How do I learn to love running?

Good music makes all the difference!

I hated running too, but forced myself to do it. The pounds started melting away and I couldn't argue with the results. That kept me motivated to run harder and longer.

You have some good advice here. I can tell you from my personal view, I have never learned to love running. I've been doing it for over a year and have slowly built up from running an eleven minute mile to an eight minute mile, and I have run a 5K. All basically because I have to be able to do it for black belt testing for karate. Its mental with me - I have problems breathing and I just can't wait for it to be over - every. single. time.

So I stick to the bare minimum for running and do a whole lot of elliptical, cardio, circuit training, walking, and ARC machine at the gym. Once I test for black belt, I will just try to keep up my under ten minute mile a few times a week and leave it at that.

**I totally agree with everyone who has said that the BEST exercise is one that you will enjoy and do on a regular basis. Just make sure you don't get complacent and you challenge yourself. When I started on the elliptical I could barely knock out ten minutes at no resistance. Now I do forty five minutes to an hour daily with varied levels of resistance and different types of workouts.

Something that did a lot to improve my enjoyment of running was to go slow. No, slower than that. Slower still! Once you're cruising round and can enjoy the scenery everything else falls into place, including the speed and distance, with time.

Take a 20-30 min walk instead!
Its easier on your knees and joints.

I wish people would stop perpetuating this nonsense, unless you have other underlying medical problems running does not damage knees and joints.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948208,00.html

http://rwdaily.runnersworld.com/2012/02/no-running-does-not-ruin-your-knees.html?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-RunnersWorld-_-Content-Blogs-_-RunningRuinsYourKnees

Being overweight is the leading cause of excessive wear and tear on joints, running actually helps maintain joint health....

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--12232-0,00.html

So-called "runners' knee" is most often actually a result of hip and/or glute weakness or other muscular imbalances or overuse injuries such as ITB syndrome.

start by walking!!!! xx

I'm get'n ready to go run, RIGHT NOW! a few ppl have previously said these things but...music really does make a HUGE difference. also, when I'm low on motivation I think about the results. look'n f'n awesome trumps not want'n to do said task, imo. ALSO, there ARE other things You can do instead of running...but, running WILL produce the best results, faster, longer.

I LOATHE running, but I really like sprinting, which is even more beneficial! I do interval training on the treadmill, keeps me from being bored. I'll walk for 2 minutes, do a brisk jog for 1 minute, then sprint full on for 30 seconds, then rest by walking for 1.5 minutes and repeat the whole thing until I get to 20 minutes. You're so busy recooperating from the sprinting that time flies. I know I burn at least 200 calories in 20 minutes but what I am really looking for is that after burn, which you get when you incorporate high intensity interval training into your routine.

I'm starting the Couch to 5k program this evening as I really want to get into running too We can spur each other on if you fancy it!

My advice in steps! If you are serious, message me and I can help. If it doesn't appeal to you, just ignore!

TODAY
1. Pickout a local race in the summer in your city or nearest city. A 5k or something. If it is a charity race for a cause you like, even better! July will be hot but you will have sufficient time to prepare. Maybe a Firecracker 4th of July race... ?

2. Sign up for this race NOW. Pay your money. (if you can hassle a friend into doing it with you, even better).

3. Find a suitable race calendar or training program (C25K) and plan out a schedule, 12 - 15 weeks back from your run. Don't worry about what you will be doing until you start training with this plan, I have that covered! (message me if you need help with this. don't BUY some expensive plan, there are plenty of free resources I can point you too).

4. Buy a calendar and start at your race day going backwards, write in the dates of each and every scheduled run in some BRIGHT color.

5.. On six days a week for every week leading UP TO your planned schedule (12-15 weeks from your event), write in the words 'Move for One Hour' a day. Starting TOMORROW.

6. Message me if you need help with the calendar and when you are finished, post copies all over your house. In your bathroom, in the kitchen, on the fridge, next to your bed, etc. Post at least 3 copies in places you will see it.

