Help me learn to like running........

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  • Lyerin
    Lyerin Posts: 818 Member
    P.S My most satisfying achievement wasn't finishing a marathon with thousands of people at a finish line...it was completing my first ever mile without stopping at a dreary industrial estate with no crowds or family waiting...just knowing I did it in 15 minutes, little quicker than walking pace.

    I read this and thought "yeah, this guy's a runner."

    Everyone is different, but for me, some of the best moments of my life have come while running, usually alone, always outside and never with music. They are different depending on what I'm doing --- it's great pushing myself through a 9th 400M interval at a pace faster than I used to be able to run one, but it's also great running in the mountains near the Appalachian trail during a quiet snow fall.

    I also think that the more accustomed to running you get, the easier it is go out and cruise for a few miles, and that's when it's really enjoyable --- your body doing something it's great at, eating up the distance and feeling like you could run forever.

    I had the same reaction to that post. Awesome!

    For me, it's that point where my body feels like a machine. I run away from all the negative thoughts that I have about my body and suddenly realize that, even though I'm slow in reality, I feel like I am flying. It helps my brain shut off too, which is a huge bonus. I always feel good after a run, even one of those ones where my legs feel like lead-filled burlap sacks the whole time.
  • dwh77tx
    dwh77tx Posts: 513 Member
    I was never a runner until this summer. I ran my 1st 10K this summer and while it was hard, I did great and am so glad I did it. I only run 1 or 2 times a week now, just to maintain my pace and endurance. Having a good playlist is KEY for me. Also, proper running shoes and running gear. I also have to run first thing in the AM. If I miss my window, no way am I running. I go when it's still dark out.
  • SToast
    SToast Posts: 255 Member
    My key to running is two fold. Part one is a great playlist. I do not love running but some good music can get me pumped up. The second is to run through the pain. It seems like there is a point when your legs want to quit and you think you can't keep going (for me it's usually in the first mile) but if I run through it I feel like I can run forever (maybe this is the endorphins...). And it's a lot easier to push through that "wanting to quit" place if you have some good music to propel you forward.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    C25K. It's the only thing that got me to look forward to running.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    Like a number of other posters have said, if you don't like running, don't run. There are so many other things you could do that you may enjoy.

    I'm not a runner. I've never liked it and wonder why it's the first thing people turn to when they want to 'get in shape'. If you do something because you think you 'should' do it, it likely won't last. For years I'd try things to get in shape and never stuck to anything until I started lifting. That's not everyone's cup of tea either. My point is find your thing that you enjoy doing. I can't wait to get in the gym and under a bar and get on a competition platform. That's what lights me up and I never feel like I 'should' be doing it and that's what's made it last so long for me.

    I like one person's suggestion of weighted hikes. What about sprints? Those are a blast in the woods (be careful of your footing). I don't think of that as running. It's like being a kid again.
  • pianolover2012
    pianolover2012 Posts: 168 Member
    I have just started the c25k...it is hard,as I'm not built to be a runner!
    Big boobed with poor joints!
    However, I'm just about to start week 3..... with trepidation!
    But I'm losing weight just by doing it!
    And I've been at a plateau for weeks!
    Yep...just by three thirty minute sessions a week!
    3lbs loss this week...
    I feel less tired and after each session, I actually feel like I've had a good workout!

    I am the opposite- I am actually GAINING weight!!! Still love the affects that I feel on my body though. Keep it up!!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I'm not a runner. I've never liked it and wonder why it's the first thing people turn to when they want to 'get in shape'.

    Actually, for me, it was the very last thing I turned to and it took my 40 years to get that low. Now I kick myself that I didn't get the whole running thing figured out 20 years ago.
  • sarah456s
    sarah456s Posts: 98 Member
    I signed up for a half marathon with Team in Training. I skipped the whole 5k thing and went straight for it, because I knew I'd need the motivation of a big race, and if I was trying to raise a lot of money and everybody knew, I wouldn't be able to slack off and just not do it. I decided I would run/walk the thing, as I wasn't in good enough shape to try to run the whole way. The group training really helped - it was actually fun to get together once a week and do a long run, and the coaches helped me with my form. I can't say I loved the actual running part, but every time we went a longer distance, I started to get a huge sense of accomplishment.

    Doing the race itself was amazing. Fun, mentally hard, painful, all those things. But I did it! And I was SO proud of myself. I never knew I would have the stamina to do that. However, I also realized that it would have hurt a lot less if I was better trained. So I immediately signed up for a second half marathon 8 weeks later. I trained for that one on my own, and I enjoyed it a lot more because I was in a lot better shape. I started to really feel like a runner, like I could do things without so much effort. Awesome!

    Then the summer came. It was harder training in the humidity, and I also injured myself. It took a lot of effort to get back to running after the injury, and I just didn't enjoy it in the heat and humidity of summer. Still, I signed up for a 10 mile race at the end of summer, and figured I'd just push through it. But the weather stayed way hotter than expected, and the race conditions were foul. Everyone was drenched with sweat due to the heat. Ugh. I finished the race, but I lost my mojo after that. I did one more 5k, but...meh. I stopped running. That was a year ago.

