Realized I'll never be a runner

124

Replies

  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    that's not arbitrary...that's what my track coach told me... sure it is an out of fad definition... made so by folks that believe you shouldn't keep score in a kids soccer match... who think spanking is detrimental to little johnny's sense of self... who think... a "participation medal" is just as good as a GOLD medal...

    Joogers jog... Runners run... is someone who finishes a marathon in 6 hours a runner? or is someone who finishes in 3 hours a jogger?

    Thppptttt!!!!


    What you wrote above and what your track coach is spewing out is total hogwash.

    What I think you are trying to distinguish is a novice runner from an intermediate runner from an advanced runner from an elite runner. And even those defintions can be arbitrary.

    For example, Jack Daniels will base what a novice or elite runner is by finishing times for various races distances against a VO2 max.

    Hodge Higgons will base what kind a runner is based upon distances covered within a training plan.
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    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. :cry:

    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:

    You've got to walk before you can jog; jog before you can run; run before you can sprint... just keep at it... before you know it, you'll be sprinting without realizing it!!! :smile:
  • tabicatinthehat
    tabicatinthehat Posts: 329 Member
    Lots of good advice thanks everyone! I love jogging/running, whatever it is that I'm doing and while I'll always be envious of the gazelles at least I can say I'm moving faster and longer than I even thought possible for me!

    I'm going to read up on jogging/running and keep going. I think I may need to cut down to running 3 to 4 days a week because I do the elliptical every day and was adding jogging in the mornings and there are days where I have to push really hard because I'm just doing too much.

    Every morning I walk my son to school and when I say I'm going running he always asks me if I'm running to get ice cream! I guess at least I have a goal, to get to that ice cream!
    Definitely cut running to no more than every other day especially at first. Running every day will lead to shin splints and other problems. The elliptical is more than fine for the days between since there's no impact but be very watchful for any pain that might still arise from overdoing it. If you aren't, allow a rest day each week. You really need to take at least one day off and let your body recover.

    I'll always be envious of the gazelles, too. Most of us turtles are. The trick is realize that we're all different and built for being great at different things. Those gazelles would be terrible at gymnastics, for instance. I was not bad at it in my youth and I can still do a cartwheel at my age.

    One of the funnier things I've heard was at a running expo. Some of the top marathon runners were being interviewed and the interviewer asked about how long it took them to run a marathon. The answer was a little over two hours which for someone like me is insane. The interview turned towards the audience and said "You hear that, folks? He can only run for a little over two hours. I know many of you will still be going 3 or 4 hours longer than he will." The runner then expressed his admiration for people who ran marathons in 5 or 6 hours. He admired their patience and fortitude and their strength of will to be out there for that long because he knew he couldn't run that long at his pace.

    I really need to work on a rest day because right now I am using the elliptical 7 days a week and walking/jogging every day that I am able to. I just have that little voice saying you can't take a day off because it will ruin all your hard work. I think I'll work on picking a day and maybe just walk and consider that a day of rest! :smile:

    The elliptical won't give you the shin splints like road running will.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    I really need to work on a rest day because right now I am using the elliptical 7 days a week and walking/jogging every day that I am able to. I just have that little voice saying you can't take a day off because it will ruin all your hard work. I think I'll work on picking a day and maybe just walk and consider that a day of rest! :smile:

    But you have to rest or else IT WILL ruin all your hard work due to injury. Educate yourself and that will tame that voice in your head.
  • RebeccaMae1983
    RebeccaMae1983 Posts: 35 Member
    I really need to work on a rest day because right now I am using the elliptical 7 days a week and walking/jogging every day that I am able to. I just have that little voice saying you can't take a day off because it will ruin all your hard work. I think I'll work on picking a day and maybe just walk and consider that a day of rest! :smile:

    But you have to rest or else IT WILL ruin all your hard work due to injury. Educate yourself and that will tame that voice in your head.

    I agree but it's easier said than done in the beginning.

    I won't even buy a scale because I know I'd be checking it constantly. I'm a very impatient person so I'm working on that but still want to do some kind of exercise every day even if it's just a long slow walk.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    The elliptical won't give you the shin splints like road running will.

    And the elliptical won't stimulate the necessary adaptions required to improve running to the next higher level.
  • tabicatinthehat
    tabicatinthehat Posts: 329 Member
    The elliptical won't give you the shin splints like road running will.

    And the elliptical won't stimulate the necessary adaptions required to improve running to the next higher level.

