Help Me Learn to Love Running!

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  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    I have found three stages to a run.

    Stage One, the first mile- OMG! WTF am I doing to myself!! This is horrible, why oh why?

    Stage Two, After the first mile; Hey this is kinda neat, I'm feeling pretty good, I can do this. I have found my stride.

    Stage Three, Just before and right after the attempted mileage is completed, OK, I'm feeling real good, that was fun. What do you mean I shouldn't run on back to back days? Can't wait to get back out.

    Sad part is a lot of people don't get past stage One.

    Start slow, get past stage One, see what happens. Maybe you won't like running. Maybe you will. I understand that not everyone does. If not, you'll find something else.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    cloverdaisy wrote: »
    Oh and my friend told me that usually they serve beer at the finish of a half marathon. MOTIVATIONS!

    Check the details for the specific race you're planning to run -- I've run all sorts of races of all different lengths. Some do serve beer, many others don't. If beer is your motivation, you'll want a race that has that specific perk.
  • Naruya
    Naruya Posts: 81 Member
    Another vouch for the Zombies Run 5K app, it's awesome. I was in the same position you are in last year, maybe even worse. I couldn't even run for a few minutes at the time without feeling like I'd collapse - my heart rate was through the roof and I was so out of breath I couldn't take it. But the Zombies Run 5K app helped me run a full 5k at the end of it. It wasn't easy, especially at the beginning, but it was VERY rewarding and seeing how far you've come is amazing.

    And after you've finished the 5K app you can switch to the main app and run your heart out while listening to the amazing story.
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I hope all of this wonderful advice is helpful! I have always wanted to love running, tried to love running, and now finally accept that I'm always going to hate it. I still do run, and I'm getting better at it, but I just do not like it. I do CrossFit, so runs are only a small part of the workout most days.
  • tobandit
    tobandit Posts: 11 Member
    Yep...it sucks when you start. It does get better if you can stick with it. I always run alone, so sometimes I'll sing under my breath to check my breathing.

    I echo everyone else when they say go slow. I started running early August 2016 (I'm 5'6" and was 202), I had signed up to run a 5K on October 16th and I ran almost all of it. I was running 3 to 5 days a week.

    It was November before I loved it (still 5'6" but down to about 178 by that time). I think I started loving running more as I lost weight. I also find that it has leaned me out, helped back pain and strengthened my core.

    The other advantage of going slow...it reduces the chance of injury. (which is my story - I'm on a break due to a sore knee. Its taking so long to heal).

    Anyway, good luck! You can do this!
  • GaryRuns
    GaryRuns Posts: 508 Member
    I just finished my second marathon a few weeks ago, and you know what? I hate running! lol. Seriously, I'd rather sit on the couch and watch really bad reality TV and eat ice cream. Unfortunately that isn't very healthy and when I was basically doing that I found for some odd reason my gut was getting huge. Weird! So I run.

    Running is just the best worst exercise for me. And while I don't love running, I do love setting a running goal and working hard toward that goal and the feeling once I accomplish that goal. I love being able to eat and not worrying too much about what it'll do to my boyish figure. I love that I'm staying healthy for my kids so that visits with me when they're adults, hopefully, won't be at a hospital because of some health issue I could have prevented with some exercise. But the actual act of running? Ugh!
  • emmarrgh
    emmarrgh Posts: 44 Member
    breathe. I had to figure out how to breathe to make it more comfortable. I have to take in a lot of air and do big deep breaths every now and then in the beginning, almost like a sigh or a yawn, in between my regular breathing. And then I have to breathe in for a few steps and breathe out for a few, like a pattern.

