Realized I'll never be a runner

If you're going faster than a walk you're a runner. If you love the feeling of running, keep doing it and who cares how fast or long you go?

Comparison is the thief of joy.

^This.

Can I run as fast as some of my friends? No. Can I run as far as some of them? Nope.

Can I do more than I could last year? Yes. Do I enjoy it? Absolutely.


Run for yourself, not for some lofty definition of what a "real runner" should be.

Anyone can be a runner. It takes time to get there. Never compare yourself because you aren't them. You are you and if you want to run, then you will run. it takes persistence and time to build up endurance. You aren't going to run a 5k overnight. You may not be fast. Not everyone is fast or can or wants to run long distance. Focus on you and building your endurance over time. There is no reason to rush anything because rushing it can lead to injuries. Be patient and you will get there.

LOL! Some of us are born dancers, some of us are born runners and some of us look like crazy people when we attempt to do either of those things but who the hell cares, at least we're trying!

I have seen video of myself running...it is NOT pretty...I always wished I could be one of those gazelle-like long-legged runners but I'm 5'3" and built more like a basset hound with my short little legs. When I run I have my arms up in this T-Rex position and my shoulders do weird things and every single piece of wiggle on me jiggles when my foot makes contact with the ground. But I can run a mile, do a cartwheel at the end AND be able to talk the whole way, and my workout buddy and I are working up to a 3-mile run that we're going on Halloween night instead of eating candy (Halloween candy being one my mega trigger foods). You are in the gym, you are working hard and you are making progress and that takes a level of focus and dedication that some of those high school kids would be lucky to have!

And as for thinking you'll never be a runner, think of it this way: If you have a body, you have a bikini body. If you run, YOU ARE A RUNNER. Now go run! :drinker:

I was a pure elliptical girl until two weeks ago when I got tired of staring at the wall and decided to try and jog/run. I decided to try HIIT running. I was doing 30 seconds then walking for 2 to 3 minutes. This week I'm up to 40 seconds and a 2 minute cool down.

As I was running I look over at the track in front of me and see the high school kids practicing. I could tell which ones were on the track team because they had legs up to their neck and were taking long graceful strides and making it look effortless. I looked down at my feet and realized I was taking short quick steps more of a steady jog and not a run.

I feel like at 5' 1" I'll never be able to run just be a steady jogger! I guess for me it works because it takes quiet a bit of effort for me to jog because I have to take short quick steps. Maybe after I loose some more weight it will get easier and be less wear and tear on my already bad knees. I guess any kind of exercise is better than none at all. :grumble:

Your first foray into running should not consist of "HIIT" running. You're just asking for it.

There will always be faster people, always. They make it look effortless because they train properly and are dedicated. You can be there someday too with some consistency.

And I know some short chicks that whoop me on a regular basis. It happens.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1217573-so-you-want-to-start-running

I have known a couple of marathoners and one was 60+ years old. He told me "If you want to do it, you can". At the time, I laughed at him and said, I can't run. The next summer I was roped into co-leading a C25K group at work and was slower than all of the participants. I endured and after the program, ran my first 5k. 5 years later with exercise induced asthma and a frayed meniscus, I am walk/running my first 10k. Once running is in your blood, it cannot be removed. Patience and persistence are your friend. Don't give up!

BTW, I am 34, 5'4.5", 163ish and running for me is not much faster than walking.

Good Luck!

I run and walk in intervals and I still consider myself a runner. I'm 5'3", 48 years old, I run at about 5 MPH and I'm still a runner. It takes me 2 1/2 hours or so to complete a half marathon but I can complete a half marathon. Don't let yourself get bogged down in what you AREN'T and focus on what you are doing.

I run with a short stride on purpose. Everything I've ever read on running says it's actually BETTER to take short, quick steps. It's more efficient energywise, better on your knees and hips, and can actually help prevent injury. It helps you land on your midfoot rather than putting a lot of stress on your heels. Here's a great article: http://www.runningspot.com/sl_07_.php

You should really ditch the HIIT running unless you mean running and *walking*. When you're starting out, you should be jogging slowly, not running. Most people who are new think that running means going as fast as you can, but it shouldn't be. You're liable to injure yourself and you should be focusing on building your running endurance at this point. Speed (such as it is) will come later. Most beginning runner programs (such as Couch to 5K) have you start out running at a pace at which you can still carry on a limited conversation. If you can't talk in short sentences and run at the same time, you're going too fast.

... I decided HIIT running because 40 seconds is about all I can do before I need a breather and it gives my knees a rest. Right now I'm looking for pure weight loss and I'm down 15 pounds in 39 days. I don't know that I'll ever be a long distance runner based purely on my time restrictions. I just read that HIIT running was good for metabolism boosts.

There are plenty of Couch to 5k programs that start off with 1 min runs repeated maybe 5-10 times over the course of 30 minutes. You can choose one that suit you or modify to start at 40 sec runs and work up using a C25k progression. These typically last 9 weeks but I'm stuck on week 7 and started about 9 weeks ago.

Do whatever suits you and progress. The benefit of following a programme (or nearly following it) is that you have something to aim for each week.

I have exactly the opposite problem. I think I look a-m-a-z-i-n-g when I run when in fact....



I agree with what others have said re: HIIT. It's pointless at your level of conditioning.

That said a standard walk / run interval sessions may work well. So, instead of trying to go all out in the running part try to maintain a reasonable pace where you can hold a conversation and work on improving the amount of time you can run without needing a break etc.

Oh my, that must be exactly how I look while running. I can't go to fast but I enjoy the hell out of it. Pop on a good audio book or podcast and I'm set for a little while. Slow and steady keeps me at a good pace where I don't feel like doubling over. First I had to learn how to breath and endurance came along with that. I hate that Winter is coming because it's going to drive me inside. Time to join that gym.

I USED to be a runner, did a half marathon. Took a break...way too long of a break, tried running again. Suck at it, I quit running

If you're going faster than a walk you're a runner. If you love the feeling of running, keep doing it and who cares how fast or long you go?

Comparison is the thief of joy.

^This.

Can I run as fast as some of my friends? No. Can I run as far as some of them? Nope.

Can I do more than I could last year? Yes. Do I enjoy it? Absolutely.


Run for yourself, not for some lofty definition of what a "real runner" should be.

It took me a long time to embrace this philosophy and I still have my moments. But this is all true. If my knees hurt - I run on the treadmill (still a runner). If my knees cooperate, I run on the road - slowly (still a runner).

Will I ever do a marathon? Who knows. I just keep training like I will. One run at a time.

I'm 5'1" too. I'm not a spectacular runner, but I've completed a 5K race and 10K race with decent times. Long distance running has little to do with the length of your legs (sprinters with long legs have an advantage, but in long distances, it's not much of an issue). And even with short legs (or overall short stature), gate does matter. The short, shuffling steps vs long stride are a matter of training, not height. When you jog, try for a slightly longer gate. Think of reaching your legs out in front of you a bit more. It's an adjustment, but better to start now and develop the right habits (you may have to run for less time or recover for longer, as you adjust).

If you want to run, you can run. Being short is not an issue.

I'd give it a little more than two weeks...running is definitely a skill where proper form, etc is involved. Even competitive runners have to learn this skill. Obviously some people are more athletically blessed than others, but everyone has to learn...nobody is born with perfect form.