I posted this a few weeks ago on my blog and it really struck a chord with people. It was like a revelation: YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOVE RUNNING! You don’t even have to like it.
The girl dressed in blue and black on the far right is me at the height of my running career — the Detroit half marathon last October. I ran pretty intensely for about 10 months last year (and was training for the half for about five of those months).
I don’t know if it’s obvious from the blog or not, but I haven’t run for more than five or 10 minutes at a time since around October.
Maybe some of you are wondering why. Why, when it seems everyone in the whole food/health blogosphere is constantly training for races and uses running as their primary form of cardio, did I stop? And why in the world do I think you care? Well, I’d like to think you’re just curious, but also, I know a lot of people feel pressure to run because it seems like everybody can, does, and loves it. I want to make it very clear that’s not the case. Here’s why I’m not running right now:
- I liked running, but I never LOVED it. I enjoyed the social aspect of it the most (I was part of a running group when I was training for my half), and made some really good friends because I was part of a group. But I came to dread running by myself or running on the treadmill. It wasn’t all that fun for me. It was a chore.
- It made me hungry like nothing else! When I was training, I was constantly hungry. And often, that hunger led me to eat things I would never have eaten otherwise. I remember downing a huge portion of tortilla chips and store-bought seven-layer dip one night after a 10-miler that made me feel sick and bloated later. No other physical activity seems to spark hunger for me like running does.
- It… got boring. Running, almost by definition, is an extremely repetitive activity. You use the same muscles for the duration of the run. Yes, you can speed up, slow down, or run hills, but the motion is the same. I’ve always been a fan of workouts that involve constantly changing movements, weight, intensity, etc., so running is just a little too constant for my taste.
- For me, running doesn’t help much with weight loss/maintenance, and it doesn’t make me stronger. Weight training is the real key for me when it comes to weight loss/maintenance and strength building. Of course, running had a huge effect on my physical fitness. But mostly, running so much just made me a better… runner. And that’s not all I want to be.
- I like to try new things. Training for a race leaves little room for other activities. I never wanted to try other activities when I was training for a race because I was always afraid I’d strain a muscle and not be able to get my runs in. I think I have exercise ADD, and running only exacerbated it.
- Running is just not for everyone! I’m at peace with the fact that I may never run a marathon (but I’m not ruling it out either). I’m not totally convinced it’s not a little bit dangerous (the two deaths at the Detroit marathon were sort of scary!), and more importantly, I’m just not sure it’s something I really want to pursue. And I’m okay with that!
So if you don’t like running, know that it’s not the ONLY way to get fit. It’s not the only way to get stronger, and yes, faster. There are so many other ways to work out that if you don’t like running, you shouldn’t force yourself to do it.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Leah I LOOOOVED this post; I was actually going to chat with you about it the other day. Since January, I’m just SO OVER running. I think it’s because I don’t “need” to do it right now — for me, it’s way more a mental activity than a physical one, one that I tend to do when I’m working through something, and I honestly feel like I’m too happy and settled to want to do it right now.
So HOLLER. We can train for something and then we can go about our lives like it totally never happened and it’s like, “Huh? Oh yeah…I guess I did used to run a lot.”
I kneel down and praise you for writing this! I have spent the last few years focusing on getting healthy and fit, and i have dabbled in running as part of that journey. But try as I might I can not find the love for it, and yet I keep trying to. Thank for for this perspective, just because I don’t love to run doesn’t mean that I am not healthy gal who loves fitness. There are so many other forms of exercise out there for me to embrace. My next goal is to conquer the intimidation factor and take a spin class!
I ran my 1st half marathon is January & have been completely over running ever since. I saw that Rach tweeted this post & I had to read it. I even signed up for another race just to motivate myself to run. I soon realized it wasnt necessary that I love to run. I can do all sorts of other fun forms of exercise. Thanks for posting this. I was just about to “make” myself run on the treadmill & I am opting out and choosing to do some heart pumping plyometrics instead.
I love your honesty:) healthy doesn’t mean having to be a runner:)
Great post! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to become a runner over the years: I’m signed up for a 5K this Sunday and I haven’t stuck to my training plan AT ALL! Interesting note about the increased hunger – when I run compared to other exercise, I have the same issue.
I love this! Running in the blogosphere is as ubiquitous as DSLRs and almond butter, and I’m afraid that once I become a “runner,” maybe I won’t like it! Well, not afraid, but…sometimes it feels like I just want to get out there and GO, but running also seems so boring! I’m still going to plug away at C25K and reach my initial goal of a 5K (I had to stop due to shin splints), but it’s nice to know that you can dislike running (or be physically unable to) and still be a badass.
Glad this struck a chord with you guys! Kat: “…as ubiquitous as DSLRs and almond butter.” HAHA — so true!
Rachel, I’m most definitely over running, too. I’m not ruling it out completely, but I can’t see myself ever training for a long race again. There are just so many other ways to break a sweat! I’m totally in the “Huh? Oh yeah…I guess I did used to run a lot” camp.
Amen! I had just started running, hoping that I would make it to do a half marathon, and once I broke 3 miles (yes, only 3!) I could not bring myself to go farther. Running is boring and repetitive, and I realized I would go out of my mind doing it for more than 30 minutes. So now I do HIIT intervals for cardio and am working on my weight training. Thanks for being honest!!
Love this post. I run, but It hurts my shins like you read about. I also enjoy other forms of exercise like Zumba, tae-bo, and simply walking. I don’t understand why taxing your body running 8 miles a day is considered “normal”.
thanks for this article! i came across it after googling “why can’t i like running?” (i kid you not, as this comes from a gal who googled “how do i meet people?” when i first moved to LA). in the same boat as several others – having done my first half marathon in nov 2008 and trying to get back into running ever since (it’s been THAT long). i have a race or a weekly run or two here and there, but nothing consistent. is it time to move on? i’m still deciding, but your piece clearly makes me say I am so there.