February 2017 Running Challenge

Kawaiidesu808 wrote: »

Hey all you hardcore runners, I have a question. I have been working out and getting in shape for almost a year now and part of my workout includes running at least twice a week and I absolutely hate it. I dread it every time I have to do it. I have tried to convince myself to love it or at least like, but with no luck at all. Do you have any suggestions on what the secret is to become a person that loves running?

@Kawaiidesu808 - I'll give you the same answer I give to everyone who doesn't like running: Life is too short to endure a form of exercise that you hate. If you hate running, find a form of cardio that you like, or at least can tolerate. I happen to love running, but it isn't for everyone. If running isn't your thing, that doesn't make you a bad person.

Having said that, perhaps you are doing a form of running that isn't fun for you, and some other form would be more congenial. There are many kinds of runners. Some run only for recreation, and never enter races. Some run only 5K races. Some think 5K races are too short to bother with. Some try to run new PRs and focus on improved time. Some run socially in groups and don't care about pace. There are some runners that I will never understand who actually enjoy running on a treadmill. Some people like to run with music. Others don't want music when they run. For some, running as a workout is The Thing, and the longer, faster, or tougher weather or terrain, the better. For others, running is a social activity and the exercise is incidental to the conversation. For some, running is fun only in good weather. For others, all weather is good for running.

Perhaps you just haven't found the type of running that suits you. Or perhaps running doesn't suit you. Only you can tell for sure, and it may require some experimentation for you to be sure.

Kawaiidesu808 wrote: »

MobyCarp - Thank you so much for your advice! I will try to out some different styles of running and maybe I will find one that I love! I do other forms of cardio activities as well, but nothing gets my heart rate up and helps me to get in shape and trim down as much as running. I just wished I enjoyed it more!

@Kawaiidesu808 Thanks for your question. It inspired @MobyCarp 's awesome post.

I'll just add that maybe you're trying to run too fast or too hard.

Running is my Zen Mode. I often stop to take photos. I do lots of great thinking while running.

I'll quote this lovely thing I read yesterday:

"...mindset is everything. I work with parents who experience stress, depression and anxiety. I help them with their mindset. Everything I teach can be applied to fitness too, especially running.
3 years ago I did 12wbt and then went on to run a half marathon (didn't even know I could run before that). Then did very sporadic, non consistent exercise for about 2.5 years, lol. Needless to say that I've been struggling these first few weeks to do the lean and fit program and run 30minutes!
But I've done it! Twice, using mindfulness techniques.
I first used them when I was training for the half marathon and when I was helping some friends run 5km for the first time. One of my friends was struggling. She wanted to stop, so I said to her, "Before you stop, just keep going for a minute and tell me which part of you actually wants to stop? Can you identify where that is? Is it your body? Is it your breathing? Or is it your head?
She answered, "It's my breathing."
So I focused on her breathing deliberately. I got her to take those breaths and visualise the oxygen getting to the areas that it was needed. I got her to focus on the sensations of breath going in and breath going out. Rather than speeding up her breathing (which is often what happens when we get into a panic thinking we're not getting enough oxygen) we slowed it down and got her to breathe really deliberately while focusing on the visualisation. Eventually the feeling of wanting to stop, subsided and she kept going for a bit longer. But then it came back.
"Where is it now?" I asked.
"In my legs." She replied.
"So let's focus on feeling that sensation. Feel it just as it is. Where does it start? Where does it stop? Where is it's edges? Allow yourself to feel the sensation just as it is. Watch how it moves, changes and rises and passes away.
She did this, and eventually it passed. She kept going.
That day, she ran the entire 5km. Prior to that she had been struggling to get to 2km.
Today when running on the Lean and Fit program, my mind was having an all out mental war with my inner PT and my inner I-just-want-to-effing-stop self, so I again, started to ask myself these same questions.:
"What is making you want to stop right now? Is it your breathing?"
No.
"Is it your body?"
No.
"So it's just your head."
Yes. I don't want to do it. I couldn't be bothered.
"Why? You know you'll feel good at the end of it. You know you'll feel accomplished. You're actually doing really well and there's actually no need to stop because nothing's wrong. Nothing's hurting. You're fine. Just keep going."
So I did. And I made it through. I allowed myself to feel what I was feeling and then allowed it to rise and pass away. Having done the half marathon before, I know that this happens a lot in running and it does pass.
Have conversations with yourself, use mindfulness, use visualisation and just keep going. Everything rises and passes away, everything! Even the mental/physical running war in your head!
Hope this helps someone else too."