Convince me about running

One day I realised I wanted to change my eating and exercise habits, joined the gym and hit the treadmill. People love it, people hate it. Good research for it and bad, all I know is I love it. I love setting my self goals and hitting them, I enjoy running when usually I would just watch it on the telly with a bag of crisps and a can of coke lol. There's days when it hurts and I don't want too, but I push through and feel better for it. But that's just me!

Why do you want to join this cult? There are lots of cults to join....gym rats, soccer teams, hikers etc. Why running? What pulls you to it? The only way you will get the motivation is to dig deep inside yourself and figure out your "why".

This. I love running--I just ran a half marathon weekend before last. If you don't like to run, don't do it! There are tons of other activities you might find more enjoyable!

This:happy:

I see where you are coming from.....but I have to say that when you are bigger, it's easy to "hate" running, but to still have a desire to do it. Running is like that thing you should be able to do, but can't. Running is what fat people can't do. So, it's almost like proving that you are getting fit, you are making progress, you are changing, if you are able to run.

A lot of people who start out like that end up loving it. Because once you make yourself do it for a few weeks, you get hooked. You get the runner's high, you get the feeling of empowerment, and you know that you NEED to keep running.

I don't think there's anything wrong with making yourself do it to start. If you don't like it, you can quit. But maybe it will be the start of something really great.

I get that. Even at my heaviest (220) when I WANTED to run but it was hard, I never said I HATED it. No it wasn't fun at first but I just wanted to get better at it. Running is not for everyone. Simple as that. I think a lot of people get sucked into the idea that the only way to be "fit" is to run. I think the best way to be fit is to get out and be active doing something you truly enjoy. Being a "runner" is not required.

If you run you can eat more food.


I love food.

^This^

Also, start slow, build endurance, use C25k, come back feeling good, not knackered, and eventually you'll find you're running miles while still feeling good.

I hate running... I know that before I can ever start running I need to change my thinking, maybe even the words that I use, when I think about running. None are very pleasant.

However, I am a big guy. I have on occasion, gotten up from the couch to go run a mile. Maybe I was inspired by a movie, maybe, I was just a glutton for punishment. Either way I was able to struggle through... in pain.

I hate the sore joints, and I can only remember once the 'runner's high' achieved as a child running for the track and field team. (I threw shot put and discus. I had to run as part of the team, not by choice.)

So why this cult of shoe and road? What is it that makes it possible for you to get up early in the morning and trudge five or ten miles no matter the weather?

I am interested in joining the cult... even have the dixie cup held out for my daily dose of Kool-Aid... Just need a nudge in the right direction.

I hated running when I started over 30 years ago. It was back in the day when they first came out with the Sony Walkman cassette player (LOL). They were expensive but I bought one and it was the only way I could run (can you imagine having to rewind a song to play it again!! and it wore the battery down fast). If my batteries died so did my run. But I got stronger as I continued and once you get conditioned you crave it, but you have to push through for awhile to get to the conditioned stage.

Running became my friend. It was the only thing consistent for a long time while my life had a lot of crap in it. Then it was always there during good times too and I developed happy memories. I have happy memories of running 5k and 10k races and then finally a few marathons. It just became part of my life.

But the trick for me was that as the years accumulated so did the fat, and no amount of running could make up for the fact that I simply ate a few too many calories for my size. I'm small. It didn't seem like I ate too much when I looked around me. I hate healthier than anyone I knew. I don't pig out, binge, or emotionally eat. I don't sit in front of the TV and eat, I don't even watch TV. The problem is serving sizes are designed for 6' tall men and I'm a 5'1" female. I didn't realize that, so the weight piled on and accumulated year after year (ever hear them say typically 10 lbs per decade?), well that is just because if you never take steps to eat at a slight calorie deficit you will keep accumulating it. I kept thinking maybe if I train for another marathon I will lose it. Nope, I finally learned you can't out exercise too many calories. Once learned to cut calories, and put weight training first and cardio 2nd then I finally changed my shape at age 50. I never stopped running, but I put weight training first.

Since I lost 60 lbs at age 50 people around me in my life are inspired, people at work, people at the gym, everyone has seen me transform into a new person. I met an event coordinator at my gym who is going to have me speak about it at the next Marin County half Marathon in March. I'm going to run it as well. I'm hoping that at age 50 I can beat my time from my 30's because I'm 20-30 lbs lighter compared to then and my weight training leg work has made my running performance better. I want to prove you can be a good runner even when you lift heavy. Anyway, I'm glad I never quit running. I'm super excited to give the little chat at the run as well as to run it.

So, running is an acquired taste.

Why do you want to join this cult? There are lots of cults to join....gym rats, soccer teams, hikers etc. Why running? What pulls you to it? The only way you will get the motivation is to dig deep inside yourself and figure out your "why".

This. I love running--I just ran a half marathon weekend before last. If you don't like to run, don't do it! There are tons of other activities you might find more enjoyable!

This:happy:

I see where you are coming from.....but I have to say that when you are bigger, it's easy to "hate" running, but to still have a desire to do it. Running is like that thing you should be able to do, but can't. Running is what fat people can't do. So, it's almost like proving that you are getting fit, you are making progress, you are changing, if you are able to run.

A lot of people who start out like that end up loving it. Because once you make yourself do it for a few weeks, you get hooked. You get the runner's high, you get the feeling of empowerment, and you know that you NEED to keep running.

I don't think there's anything wrong with making yourself do it to start. If you don't like it, you can quit. But maybe it will be the start of something really great.

