20 Things No One Tells You About Running

emmajohns88

Number 18!!! :laugh:

mitchiemo

First time I went running I got horrendously sore boobs - no one told me about that! I now wear the tightest top I can find as well as the tightest sports bra I can find.

1capybara

22. The first mile (or half mile) tends to be the longest, until you realize that very little concerns matter at the moment. Simply step and breathe.

I was thinking about this while doing my morning run. QFT!

kynara

As for getting the stench out of your running clothes... I found that Tide Sport does a really good job. I was having horrible trouble getting the smells out of my sports bras!!

When I get my own washing machine and can wash my stuff separately from my boyfriend's clothes without having to pay for it (hate community laundry rooms), I'll pick some of this up. But he has sensitive skin so we have to stick with a free and clear detergent.

The vinegar (white) and baking soda that someone mentioned works well (and cheap) even with sensitive skin. I'm allergic to almost everything out there and have to use All Free & Clear, but if I soak them in the vinegar/soda first then wash them with the detergent I don't have any reaction. Maybe you could soak them in your tub in hot water an hour before you go to the laundry room to wash.

cad39too

Lol. Have experienced many of these. Touch wood..not 10 or 13 yet though i live in fear ;-)

xTenaciousJx

love this!!! ♥

blackcloud13

#2 - this is pretty common. People love to tell me they dont run because they want to preserve their knees. They go on to recommend cycling or swimming. 9 times out of 10, ask them whether they swim or cycle, and you get "Well, I would but ..."


#4 I managed this even with cross training. Lack of strecthing. Everybody - remember to stretch after your runs!!


#20 This ... and the feeling starts when you see the one mile or 800m to go, and you realize that you are 100% sure you are going to make it ...

KristiRTT

Whatever number should be next I think 24
A PR will make your day and be an awesome gift from all your training. And in the next second you will be planning the next training cycle to beat that PR!

guessrs

A lot of your points don't apply to my short runs, less than an hour. When I began training for a marathon, yes, what you are talking about applies.

18lalune

17. You will never be the fastest runner you know. You will always never be the slowest runner you know.

This

gattogurl

I LOVE this post..thank you!! I am 4 months into my running adventure..and some of these I have learned, some of these I look forward to learning..and some I hope to never learn..lol. This rocks!! Thanks again!!

michellemybelll

great list. love the additions too.

EmilyEmpowered

18. Farts happen. A lot.

Why I hate running on the treadmill instead of outdoors :laugh:

michellemybelll

#21 - there are few things more devastating than an injury that stops you running for 3 months.

this is oh so very true.

23. Runs that used to be a big accomplishment become "I only..." As in - "I only ran five miles today." Don't forget to celebrate how far you've come!

yes! so true! :drinker:

SquishyVicki

Love this...so very very much!!!

Flixie00

I am primarily a lifter but ran my first half marathon in September.

I would like to add chaffing to the list, I bled in a couple of places during my half which didn't make for attractive post run pics.

I always find when I cross path with other runners, we always check out each others footwear :laugh:

JasmineOravec

Love that. Just started and it cracked me up but didn't deter me in any way.

slimster1970

I did my first race of any kind in September, a half marathon in London (same one Flixie chaffed at :-)) and what I never appreciated during training was the feeling standing before the race with a whole lot of other people who have felt the same things. I was a little overwhelmed at that point and at least know how it will be next time.

Can't wait for my first marathon next year.

slimster1970

I should have said 18. is brilliant.

The non runners on the streets don't know you're not looking round for traffic but to see who is close.......

maureli

Love it!

janatarnhem

New runner ...this sounds terrifying! Black toes and blisters, farts and incontinence...nice!

Samstan101

Brilliant! Another one I've found (new runner of about 5 months).

The high after a good run lasts a few hours and makes you do things like sign up for a new challenge you wouldn't normally consider sober

(Guess who's now signed up for a 10k and half marathon despite only doing my first 'competitive' 5k last weekend!)

cinrn68

#21 - there are few things more devastating than an injury that stops you running for 3 months.

This.

Hadabetter

I love the list, but I would like to modify this one.

19. Running performance is as much, if not more, about mental strength as your physical strength.

I would suggest that your running performance is all about your mental strength "during training". During a race your "red line" is pretty much defined by your fitness level, and you can't will your body to perform at a level higher than you've prepared it for.

Great list though!

Bry_Fitness70

:drinker: DO runners even lift? They mostly look dehydrated to me

Me (a marathon runner) suffering from dehydration.

Lyerin

Love it!

I wish someone had told me that I would be permanently regrowing the skin on my chest below my sports bra. I have no idea why I keep chafing there (different bras, plenty of body glide and other chafing protection - WTF??), but I have a permanent chafe line. Also sometimes you chafe in bizarre places and don't know it until you get into a hot shower. OUCH! Two weeks ago I chafed on my collar bone - how is that even possible???

And to the person who responded about using a porta potty instead of peeing yourself, I think the OP wasn't talking about actually needing to pee and choosing not to use a bathroom. LOL Sometimes pee happens when you least expect it.

RunHardBeStrong

Loved it! I can relate to every single one of them!

contingencyplan

4. If you only run and don’t do anything else (cross train, strength train), you will probably get injured.

This needs to be screamed from the highest mountain top. I see a lot of people who are just getting into running or have been doing it for sometime but don't do anything else. And they need to be educated on the fact that without supplementing it with additional activities, they may be doing their body more harm than good.

gmthisfeller

7. You will go through phases where you feel totally inadequate as a runner.

8. You will go through phases where you feel totally like a rock star as a runner.

I resonate with these two. It was only running in the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer!

KeViN_v2pt0

#21