Have you learned to love running?

drosebud

I'm in my early 50s, and would have never believed I'd ever be running, let alone enjoying it. I got talked into entering a 5K charity run earlier this year, and figured I'd do the C25K (nhs, 9 week) as a challenge. I started off on treadmills, but it was so boring! Week 5 I went outside and it was lovely. Fast forward five months and I am out running twice a week and absolutely loving it. My husband and I go out for 5K runs regularly now on a Sunday, before breakfast.

I still can't quite believe it's me who is posting this.

Short answer: it is possible, yes!

edit:link to the c25k free podcasts: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

I started loving it when I started running beautiful places

Samstan101

Started with C25K in the gym whilst still almost 300lbs. I hated the first few weeks but stuck at it because it burned lots of cals. I then had a good session that I was buzzing afterwards so next time I went outside. I haven't looked back! I love running, I'd run every day if I could (cross training and weights on other days just to make sure I fully recover between runs). In the space of 17 months I've gone from not able to walk a flight of stairs without panting to running 30-35miles a week & completing everything from 5k to 30k races and a memebr of my local running club. Its fair to say I learned to love running!

ETA: My pic is me completing my last HM in July.

LoneWolfRunner

I love running. I didn't start until I was 53 and I have had both of my hips replaced... I now run trail ultras... I think you either love it or you don't, but like a bunch have already said, mixing in some trails might make all the difference.

Mostly, though, because I have a perpetually stressful job, I like to run so I don't kill people.

redpandora56

Hated it, stuck with it and it went from being a chore to a fantastic stress reducing treat. Did my first 5k, loved it even more. Had a back injury, stopped for a year. Tried starting again, hated it and how it was hard again, stopped. Fast forward to 6 months ago, started again, hated it, got talked into training for a 10k , stuck with it, 4 weeks in started liking it, now back to loving it with a 10k under my belt and looking forward to getting faster in future!

It sucks to start with but give it a fair chance, train for the 5k and after that if it still isn't your thing, you can stop knowing you gave it a go!

MamaGab92

I have been doing the C25K program and I am loving it! My opinion: running on a treadmill feels like work; running outside in nature feels like a fun break from the world. Night and day difference.

azwen

Do you mean the Zombies, Run! app? Looks interesting. Do you enjoy it?

MeanderingMammal

Do you mean the Zombies, Run! app? Looks interesting. Do you enjoy it?

Couch to 5K is a progressive running training programme with a number of implementations as either Apps or Podcasts, if you're already running 10K consistently then it's of little value.

kportwood85

I did the couch to 5k thing. I hated it. I was proud of myself for every minute longer I could run, but I never liked it. I still don't like it. My husband likes to run though, so, I will do two or three 5ks with him a year. I go slower than he likes, and he picks "fun" ones for me, and he's happy because we're doing it together.

I did do some trail running recently and I love that. But, I rarely get the chance.

Sailorwind

I love running. I tried to learn how to run a few years back on the C25K program and injured myself. I'm finally back to it and have noticed that while it's easier on my body to run on the treadmill, I FAR prefer running outside. Another thing I've found I highly prefer is the Zombies, Run! 5k training app over the C25K training app. The C25K app pushed me too hard too fast (hence the injury) and I never made it past week 1 because most times I went out there I couldn't finish the session due to pain in my calves. Being stubborn, I refused to move on to the next session until I'd finished the last one fully, so I just never moved on. The Zombies, Run! 5k training app starts off much more gradually and builds stretches directly into the sessions, which helps a lot. Plus it's interesting and fun to listen to the storyline. Some day I'll be trained enough to be able to go out on supply runs and start gathering resources so I can do the online portion of the game! But right now they are still training me.

If you want to try running but are worried you'll be bored, get the Zombies, Run! 5k training app. It's $2 but worth it and it will keep you focused on the story instead of just running.

ka97

I hated it when started, but stuck with it because my trainer talked me into doing a 5k. That progressed into 10k, into triathlons and half marathons. Somewhere along the way I started to love it. Now it is my stress relief. I was out for several months due to injury, and it was torturous.

I think it was when I had built up to being able to run 5 miles comfortably that I began to love it. If you want to give running a shot, first get away from the treadmill. Take it slow and run at a comfortable pace where you can still carry on a conversation. C25k is very popular and worth trying. For me, I hated the run/walk thing. My trainer had got me up to running a mile with him. So from there I just gradually added on - running 1.5 and walking 1.5, then running 2 and walking 1, running 2.5 and walking .5, until I was running the 3 miles.

And if after trying it a fair try, you decide you still hate running - then don't run. There's lots of other physical activity you could do. Why waste your time with something you hate. Find something you enjoy, and go with it.