I HATE RUNNING.

I hate running too. I tried C25K - it made my hatred worse. I don't mind spontaneous acts of running, like realising I'm about to miss a train and just legging it, but any form of running involving any kind of preparation, specialist clothes, wearing proper shoes, warming up, warming down, etc, just makes me want to scream. I also feel like a massive numpty running around in the street, and am certain that I look quite alarming. I also discovered, on the few occasions that I went running, that it makes my underpants fall down, which contributed to my feeling like an idiot. (I hasten to add, I was wearing trousers so there were no catastrophic/inappropriate incidents)

I've reconciled myself to the fact that running and I are never going to be anything more than very distant friends. Personally, I'm sticking to zumba, hula hooping, long walks and dancing around my kitchen whilst cooking dinner. At least there, nobody can be terrified by my enormous sweaty body lumbering around like a disco-dancing elephant...

I think each exercise is just different. I know I have had years I could ride 100 miles in one day but could barely jog 3 or 4 house before feeling terrible.

Since starting MFP, I have been walking most mornings. I would jog betwen a few driveways and then walk then jog. etc. After nearly 2 months I suddenly realized I was jogging my entire route - a half mile! I can now jog a mile!

So I still do not like running but I feel better since I can now run if I choose to.

So don't run. Not all exercise is for everyone. I hate swimming.

I hate running too. I can sprint, up to 100m, during boot camp and I don't hate that, but if asked to run around the sports ground any more than once and I would rather stick pins in my eyes. So I don't run.

I don't mind spontaneous acts of running, like realising I'm about to miss a train and just legging it, but any form of running involving any kind of preparation, specialist clothes, wearing proper shoes, warming up, warming down, etc, just makes me want to scream.

This is precisely why I've started running recently.

I've always been a weights fiend and I do a bit of cycling here and here, but in June a friend and I arrived at Madrid airport and we had 3 minutes to get a connecting flight. Now, I don't know if you know Madrid airport but it's half a mile long, maybe more, so basically we had to run from one end of it to the other, in boots and jeans, to catch the flight. My friend is as sedentary as sedentary can be, yet he was less out of breath when we got there than I was. I was literally gasping for air, to the point where I could barely breathe. Plus, my shins and calves were on fire.

At that point I realised I had a serious gap in my fitness, and I resolved to put it right.

A couple of thoughts:

1) Running requires sports specific training - being fit in other areas will help, but the bottom line is running is usually only enjoyable once you get a certain running fitness under your belt, which only happens with consistency in running

2) I think people tend to gravitate to sports that are compatible with their physical and mental make ups. Some folks have either naturally occuring or developed over time physical strengths and weaknesses which can make running easier or harder. Not knowing good running form is also a common barrier (I recommend ChiRunning books and DVDs for efficient, injury free running form). Also, I believe the repetitive nature of running may not be enough mental stimululation for some folks. I personally find it relaxing and meditative, but to each his own. I also usually listen to audio books when I run, which makes the time fly by.

I've heard good things about C25K. I also personally used First Day to 5K free podcasts (from podrunner.com) when I got back into running post-injury, which is similar in terms of interval walk/run to build up stamina/endurance for 30 minutes continuous running (and there are longer distance programs as well).

If you take up running, you should have a plan that you can stick to for a couple of months and then reassess after that time if it is something you want to continue. Registering for a local race is great motivation, too. I'm sure there are some Jingle Bell or New Year's races near you :-) If you decide not to run, that's OK, too, no reason to feel bad about it.