    Right. But I was just pointing out that the person suggesting rest days meant road running, not the elliptical.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    I really need to work on a rest day because right now I am using the elliptical 7 days a week and walking/jogging every day that I am able to. I just have that little voice saying you can't take a day off because it will ruin all your hard work. I think I'll work on picking a day and maybe just walk and consider that a day of rest! :smile:

    But you have to rest or else IT WILL ruin all your hard work due to injury. Educate yourself and that will tame that voice in your head.
    YES, this! Also, I'm in good shape and am quite healthy and I DO NOT RUN. I'm a power walker. It is assumed I'm a runner because of my shape and my age, but I am proud to let others know that they can be in just as good as shape as runners by walking. Walking tends to get dismissed as a "starter" workout or easy, but it is only if you treat it that way. I walk super-fast intervals at the track or high-incline intervals at the gym. I do HIIT and only 30 min. of cardio 3 - 4 times a week. I used to do 60 - 90 min. sessions 6 days a week. That was way too much. Since I cut down to what I'm doing now (and increased my weight lifting) I immediately dropped 10 lbs.

    Not trying to brag - I just want to emphasize that you can be in fabulous shape and never run or jog a step.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    The cool thing about outdoor running is that by the time someone realizes that my lifter quads look stumpy when I run and I have all the grace of a baby elephant, I'm already gone.
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    that's not arbitrary...that's what my track coach told me... sure it is an out of fad definition... made so by folks that believe you shouldn't keep score in a kids soccer match... who think spanking is detrimental to little johnny's sense of self... who think... a "participation medal" is just as good as a GOLD medal...

    Joogers jog... Runners run... is someone who finishes a marathon in 6 hours a runner? or is someone who finishes in 3 hours a jogger?

    Thppptttt!!!!

    According to your definition, someone who finishes a marathon in 3 hours is most certainly a jogger. Because that person most likely couldn't run more than about 3 sub 6 minute miles in a row, not 'several' as in your definition.
  • AngelaRoberta
    AngelaRoberta Posts: 24 Member
    I am one of the slowest runners I know, but I DO run, I have a great time, and I always lap all the couch potatoes. So that's good enough for me right now.
  • nomad1000
    nomad1000 Posts: 206 Member
    I just started c25k and run a bit like a hobbled moose (both in form and in speed). That's OK because I am running. It gets a bit better each session and I know that someday I won't be quite so jiggly or red in the face.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Jogger= anyone that can cover a mile while moving faster than a walking pace... I have seen 300+ lb linemen "jog" at like maybe 1 mile an hour...

    Runner= anyone that can cover a mile in less than 6 minutes... and can do it consistently for several miles...

    is that too provocative?

    runners are deliberately sexy?

    how delightfully fun!



    Also -this is interesting to know- I NEVER ran under a 6 min mile consistently and I was varisty cross country and even ran at the California State Championships.

    Guess all the years I spent hitting the pavement makes me a jogger. good to know.






    (and while I do believe there is a distinct difference between jogging and running.. I don't think there is a time you can mark it)
  • willywonka
    willywonka Posts: 743 Member
    love this!!
    what you call effortless i call practice. you think people are just born taking long elegant strides?? well, some are, but i digress...

    the point it, that sucking at something is the first step at being kinda good at something.
  • stillhere1981
    stillhere1981 Posts: 119 Member
    Comparison is the thief of joy.

    I love that saying!
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    The elliptical won't give you the shin splints like road running will.

    And the elliptical won't stimulate the necessary adaptions required to improve running to the next higher level.

    Right. But I was just pointing out that the person suggesting rest days meant road running, not the elliptical.
    Running is definitely more stressful but, if being done properly, the elliptical still works your muscles pretty hard and everyone, regardless of the exercise they are doing every day, should take a rest day. Our bodies really do need a chance to recover once per week. Well, maybe except when the sole exercise is leisurely walking because I consider a day of just walking around the mall or walking my dogs a rest day. :)
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    The elliptical won't give you the shin splints like road running will.

    And the elliptical won't stimulate the necessary adaptions required to improve running to the next higher level.

    Right. But I was just pointing out that the person suggesting rest days meant road running, not the elliptical.
    Running is definitely more stressful but, if being done properly, the elliptical still works your muscles pretty hard and everyone, regardless of the exercise they are doing every day, should take a rest day. Our bodies really do need a chance to recover once per week. Well, maybe except when the sole exercise is leisurely walking because I consider a day of just walking around the mall or walking my dogs a rest day. :)

    I wonder how those who do manual labor for a living 5 days/week survive.
  • RekindledRose
    RekindledRose Posts: 523 Member
    Anyone who gets out there and does 'more' than walking is a runner.