7. If you have a cell phone with an alarm, set that with the time of day that you want to be ready to work. Set it for EVERY.SINGLE. DAY. including your day off. I set mine for noon, so I have plenty of time to get my moving in.

8. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

TOMORROW:

9. MOVE FOR ONE HOUR. It doesn't matter how. Walk around the block, walk up and down your stairs. Go to the gym and get on a treadmill, take a class. MOVE. Do yoga. Don't worry about how fast you go or what you do, really, do cartwheels if you like, just MOVE. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

NEXT DAY:

10. MOVE FOR ONE HOUR. It doesn't matter how. Walk around the block, walk up and down your stairs. Go to the gym and get on a treadmill, take a class. MOVE. Do yoga. Don't worry about how fast you go or what you do, really, do cartwheels if you like, just MOVE. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

NEXT DAY:

11. MOVE FOR ONE HOUR. It doesn't matter how. Walk around the block, walk up and down your stairs. Go to the gym and get on a treadmill, take a class. MOVE. Do yoga. Don't worry about how fast you go or what you do, really, do cartwheels if you like, just MOVE. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

NEXT DAY:

12. Now that you have your move thing started, start to think about the fact that you want to cover the distance of a 5k race. Start walking during your hour (or jog slowly) and do what you must to start covering your distance. Take the full hour. Can you walk 3 miles in an hour? If not, set that as your goal for the month. See how much ground you can cover in an hour? Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

NEXT DAY:

13. MOVE FOR ONE HOUR. It doesn't matter how. Walk around the block, walk up and down your stairs. Go to the gym and get on a treadmill, take a class. MOVE. Do yoga. Don't worry about how fast you go or what you do, really, do cartwheels if you like, just MOVE. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

EVERY DAY UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH!

14. MOVE FOR ONE HOUR. It doesn't matter how. Walk around the block, walk up and down your stairs. Go to the gym and get on a treadmill, take a class. MOVE. Do yoga. Don't worry about how fast you go or what you do, really, do cartwheels if you like, just MOVE. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

REPEAT UNTIL IT IS TIME TO START YOUR OFFICIAL TRAINING SCHEDULE.

TRAINING SCHEDULE DAYS

15. Follow your schedule for mileage covered. Do not worry about speed. Do not worry about fancy gear. Just do it. Cover your mileage. That is all. Pick out a comfy workout outfit and your best shoes and lay them out next to your bed tonight. Get a good night's sleep.

RACE DAY

16. Whether your walk, run, skip, crawl or cartwheel, do your race. Disregard the whether, wear what is comfortable to you.
You will have done this... and you will know if you truly want to be a runner, a walker, a skipper or find a new exercise, that I can promise!!

to me, it is that easy. make a plan, stick with it. push yourself but don't overdo. I started just 'moving' for January and now I am at week 3 in training for a half-marathon.

Also, as to the food, etc. I assume because you are 'here', you have that covered, but if not, PLAN out a healthy diet to support the extra calories you will need to do your event.

I wish you ALL the best!

Take a 20-30 min walk instead!
Its easier on your knees and joints.

I wish people would stop perpetuating this nonsense, unless you have other underlying medical problems running does not damage knees and joints.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948208,00.html

http://rwdaily.runnersworld.com/2012/02/no-running-does-not-ruin-your-knees.html?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-RunnersWorld-_-Content-Blogs-_-RunningRuinsYourKnees

Being overweight is the leading cause of excessive wear and tear on joints, running actually helps maintain joint health....

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--12232-0,00.html

So-called "runners' knee" is most often actually a result of hip and/or glute weakness or other muscular imbalances or overuse injuries such as ITB syndrome.

But for someone who doesnt want to run....

Do what I do!

Skip breakfast!
Sleep in!
Eat at 2pm and lose the fat that way!

BTW every pound of fat on your stomach is 8 on the knees!
You only have so much cartilage so call it nonsense if you like!
Walking daily for 20 mins is sufficient for fat loss so why run if you can walk?

I can find 100 articles supporting my view on the interwebz but ive got better things to do like enjoy life and not worry about running!