I get that. Even at my heaviest (220) when I WANTED to run but it was hard, I never said I HATED it. No it wasn't fun at first but I just wanted to get better at it. Running is not for everyone. Simple as that. I think a lot of people get sucked into the idea that the only way to be "fit" is to run. I think the best way to be fit is to get out and be active doing something you truly enjoy. Being a "runner" is not required.

I get that too - and I'm all for people doing whatever motivates them!

I just know that I did use the word "hate" and quite frequently and now my Christmas list is filled with running gear :laugh:

So, it's possible to make the switch. For some, it just needs to be done (even briefly) to prove that it can be done. It's sort of like eating your veggies.....a lot of people come on here and complain about having to eat them, and we all say "suck it up and do it anyway because it's good for you." Maybe running is like that for some. And then maybe, you figure out that you really like it - like you might really like some veggies. And maybe not and that's ok too.

Buy a bike.

Pass runners...

I've passed many a biker on the uphill sections, just sayin'.

That was you?

*shakes fist*

There's a saying... "The first step is always the hardest." And it couldn't be more true. I get up early and run in the warmer months, and seriously dread it until I'm about 1km into my run. It's only then that I remember why I do this and why I love it. The more you do it, the more you will learn to enjoy it. I also love running because you can always push yourself, always a new goal to strive for... Run longer, run faster. It's great! Good luck to you!

The uniquely human ability to run for incredibly long periods of time is one of the traits that permitted us as a species to survive and thrive and is in our genes.

We often get conditioned to think of running in a negative way, many coaches will use it as punishment. Modern culture has convinced us that sweat is unsanitary and gross and we spend our lives seeking out labour saving devices and transportation.

So....why should you run? I can't answer that. I can only tell you why I run.

A number of years ago I was over 235lbs and could barely run around the block when I was inspired to start playing soccer again. Suffice it to say my fitness sucked, 5 minutes on the pitch and I was ready to pass out. Realizing I had to either improve my fitness or spend 90 minutes warming the bench I grudgingly chose the former. Those first miles were painful and exhausting so I decided to figure what I was doing wrong and started reading Runner's World magazine and figured out that it was a process that involved baby steps rather than trying to run a marathon over night.

So I ran (or shuffled slowly to be more accurate) for a minute and then walked, then 1 minute turned int to 2 and then 3 ......you get the picture.

One of my epiphanies came, though, when my daughter's soccer team signed up for a 5K race as a team building activity and she actually had fun! I set my target to run 1 5K in under 40 minutes in September 2009.....I made that goal (painfully - I'd trained most of the time on my treadmill as I was embarrassed to be seen running in public and had pretty bad shin splints by the 3rd km)

My other eureka moment came when I realized I was thinking about running the wrong way. It wasn't exercise or a workout, it was play time. It was my opportunity to be a carefree, goofy kid again even for brief periods of time......no phones, no kids, no clients....just me and the running path, it was a zen experience.

Since then I've gone on to run races up to half-marathon distances (the feeling you get when you find you can actually run 5k or 10 k or more is indescribable) and am in training for a full marathon next May.

Approach your running methodically and train progressively, be consistent and have fun!

You know, I had the same thinking as well.

I can remember about 9 years ago when I tried running at night because it was cooler. I ran for one minute, got side cramps and walked back home in tears. The thought of running again after that was never a thought in my mind.

It wasn't until last July that I told my sister, "I want to start jogging. But I think I am too heavy." She turned me onto the Couch to 5K running program. I started that at around 190 lbs. I was so excited that I went to the local shoe store, bought the prettiest pair of running shoes I could find and started W1D1. It was hard. I was tired. The next day, I couldn't feel my knees. They hurt to the point where I couldn't stand or walk. I thought it was "post running aches." I gave it a day. A day didn't help either but I decided to do W1D2 anyway. Worst idea ever. The next day, my knee's were shot. I went to my doctor for a check up. I brought my shoes. As soon as he saw them, he took the shoe and slapped me on the arm with it, especially when I asked if I was too fat to run. My pain was from my shoes. They didn't support my stature and that's why I had major imflamation around my knee's. Because of my stupidity and lack of knowledge, this injury put me on the sidelines for 6 weeks which pushed my training schedule back 6 weeks.

I decided to research "newbie running" tips while I was healing and continue with my cross training. To make a long story short, I visited a RUNNING store, was fitted for correct shoes and socks and started the C25K program all over again. It was 3 times a week for 30 minutes and you did interval training. I could deal with that!

There was a 5K that I did when I was still on W5 but my sister said that she saw no reason for me not to do it. When I crossed my first finish line, tears streamed down my face. The time was 41:03 (a little over 13 min/mile). Not the best time to some people (and I did not run the whole thing) but I was happy with it because *I* finished the race and didn't give up (and also came in under my goal of 45 minutes!). After that first race, I signed up for 4 more. I was HOOKED. Each race was harder but it gave me something to work towards... new PR goals (and the awesome shirts and freebies don't hurt either! :laugh: )

With it being a year into running, I can say that I run because I CAN. There is something about being able to run a mile without stopping....2 miles without stopping.... hell....even 3.11 miles without stopping that gives me this RUSH of energy through my blood! Sure, there are weeks where I get sick of running and take a break. But I always pick up where I left off.

And let me tell you, there are times where I can not run for more than 2 miles without needing to walk. I have bad runs all the time (more in the summer because I hate the heat!) In fact, my most recent 5k on 11/17 was the FIRST 5K that I ran the ENTIRE thing without stopping and had my most recent PR time of 30:24 (beating 32:49 from March 17th, 2012). It's little things like that which make me want to train more and keep running. But it's going to take time! Just start slow and KEEP WITH IT!

Now for 2013, I have 2 big races to train for (and will train SMART this time around with less injury!) The Nike Women's Half in April (If I am picked) and the Broad Street 10 Miler!