When does running become "fun"?

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Replies

  • Steve_Runs
    Steve_Runs Posts: 443 Member
    You may never find running fun. Some days I HATE running, Most days, however, running is my passion. It allow me to escape from the things around me for a certain amount of time. Good luck!
  • karrielynn80
    karrielynn80 Posts: 395 Member
    The calorie burn is the same for the amount of miles you put in you're just getting it over with faster with running.

    No it isn't.

    If you walk 2 miles you will burn less calories than running. Your heart rate will be more elevated running and as a result you will burn more calories. If I walk 5K I will burn 300 or so calories. If I run it's nearly 600.

    I imagine the above stat is gotten from the generic treadmill reading... I say this b/c it is the same for me, whether I walk, jog or run, my calories burned is rarely off by more than 5 or 10 calories. However, that is a general figure, calculated by weight, time, incline, and even heart rate (via the treadmill) but nothing steady - although i use what the treadmill says I try to run as much as possible, b/c i know i'm exerting more energy, thus I have to be burning more calories...

    the one that i don't get is the eliptical - how the Heck! can I burn 1/3 + more calories when i never feel as exhausted afterwards??? lol
  • tadpole242
    tadpole242 Posts: 507 Member
    Running is not meant to be fun, if you are enjoying it you are not running fast enough or trying hard enough. For me, I started to love it, when I was either doing a couple of miles warm up before a half, or at the end when I was doing a couple of miles cool down at the end of the race.
    Unless you are doing a easy slow long distance run as part of training for something, running does not get easier you just get quicker.
  • karrielynn80
    karrielynn80 Posts: 395 Member
    Running became fun for me when I noticed (almost immediately) the difference in how i feel physically. Literally I'm more "pumped" all day long if i even get a 2mile walk in in the mornings, some mornings it's harder to push myself than others, but i know how great i'm going to feel the rest of the day.

    It's the same feeling I get staying away from pop / soda - i can have one mt dew and the next morning i feel bloated & hungover - :( so that is my NO NO cheat!! lol i'd rather feel great all day than for 5 minutes (or less, since i generally slam it) the day before :D
  • Elle_45
    Elle_45 Posts: 43 Member
    I have started C25K, and while I don't really like running (yet) I like seeing that I can push myself to the another level. Getting in the extra tenth of a mile or increasing my mph. I have signed up for a training class that starts next week so I will probably like it better when I can improve somethings I am probably doing wrong. I have liked it enough to stick with it for the last 5 weeks :)
  • Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet
    Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet Posts: 486
    It varies...sometimes you need to see that you can push through before you can enjoy it. Others just won't enjoy it. Give it a couple months and if you still don't like it, find something fun that provides the same benefit like volleyball or soccer.
  • brandyk77
    brandyk77 Posts: 605 Member
    Running is not meant to be fun, if you are enjoying it you are not running fast enough or trying hard enough. For me, I started to love it, when I was either doing a couple of miles warm up before a half, or at the end when I was doing a couple of miles cool down at the end of the race.
    Unless you are doing a easy slow long distance run as part of training for something, running does not get easier you just get quicker.

    pretty sure this is a general running not racing question

    and racing can be fun....just a different kind of fun...and probably not 100% of the time fun. I have a great time in a lot of my recent races, all of which were PRs for me (sense of accomplishment goes a long way).
  • MoveTheMountain
    MoveTheMountain Posts: 764
    Running is not meant to be fun, if you are enjoying it you are not running fast enough or trying hard enough. For me, I started to love it, when I was either doing a couple of miles warm up before a half, or at the end when I was doing a couple of miles cool down at the end of the race.
    Unless you are doing a easy slow long distance run as part of training for something, running does not get easier you just get quicker.

    Who's fun at parties? /^\ This /^\ guy!!
  • evilmonkee
    evilmonkee Posts: 55 Member
    Running on the treadmill will never be fun for me- it makes me feel like a hampster, and it's really boring even with music or a movie. I started enjoying the post-run high after running outside for 2 months, and I started enjoying the running experience during running after I had been running for 5 months.
    Once I started running outside, the mix of the endorphines and being able to see how far I actually ran was very empowering and I wanted to go out and run.
    As I progressed, I became able to settle in a comfortable pace and enjoy my surroundings during my long run. Now the long runs almost feel like meditation.

