Realized I'll never be a runner

FWIW, motivated by this thread, last night, I became a runner.

My primary exercise for the last 1 1/2 year has been daily walking. (I recently added strength training to my program so cardio is down to 3x/wk). I started out walking 1/2 mile in about 20mins. Yeah, that slow. Over time, I have worked up to 4 miles @ 4mph twice a week and a 6-7 mile hike on Saturday.

I have attempted C25K numerous times, but never got past week 2. I was also diagnosed with PFPS due to Patellar Tracking Disorder about 5 months ago. Even then, I never lost sight of my dream to run. I have been rehabing my knee with strength training for the past 2-3 months. But I still feel knee pain upon impact when I attempt to run and have been afraid to run because I don't want to further damage my knee.

Last night I incorporated C25K W1D2 into my treadmill workout. My knee felt a little wonky, but the discomfort is bearable. Then at the 4mile mark (70min) into my workout, I decided to run - just to see how long I could last. And I did, at first just to see if I could get to the 2min mark without my knee killing me. Then 3min. And something amazing happened. By not concentrating on how far, how fast or how long I was running, I found a stride and pace that didn't hurt my knee. I guess I was running - I mean, my arms were pumping, rather than swinging along side my body as they do when I walk. My cadence was different. So yeah, I was RUNNING. And I continued to run for 12:23, until I completed mile 5.

I can't wait for my next cardio workout. I will run again, and again, and again. Not far, not fast, not long compared to many runners, but farther and longer than I ran last night. And I will continue to do that until I no longer can improve.

Thanks for this tread, the comments and the inspiration.

FWIW, motivated by this thread, last night, I became a runner.

My primary exercise for the last 1 1/2 year has been daily walking. (I recently added strength training to my program so cardio is down to 3x/wk). I started out walking 1/2 mile in about 20mins. Yeah, that slow. Over time, I have worked up to 4 miles @ 4mph twice a week and a 6-7 mile hike on Saturday.

I have attempted C25K numerous times, but never got past week 2. I was also diagnosed with PFPS due to Patellar Tracking Disorder about 5 months ago. Even then, I never lost sight of my dream to run. I have been rehabing my knee with strength training for the past 2-3 months. But I still feel knee pain upon impact when I attempt to run and have been afraid to run because I don't want to further damage my knee.

Last night I incorporated C25K W1D2 into my treadmill workout. My knee felt a little wonky, but the discomfort is bearable. Then at the 4mile mark (70min) into my workout, I decided to run - just to see how long I could last. And I did, at first just to see if I could get to the 2min mark without my knee killing me. Then 3min. And something amazing happened. By not concentrating on how far, how fast or how long I was running, I found a stride and pace that didn't hurt my knee. I guess I was running - I mean, my arms were pumping, rather than swinging along side my body as they do when I walk. My cadence was different. So yeah, I was RUNNING. And I continued to run for 12:23, until I completed mile 5.

I can't wait for my next cardio workout. I will run again, and again, and again. Not far, not fast, not long compared to many runners, but farther and longer than I ran last night. And I will continue to do that until I no longer can improve.

Thanks for this tread, the comments and the inspiration.

You're doing it right!! At the begining, that's what I was told: run as slow as you can, with the shortest strides. You'll be less likely to hurt/wind yourself. Give yourself 3 months, and you'll be running 5K non-stop!!! :happy:

Meerataila wrote: »

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.

Wow, love this! Meerataila, you're one of my heroes.

I hear this stuff a lot when I mention doing 10ks to people...oh I can't be a runner. When I ask why, it is RARELY someone who mentions a legit medical condition that would make running a bad idea. They usually say something like that they tried running one time and could only go a block and it was hard and they looked silly and therefore they are born not a runner. To someone like myself they sound ridiculous. Like someone saying they can't be a bodybuilder because they tried lifting 500 pounds once and couldn't do it. LOL maybe start small and build??

When I started running I weighed 240ish pounds at 5'5', was flailing everywhere, and running a 15 minute pace for about 50 feet at a time before my heart nearly blew up. We ALL start like this, no one is born with that level of skill. You work to build speed, endurance, perfect your posture so you look graceful and efficient, etc. It is a developmental process. Give yourself more than a couple of weeks. A couple of years is more like it! And cool the negative self talk and comparisons with others. You are on your own path, not theirs. Just have fun and work on your fitness and enjoy the journey.