    I've missed running, but I didn't miss the disgustingness of running in the heat and humidity. However, I've been feeling that pull, of wanting to do it again. I miss those early Sunday mornings of being out there on a long run, just me and my headphones. I've missed the sense of achievement, of purpose. I've missed the joy of totally zoning out, pounding the pavement, feeling like your body is running without effort (that's the endorphins!). So, I sat down and really thought about how I can love running again, and I realized that for me, it's a great thing to do in the winter, but it's the summer conditions that get to me (I live in south Florida). So that's what I decided to do - start again every fall, and train all winter for a half marathon or other race in the spring, and then take a break (well, switch to indoor activities, or swimming, or cycling). I decided it doesn't matter if I never improve my time because of this starting and stopping. I want to enjoy myself, and that means not running in summer in Florida, unless I switch to a treadmill inside.

    I guess I am saying to just keep trying to find your happy with running. It comes only after a period of effort, but then after that if you find it, you'll probably want to keep finding it again. And if it doesn't look like anyone else's happy, who cares?
  • walkinthedogs
    walkinthedogs Posts: 238 Member
    This may not be what you want to hear, but .... I tried to like running for a period of five years. I got so I could do 2-3 km nonstop, and 5km with two 1-minute walk periods. Running always made me feel absolutely exhausted. I did not like the way it made me feel. I could never get comfortable running, and, though I tried to like it, I hated it.

    I have decided I would rather hike uphill all day long with a weighted backpack than run for 30 minutes. So, I have stopped running, and I weight myself for hill walks, instead. And I don't mean leisurely hill walks, either. I hustle.

    There are alternatives to running, with equal benefits to fitness and bonus calorie burns.

    Just a thought.

    I feel the same way. I think the most important part of exercising is finding something you really like to do or can tolerate for those that hate exercising. I have always liked being active/exercising when it's something I want to do. I love to hike with my dogs, bike, swim is my all time fav sport, boxing and I like to just walk and walk. If you can learn to love running that's great but don't think that you have to run or love to run to lose and become healthy. I have tried over and over to love or even like running and I just don't (and I like to do little sprint Triathlons now and again so running would really help), but it's just darn hard on my bod, so I walk and do all the other stuff I love and that makes it fun and interesting, which is key, IMO. Good luck
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    I'm not a runner. I've never liked it and wonder why it's the first thing people turn to when they want to 'get in shape'.

    Actually, for me, it was the very last thing I turned to and it took my 40 years to get that low. Now I kick myself that I didn't get the whole running thing figured out 20 years ago.

    It's funny how it takes us time to get to what we really like. To me running has ranked up there with "I should clean my fridge". My daughter loves to run though and is doing her first 5k this month. I'd never discourage anyone from trying it. We all fit a different mould.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I'm not a runner. I've never liked it and wonder why it's the first thing people turn to when they want to 'get in shape'.

    Actually, for me, it was the very last thing I turned to and it took my 40 years to get that low. Now I kick myself that I didn't get the whole running thing figured out 20 years ago.

    It's funny how it takes us time to get to what we really like. To me running has ranked up there with "I should clean my fridge". My daughter loves to run though and is doing her first 5k this month. I'd never discourage anyone from trying it. We all fit a different mold.

    I totally agree with you that the critically important thing is that you find healthy activities that you love and stick with.

    That being said, I've experienced (and seen many, many others experience) running go from "Only when chased" to "I'll get up at 2 am to get my run in" after learning how to pace yourself.
  • rayvynn5374
    rayvynn5374 Posts: 272 Member
    One of my biggest motivators was going to a race to watch my husband run it! the atmosphere was all it took. It also helps that I get to run with my hubby every freaking run!
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    I'm not a runner. I've never liked it and wonder why it's the first thing people turn to when they want to 'get in shape'.

    Actually, for me, it was the very last thing I turned to and it took my 40 years to get that low. Now I kick myself that I didn't get the whole running thing figured out 20 years ago.

    It's funny how it takes us time to get to what we really like. To me running has ranked up there with "I should clean my fridge". My daughter loves to run though and is doing her first 5k this month. I'd never discourage anyone from trying it. We all fit a different mould.

    I have been trying and trying to like running. I just never have-not even when I was a teenager in swim practice and our coach has us doing "indian runs" for cross training. Ugh. I even made a deal with my BIL that we'll run our first 5k together next summer. I'm already starting to regret it-because I really have a hard time getting to that point where I can keep going and going-I've gotten there, but it takes alot. And truth be told, I'm not in a shortage of cardio activities that I enjoy-I take spinning classes, kickboxing, step aerobics, ketttlebells, etc.

    I looked at your ticker and thought-hm, lifting-THAT's my mold.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    I tried to convince myself that I could like running. I don't. I never will. I don't mind sprints, or the occasional 5k obstacle run, but you'll never catch me doing more than a 7k ever again.
  • dan_boisvert_sub5x50
    dan_boisvert_sub5x50 Posts: 44 Member
    This from CarsonRuns above: "You'll have a better chance of liking it if you find interesting places to run and you slow down so you can enjoy them without feeling like your heart is going to explode through your chest. Slow and easy is the way to go."

    In addition to C25K, you can try Jeff Galloway.

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