    Once I figured that out I found I could actually enjoy the day, the trail, the scenery, and not just count the minutes until I was back home lol. Running different paths every day helped too, so I wasn't looking at the same ol' trees, mailboxes and fire hydrants every time.
  • aki619
    aki619 Posts: 15 Member
    An update for anybody who is interested... I got the Zombies Run app, and I think it is really fun. I have only gone on 3 runs so far, as a great piece of advice was to not run daily, but I ran for the whole time, each time. After reading about the importance of starting slow, I was much less worried about how far I was getting in a certain amount of time, and just went ahead and did it. My body is getting used to the feeling, so I have had some increased joint pain, but nothing that I can't handle. In my original post I had mentioned that I signed up for a 5K, but was pretty sure I wouldn't end up doing it, but I'm definitely going to do it. Oh, and there's beer at the end of this one. ;)
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    aki619 wrote: »
    An update for anybody who is interested... I got the Zombies Run app, and I think it is really fun. I have only gone on 3 runs so far, as a great piece of advice was to not run daily, but I ran for the whole time, each time. After reading about the importance of starting slow, I was much less worried about how far I was getting in a certain amount of time, and just went ahead and did it. My body is getting used to the feeling, so I have had some increased joint pain, but nothing that I can't handle. In my original post I had mentioned that I signed up for a 5K, but was pretty sure I wouldn't end up doing it, but I'm definitely going to do it. Oh, and there's beer at the end of this one. ;)

    This made my day. You go girl!

    ....and don't let the zombies bite! ;)
  • gradchica27
    gradchica27 Posts: 777 Member
    Getting started running for me after a long break is torture, so I understand. Loads of good advice here!

    I always start out focusing on time and adding a little each time (maybe 10 seconds, maybe a minute) and not worrying about distance or pace. That'll come later. Most people I know swear by walk/run schemes that decrease walking time progressively. I personally can't stand it. So I just walk a bit, then run (increasing my time each time out) until I hit about 30 minutes. Then I focus on increasing distance (maybe 0.1 miles each time). Once I'm comfortable with 3 ish miles, I work up to increasing my pace.

    So moral is what works for others may frustrate the heck out of you, so play with different plans and see what you respond to best, mentally and physically.
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    gradchica27 wrote: »
    Getting started running for me after a long break is torture, so I understand. Loads of good advice here!

    I always start out focusing on time and adding a little each time (maybe 10 seconds, maybe a minute) and not worrying about distance or pace. That'll come later. Most people I know swear by walk/run schemes that decrease walking time progressively. I personally can't stand it. So I just walk a bit, then run (increasing my time each time out) until I hit about 30 minutes. Then I focus on increasing distance (maybe 0.1 miles each time). Once I'm comfortable with 3 ish miles, I work up to increasing my pace.

    So moral is what works for others may frustrate the heck out of you, so play with different plans and see what you respond to best, mentally and physically.

    I agree with this... I tried C25k ONCE. Couldn't stand it.

    Also note that you may be in a different mood on different days, depending on time, food intake, hydration, how much sleep you've had, last rest day, location of run, etc. I have different goals that I work on on different days.

    Sometimes I want long and slow (working on distance), particularly if I'm out somewhere beautiful. Sometimes I want to see how fast I can RUN a mile (working on speed) and then do more sprints/HIIT or whatever. Sometimes, particularly before work, I just see how far I can go in X time or how fast I can run a 5k, which is hopefully a bit more than the day before.
  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
    There's so much great advice here. I have a love/hate relationship with running. I love the transformation my body made when I was really training hard. Then I just got sick of it and stopped. Now I'm back at it. A few things that helped me.....I'm not a runner. I recognize and embrace this. I'm a jog/walker. When I go out on a jog, I will jog a mile then walk a mile. It took ages to work up to that. If I am out of breath, I slow down! I have asthma, so depending on the day, I may lose breath quickly. Other days I can go forever. Listen to your body. Push yourself, but don't over do it. Get a good app and set small goals for yourself. Don't forget to cross train!! It will help your running. I do insanity max 30 on the days I don't jog. Cross training will help strengthen other muscle groups that you may not directly target in running, but will help you overall.

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