And try going outside. Lots of people hate the treadmill.

I'm up to being able to run 5 miles straight, and still can't run a mile on a treadmill without wanting to gouge my own eyes out to fend off the boredom. :grumble:

Also, I don't know that I will ever LOVE running. I've found that I do enjoy conquering it though. As others have said, I enjoy the me time and de-stressing as well.

dcmitchell01

Maybe running just isn't your thing. I don't do exercises that I hate...I'd never stick to a training regimen if I did.

^^This.

yeah, I'm wondering that... but since I've just started, I wanted to give it a chance since it is such a good cardio workout. And I like the idea of it, and participating in 5Ks, and such, but I won't get there if I don't do it.... and for the past few days, I just haven't been able to make myself do it.

PetulantOne

Good advice here: hit the outdoor/ditch the treadmill; know that you don't have to if its not your thing

I would add that I adore running, but even for me, not every run is pleasant. Sometimes they are horrible and I hate them. They won't all be winners.

^ This too.

Somedays it's awesome, and I can't wait to do it again. Other days....ugh

Swehl

I highly recommend you get a running partner. I do not enjoy running either. I am happy to say after a month of running 5 days a week for the past month I don't HATE it anymore. As I am getting better and feeling more confident running, I am also starting to like it a little bit more. The reason I highly recommend having a partner is to help keep you dedicated even when you don't feel like going. My neighbor and I go Monday through Friday, and even if I'm tired or sore I won't cancel because I know she's depending on me to go as much as I'm depending on her. Good luck!

gmallan

I'm not a huge fan of running for the sake of running. However, I love it when I'm chasing a ball around a field. Ever thought of playing a team sport. It's social and it pushes you beyond your comfort zone

Also, stick with it for a while. Even though I don't love running, like most activities I tend to enjoy it more the better I get

bumblebums

Maybe running just isn't your thing. I don't do exercises that I hate...I'd never stick to a training regimen if I did.

I've gotta agree. I've tried to like running. I can tolerate it for maybe 30 min at a time, and I like how I feel afterward. But love it? Never have, and never will.

Do what you like--if you are new to exercise, try a lot of things. There are all sorts of classes you can take at gyms these days, and there are also different types of gyms/sports clubs you can try (martial arts, yoga, pilates studios, pole dancing, CrossFit, whatever). Find a swimming pool or canoe/kayak place. Don't torture yourself doing something you feel you should be enjoying but aren't.

moni_tb_192

Many others have said it as well, but I think it's going to make a huge difference: run outside!!

I didn't like running at the beginning because it was too difficult and boring... but everything clicked the day I was running up a hill (that's my favorite part of running now), listening to a great song while the sun was setting down. I got chills from that beautiful moment and I still remember it.

So, my tips:
-Go outside!
-Find a nice path to run in
-Have great music with you

best of luck!

RunnerElizabeth

When I was a very new runner (still run/walking) I signed up for a race, knowing that I didn't have to run the whole thing, but having a goal to work toward helped me run the whole thing. So maybe find a 5k that looks fun. Investing a little cash in it may help motivate you to get out and do it.

Also I agree with the folks that say run outside. And do you run with music? Having a killer playlist helps me.

Fourth piece of advice, use a fun running app. So I use zombies run! I like getting inolved in the storyline of the zombie apocalypse rather than getting caught up in my headspace. There is a c25k version of it too. I didn't use it, but I know people really like it.

mtfr810

Still pushing myself on running. It tough. Wish I had a partner, but sometimes your just have to go it alone. Keep going... It will be worth it!

Mcgrawhaha

i WILL NEVER love to run... however... i will always run, because...

1) it speeds my weight loss up
2) i feel good afterwards
3) i feel accomplished each time i better my miles / time

sevsmom

My number one advice to you is: expect it to suck. . .until it doesn't. Running is hard. It taxes your body in ways you don't expect. But, most of the best things in life usually require you to stick it out. It took about 4 months before I realized I was "in love."

That being said, if you hate it that much and you don't want to keep pushing through to see if you might fall in love... find something else. I have done ChaLean extreme several times and am half way through month 2 right now. It's good. But it doesn't satisfy my mental needs like running.

Hoping you fall in love with running (or something else) soon.

JPow3

Personally, I've found that the only way I can find myself really enjoying jogging is to do it every day (or as close to it as I can manage), and after a week or two it just kind of clicks, and I don't get as tired or winded while running. Make sure when you first start you jog really slow, just slightly faster than walking speed if you need to. That way you can end up going further and not getting discouraged so quickly.