Let’s Talk About Running
By I don’t really feel like talking about healthy eating this week, probably because I haven’t been doing it. I’m looking for a better balance, but right now balance looks like, “Eat all the cupcakes before the Apocalypse! Which I’ve been informed is in two minutes!” or “Since I can’t choose between the gelato or ice cream, I will eat both.” So, uh, yeah. It’s not going so well.
But hey, you know what ELSE isn’t going very well? Running! So let’s talk about that instead. It will be a refreshing change to talk about another way I’m failing my body as its owner.
I started running two months ago, and save for one run last week, every single run has sucked. I mean, I don’t know how you people do it, because it’s hard and it’s sweaty and then I’m cold no hot no cold no hot no not the rain i forgot my hat! Et cetera. It also hasn’t gotten much easier.
I had this idea that if I kept doing it, it would still suck, but suck in new ways, like, “Oh, I only ran five miles at a seven minute pace, darn it! I know I could do it much faster!” Haaa. Right. I just came back from a run and my pace was 13 minutes. 13 minutes to run ONE mile, not three. At one point last week, a guy with one leg passed me.
My friend Ted, who’s a runner himself, asked me, “Wait, was it one of those springy legs? Or a regular leg?”
“A springy leg.”
“So he was probably in pretty good shape if he had a special leg for running.”
“Yeah, those are probably faster than real legs, right?”
“Uh, no.”
Right.
So, this is me: I suck at eating healthy, I suck at running, and don’t even talk to me about other forms of exercise. I was the girl who “accidentally” left her gym shoes at home and had to sit out PE wearing my winter boots. Oops! I was the girl who, despite daily physical education classes for 13 years, could never do a single push-up or chin-up or anything-up. (Wait, I was awesome at the sit-and-reach, mostly because it involved sitting.)
I have a lot of regrets that high school PE classes aren’t structured differently. I wrote a post on my personal blog about PE classes, and the very smart Swistle suggested that PE classes be tracked just like math classes are. Why aren’t there levels? How could I benefit from running the mile alongside the girl on the track team who ran the sub-six minute mile (except to make me feel like a gigantic loser that I couldn’t run it in twice that time, even at sixteen)? Sure, I would have taken an ego hit, being placed with the slowest and most-likely-to-reread-The-Hobbit-three-times-in-a-weekend girls in my school, but I also wouldn’t have felt so bad about my performance. I might have even had fun. I would have been with my friends (because I’m the kind of girl who has Hobbit-reading best friends). I might have even gotten BETTER at something besides the sit-and-reach.
Because I want to get better at it. I want to challenge myself. I want to have a healthy heart and lungs and body, and strong legs. I read other runners’ posts with something akin to jealousy (but not that exactly, maybe more like puzzled wonderment?). I’m trying, but I’m not there. I’m not anywhere near close. I need some help and some encouragement, and some endorphins, darnit.
Will the endorphins kick in soon?
August 7th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
I started running about 3 months ago and I still hate it. The only time I like it is when it’s over. I still only run 2.5-3 miles in a half hour. I don’t think I’ll ever get faster. But I keep doing it….I’m looking for those endorphins, too.
August 7th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
I don’t know if its feasible, but I find having an objective makes running more bearable. Is there a 5k or fun run or something in your area that you can aim for? Also, I hate running alone. I’ve been lucky enough to have a rotation of running buddies who struggle through the runs with me.
August 8th, 2011 at 8:41 am
I so get you. Seriously, this is exactly what I needed to read today. I keep asking myself “Everyone else loves it, what am I doing wrong?”
So…two things. I am a geek. So the Nike Plus system has made it suck less for me…because at the end I get to see a graph! (I know, lame…and it still sucks, but I always look forward to the data)
And…RUNNING is not the be all end all of exercise. Even though everyone acts like it is. Go play — I just made a weighted hula hoop out of irrigation tubing and electrical tape. I am really enjoying learning some tricks
August 8th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Thank you all for commiserating with me
Lynsey, very, very true that it’s not the only form of exercise! I don’t really like _any_ form of exercise I’ve tried, so I think I may just be a wimp 
I’m going to stick with running for a few more months and if I still hate it, I’ll move on to something else.
