shy runner

aineqt wrote: »

I know no one cares I ment any tips to over come being paranoid about it

Realize that every person you pass by outside cares as little about you as you do about them. Once you realize that they will have forgotten about you entirely about 5 seconds after you disappear from their view there will be nothing to be paranoid about.

I suggest you find a local running club and join it. You will be very surprised how supportive and welcoming they are. No one cares what you look like. All they care about is the enjoyment you get from running.

Check to see if your local running store has group runs or classes. See if there's a local Team in Training program. Or just go to the park and join in the fun.

aineqt wrote: »

Hey guys I'm wanting to take it to the next level and start running I was wondering if you had any tips for me on that

@aineqt Probably there are enough responses on the being nervous about running in public aspect of your original post.

As for tips:

1. Be sure you are outfitted with good shoes appropriate for you and to the task. Visit a speciality running shop and get their advice if you haven't already.
2. Scale in slowly. Adopting a program like Couch to 5K or some other progressive walk-run-walk program that moves on to run-walk-run and eventually... !run! is a good way to get going. If you do adopt C25K and find a week particularly challenging, don't sweat it, repeat that week again before moving on.
3. Run slowly. You don't need to sprint or even push yourself super hard to get a ton of benefit and new runners shouldn't be try to do either. You build endurance by spending more time out there running, not by running X distance faster. Running slowly means running at a pace that still allows you to carry on something of a conversation without gasping for breath between words or phrases.
4. Don't fear taking walking breaks. There is no shame in walking. Hey, pro ultra-marathon runners walk! Especially early on you may find it difficult to maintain a slow pace that passes the "conversation test"; if your heart rate starts climbing quick and breathing becomes laboured use that as a cue to walk for a minute or until you've recovered enough and then restart. In these early days where you are trying to build endurance and also remain highly motivated, it's best is to avoid letting your HR/breathing get to that point.
5. Have faith that you will improve and progress. At the start it might feel like it will take a long time, but it won't.
6. Have fun! Consider joining a running group - they are fun! - they typically have pace-groups that cater to all levels and running can be very social. Having someone to talk to makes the time fly by and also tends to solve the nervousness problem too because other people just like you or me will be out there too.

Number one tip: have fun. Enjoy it!

kallemann67 wrote: »

- drop that coffee cup and come run 10k with me you turkey and we'll see who's laughing at who then.

hehe... Gold!

I'm on my phone and can't post the link for you, but OP, go to YouTube and search for "The One Where Pheobe Runs." Personally, I do carry pepper spray--we have a coyote problem here in SoCal.

The moral of the story is to do it for yourself, wear a cute outfit with athletic fabric that makes you feel good, carry pepper spray and don't give a flying f*** what anyone thinks!

As a city runner, if I see ANYONE running I think go you! We all started somewhere. As for the red faced sweatiness...I've been running for 5 years now and still get it. I am more likely to judge the overweight people I encounter who I say excuse me to pass, who will then tut and say something like "bloody runners"! They make my blood boil!

But seriously, I see all types running in London and it's great! Slow/fast/young/old...the works! Most people will be praising you for getting out there and doing something for your health...and for the small minority who don't...they are normally just jealous and spiteful with nothing better to do with their time!

Good luck and get out there

I panic/anxiety attack my *kitten* off for about 50% of my runs due to various anxiety issues. But the same happened when I started exercising at home with the curtains shut. It gets better and the attacks are slowly slowly getting better after running outside for a couple of months. I go early in the morning mostly, sometimes in the evening as close to dusk as I dare (I run in a park and wouldn't want to run in it when dark I don't think).

Is it easy to get over what we now are irrational fears? No. Do you feel super extra accomplished at the end of that run because of the double whammy achievement? Oh yes!

I also make sure I love my running kit (as much as someone who wears vintage at all other times can enjoy modern lycra!) so that I'm all look how badass I am. Essentially I play psychological games with myself in a positive way. I'm 189lbs and my face goes bright scarlet within seconds of starting but I just don't care because I am doing it for me and my own mental and physical health. Other runners barely look at me, mostly because I live in London, eye contact is akin to sharing a bed with a stranger round these parts but also because they're doing their thing. I see all shapes, sizes, abilities and ages while out there. Plus I get to make friends with the odd friendly dog, bonus!

The first time is the worst, it gets better after that, I promise.

You will have to decide what is more important to you. Are you going to let your fear stop you from doing what you want to do? I think most of us started out with that same feeling about not wanting to be seen when we're just getting started. Just go get it over with. Who cares if someone sees you? Maybe you could grab a buddy to run with you, would that make it less intimidating? Anyway, once you do it, it will become no big deal, so the sooner you let go of your fear and do it, the better off you'll be. And then you'll ask yourself, "why didn't I do this sooner?"

More like... "Dance until your feet hurt, sing until your lungs hurt. Act until you're William Hurt" Phil Dumphy