    I used to be an athlete (gymnast) until I graduated from college, so I always loved working out and lifting, but I despised running.
    When I started graduate school, I stopped competing, but I still ate like an athlete, and the weight piled on. I had my wake up call last year, started WW in October, and I started C25k solely because a friend was doing it and it looked easy enough to fit in my schedule.
    The first few weeks were dreadful. I took my runs outside after 4 weeks, and they were less boring, but still felt like drudgery. My goal was to get up to running a 5k, then move on if I still hated it. After completing my first 5k, I somehow ended up getting hooked. I still lift heavy and dance, but now I also run.

    Of course, this doesn't mean that you will end up loving it. If you still hate it after a few weeks, there is no reason to keep doing things you hate. The key to staying consistent is doing exercise you enjoy so you can stick with it. I have wasted a lot of money on yoga classes, and I will never enjoy it. If you love swimming, dance, or cycling, and loathe running, there is no point in torturing yourself.
  • surromom2010
    surromom2010 Posts: 457 Member
    As soon as you change your mindset. I learned when I was in the army that a HUGE percent of the time it really is mind over matter. If you think you can't do something, you probably can't, because you won't give it your all. If you make yourself change and give yourself reachable mini goals, it's totally doable. I used to be like you, but now I LOVE IT!!!
  • Renae_Nae
    Renae_Nae Posts: 935 Member
    For me it's accomplishing a new goal (either time or distance) and races. I had "normal training" but LOVE my half marathons.
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    I've heard walking and running the same DISTANCE burns the same amount Of calories too. Obviously if you do it for the same TIME then running burns more. Running may strengthen your lungs and heart more but energy use is the same ( so I've been told).
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I focused on pure cardio for my first year and I hated every second of it. I still do. If you don't like it, do something else, like I finally learned to do.
    Weight lifting >>>>>>>>>> cardio for me.
  • wookiemouse
    wookiemouse Posts: 290 Member
    Never. :)

    I did C25K and eventually worked up to a 10K. Hated every minute of it. The only reason I did it was to get a break from my kids and listen to my iPod.

    I do kickboxing for cardio now. I'm a much happier camper. Life is too short to force yourself to do something you hate. Find a new love, you can burn just as many calories (if not more).
  • redhousecat
    redhousecat Posts: 584 Member
    I spent a mere 8 years in the military. I disliked running then, and I still dislike running. But I run; not far, not fast, but I run. I don't really enjoy it. But what I do enjoy is the fitness it provides.

    I bike more than I run. Doing both helps break up the monotony of cardio.

    I'm not much help.
  • gogonunubean
    gogonunubean Posts: 160 Member
    I cheat!! I love love running - on a treadmill in an air conditioned gym. I get my Kindle fire hooked up to netflix and catch up on old movies or tv series....sometimes I extend my run cos I am at an exciting bit!

    If I am doing long and steady running, Ill watch a movie.
    For splits, Ill catch up on something like Glee, which has great tunes to bump up the speed
    And for incline work, my go to right now is Stargate!

    For me it takes me mind off the aching legs and burning lungs.
  • NoxDineen
    NoxDineen Posts: 497 Member
    I'm wrapping up week 5 of Couch to 5k and I've started to really love it. Mind you, tomorrow is my first run without a walking interal so we'll see how I like it then! :)
  • nurselroy
    nurselroy Posts: 67 Member
    Even when it hurts, it's fun for me because I'm pushing myself. I have Fibromyalgia and RA and believe me, they can become excruciating. Running gives me energy and strength I didn't know I had. Now, instead of 6 days of Fibro or Arthritis pain, I'm down to 2 or 3 - it's worth it :)




    Wow I was glad to read your post. I recently started a group training class three times a week (this is only my second week), and the trainer has us jog for 20-25 min at the beginning of each class. I have RA and am very scared of jogging and potentially hurting something. I did jog briefly (verrrry briefly) today, but like the OP, am definetley not at the "fun" stage yet. I'm determined not to give up though.
  • Briko3
    Briko3 Posts: 266 Member
    I've heard walking and running the same DISTANCE burns the same amount Of calories too. Obviously if you do it for the same TIME then running burns more. Running may strengthen your lungs and heart more but energy use is the same ( so I've been told).

    It's a common misconception and it's not because of heart rate either. When you walk, your center of gravity stay in about the same place vertically. When you run it bounces up and down. Turns out it takes 50% more calories for the distance because it takes a lot of energy to move your center of gravity up and down. Generally (as a rule of thumb) you burn 100 calories per mile walked and 150 per mile run.

    I know this post sounds super nerdy, but it's true :)

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