August 10th, 2011 at 12:54 am
Very interesting idea about having tracks in gym class. Have you ever tried chi running?
August 10th, 2011 at 1:08 am
You should read Run Like a Mother the Book for some tips and much more motivation and inspiration for running.
August 10th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Mariale–in my library queue now, thansk for the rec!
Anu–never tried it, and don’t know much about it, honestly. Is it worth looking into?
August 10th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
During elementary school, I only participated on the first day of PE. After my teachers and fellow students saw how horrible and awkward I was, my teachers let me read books during the PE period. I was shocked and appalled once I got to middle school and my PE teachers wouldn’t let me do that. That’s when I got the first C of my life. So, I totally understand the horror that was PE! They should offer noncompetitive options, like dance or yoga, during that time, and focus on whole-body wellness rather than the awfulness that is sports (with a lack of real equipment, to boot).
August 11th, 2011 at 9:16 am
I am one of those annoying people who love to run… now. But when I first started, I hated it. Once my endurance was built up and I was able to control my breathing- or stop feeling like I was going to pass out all the time, I was finally able to enjoy it. I might say that you are trying to run too far, too soon. Couch to 5K doesn’t work for everyone. Try running one minute, walking one minute- repeat alot. Then gradually increase your runs to two minutes and walk one, etc… start slow and maybe you will find your groove. If not, screw it, find something you LIKE!
August 12th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
I started running at 48. I’m 52 now. I never ran a full mile before I started (not even in HS) but I wanted to compete in a triathlon, so I needed to run. I started with an interval training program that gradually takes you from walking to running – Couch25K. The way the program is designed (even though it took me much longer than they suggest to get to running three miles) really gives you a sense of accomplishment as you see your running intervals get longer and your walking shorter.
I’m a slow runner too but I still get out there and I’ve run 5-milers and 10Ks, although 5k is still my favorite distance.
I still have a love/hate relationship with running– there are good days and bad days– but the end result is worth it. I hope you keep at it. Take it slow and be proud of every accomplishment. Do you have any idea how many people couldn’t even run that one mile? In any amount of minutes?
August 13th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
OKAY so this is why I immediatly must love you:I have been blogging for about three weeks now on the topic of my exercise and diet and I have felt like the ONLY blogger in our little corner of the blogosphere who hates to run. Cardio in general, actually, and I actually just blogged (read: whined) about it last week. AND we have similar paces, from the sound of it, and I have been absolutely unable to break 12 minutes. sigh. I have found over the last year or so, though, that my exercise of choice is weight training. It’s the only form of exercise that I don’t actively hate the entire time I’m doing it. I decided to try to incorporate some running in the form of 20 min. of high intensity intervals though, which appeal to me more than running distance.
August 13th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Thanks everyone! Angie–I’m SO intimidated by weight lifting. All the grunting and the scary-looking dudes and the SMELL, my goodness the SMELL. Needless to say, I’ve never weight-lifted, but I always WANT to, because I hear the benefits are amazing.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:17 am
I LOVE running, but is it possible running is just not for you? I would be hesitant to just stop all together – because it took me a long time before I had that ‘aha!’ moment where I was like ‘so this is why everyone does this’… Still, maybe you could keep training for your goal and throw in some other exercises.
Have you tried rowing? I took a rowing class recently, and fell in love, and now I am rowing as much as possible! A bit complicated to learn, but a challenge – and, oh, so, beautiful. Plus, your with other people – so you can’t bail at the last minute. Accountability always helps me.
Or cycling?
August 14th, 2011 at 8:06 am
I started running 24 years ago (I’m 50). I was in decent shape when I started, but running just felt awful. It took about a year for it to feel god, but it did eventually feel good! Between then and now, I’ve had periods where I didn’t run at all. Getting back to it never felt as bad as starting out that first time.
Which is to say, hang in there. It will feel good and it’s not surprising that it doesn’t yet.
August 15th, 2011 at 7:05 am
For weight lifting, I recommend picking up the Men’s Big Book of Exercises (I know, but just trust me, it has pictures on how to do EVERY exercise) and get a good workout plan. I always post mine if you are interested! Maybe you’ll fall in love with it.
August 18th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
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