    Jogging is an 80's phrase. To say that a certain speed = jogging and that another speed = running is elitist bullsh*t.

    If you go out there then you're a runner. Don't compare yourself to anyone but yourself.
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    I'm going to ignore all the jogging/running BS and just offer info that can actually help OP

    Runzi app - its a great tool to help you become an efficient runner.

    Coach25K is a great program for beginners

    best of luck to you
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    that's not arbitrary...that's what my track coach told me... sure it is an out of fad definition... made so by folks that believe you shouldn't keep score in a kids soccer match... who think spanking is detrimental to little johnny's sense of self... who think... a "participation medal" is just as good as a GOLD medal...

    Joogers jog... Runners run... is someone who finishes a marathon in 6 hours a runner? or is someone who finishes in 3 hours a jogger?

    Thppptttt!!!!

    I guess per your douche coach's arbitrary definition that Ed Whitlock is a "jogger."
  • SameMe_JustLess
    SameMe_JustLess Posts: 245 Member
    The cool thing about outdoor running is that by the time someone realizes that my lifter quads look stumpy when I run and I have all the grace of a baby elephant, I'm already gone.

    ^This!
  • Babyzoom
    Babyzoom Posts: 13 Member
    I'm also 5'1" and I know how you feel. I've been running seriously for 2 years, and on and off before that during high school. People pass me up ALL the time. Old, young, short, heavy and tall. It used to bother me a lot and even get me down on myself, but I never gave up. Running is a part of my life. I run approx. 36-40 miles a week with my long runs usually being between 12-14 miles. I average at 11 to 12 minute miles and I'm only about 4 lbs away from the top of my BMI, so it really isn't because of a lot of excess weight.
    There was a time last year when I got soooo sick and I had a condition that caused muscle wasting. I could barely walk without intense pain. I had to basically start from walking again. I mention this because it made me realize that it doesn't matter if you're the slowest, ugliest runner out there. If you love it, do it. You never know if you may lose the opportunity. Good luck with your goals.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    The elliptical won't give you the shin splints like road running will.

    And the elliptical won't stimulate the necessary adaptions required to improve running to the next higher level.

    Right. But I was just pointing out that the person suggesting rest days meant road running, not the elliptical.
    Running is definitely more stressful but, if being done properly, the elliptical still works your muscles pretty hard and everyone, regardless of the exercise they are doing every day, should take a rest day. Our bodies really do need a chance to recover once per week. Well, maybe except when the sole exercise is leisurely walking because I consider a day of just walking around the mall or walking my dogs a rest day. :)

    I wonder how those who do manual labor for a living 5 days/week survive.
    They rest on at least one of the other two, of course.
  • SarahRuthRuns
    SarahRuthRuns Posts: 118 Member
    ...
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    I hate running, but I'm trying to learn to at least like it enough to do it
  • aliakynes
    aliakynes Posts: 352 Member
    Track stars don't run, they sprint. If they were endurance training they'd be taking shorter strides, just like you.
  • Catter_05
    Catter_05 Posts: 155 Member
    FWIW I am 5'9.5" with long legs, and I'm pretty much the furthest thing from graceful that you can get. I sometimes feel like Lurch from the Adams family when I run. I'm pretty slow as well.

    I get passed by runners much shorter than me ALLLLLL the time.

    Don't get discouraged because you aren't a track star immediately. You might never be a fast runner. But if you want to be a runner, you can be a runner. They come in all shapes, sizes, and speeds!

    Yep I'm 5' 9" and I am slow! Little kids pass me. Who cares :) I don't need to be fast that's not why I'm doing it. I'm doing it because I want to be healthier, and now I think I'm kind of addicted. Had you told me a year ago I would be saying this, I would have laughed :)
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member

    They were an easy going, mellow and polite bunch. But no matter what age they were, they looked 50ish and, um, a bit *worn*.

    Haha, thanks! ;)
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Found this today:

    2d1b56ad4be6fe83bb872a406959586a.jpg

    I want it!
  • melduf
    melduf Posts: 468 Member
    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!

    Story of my life!! I love horseback riding, but at 5'1'' with flabby tighs, I'll never look like this :

    220px-WC07a.JPG

    More like that :

    thelwell_cartoon,0.jpg
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