A Love/Hate Relationship With Running

by Sue on July 21, 2010

Excited but nervous!So, I kind of have a love/hate relationship with running.  I think running is a great form of exercise.  I totally admire people who run and train for races.  But the “hate” comes from having to do it alone.  I don’t like to run out alone, so I usually run on a treadmill, which can be quite boring sometimes.

When I first started this blog, I really wanted to get into running, so I decided to train for a 5K.  I had no idea where to start, so I looked around and found this really interesting program called the Couch to 5K.  The Couch to 5K is a program that helps you get into running a 5K by working your way up, by doing intervals of walking and running.  Even if you never ran in your life, you could start this program.   I gave it a try.  Back then, I had used a podcast by Robert Ullrey, who put together music with verbal cues.  So for example, if you started on Week 1, Day 1, you would first do a 5 minute walk, followed by alternating 1 minute runs and 1.5 minute walks for 20 minutes, followed by a 5 minute cool down walk.  That podcast series helped me train for my first 5K, which was a great experience!  The feeling you get when you work so hard for something and you complete it is an awesome feeling!

I started running again yesterday at the gym using the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone.  It’s amazing how technology advanced from the time I ran my first 5K to now.  I can now use my own music and get the cues, which is great.  In addition, I use the Nike Plus+ app, which measures the distance and logs each run, showing my progress over time.  I figure it was a great enough incentive for me to see progress and get back into running.  After all, yesterday’s run wasn’t so bad for me.  Maybe I’ll decide to run a 5K this year!  We shall see!

Anyone else use “tools” to keep track of their running?  Whether it is an iPhone app, a heart rate, monitor, or whatever else, let me know!

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  • http://twitter.com/marclevy Marc Levy

    If you really don't like it, spice it up? Get Glen to run with you? Make a running friend? Someone who always motivate you to go out running. And you motivate them to go running.

  • http://www.runtowin.com/ Blaine Moore

    A few months ago a friend of mine approached me because he wanted to become a runner but hated running. With 4 young boys, though, it was one of the few activities he knew he'd be able to get in while on vacation since his usual fitness routines involved a row machine or other bulky equipment. Every time he'd tried running before he always gave up within a few weeks because he hated it so much.

    My advice to him was two-fold: First, stop talking about how much you hate running which only reinforces how much you hate it, and second, follow a program such as the couch to 5k which will give him a schedule that will get him in shape without getting hurt and build up to the point where running non-stop is actually fun because it's not such an effort.

    So, that's what he's done, and now him and one of his sons are trying to run a race a month for the next year, and he's run as far as about 6.5 miles non-stop. He only had one setback, but a week of rest and getting a new pair of shoes solved that problem.

    As for tools that I use, I have a garmin forerunner 305, and I use http://www.runningahead.com as my training log. I can just pop the garmin onto the cradle, download my workout, add a few notes, and it keeps track of everything for me. My log is open to the public if you want to check it out or play with the graphs or reports to see what it is capable of:
    http://www.runningahead.com/logs/debadab61b6945…

    Other than that, I don't use a lot of tools. Most runs, I don't even look at my watch, I only use it because it makes it easy to record the workout afterwards. Sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and sometimes a pair of shoes gets me by. (The shoes are optional.)

  • http://www.workinonmyfitness.com Susan Jane

    That's true Blaine, talking about hating running doesn't really help. But I definitely liked the feeling of completing a race I trained for. That's awesome about your friend too! I like workouts that don't require a bunch of equipment, so running is definitely something I can see myself doing more. By the way, the log you linked to is pretty cool! Definitely good for someone who wants to track progress without much effort. :)

  • ChristineWithRegence

    Great tips! For ideas on how you can take charge of your own health care, check out Whatstherealcost.org.

  • http://www.the-warriors-club.com/martial_arts_training.php brian

    I try to use the buddy system, but when that doesn't happen I try to run some place with a lot of scenery like beaches, and parks. this help make it a little less dull.

  • healy

    I love to run. It gives me a zen mode. I can run all by myself but as what I've read well tips?all you have to do is pay attention to the scenery, enjoy mother nature. Music I think store some motivating playlists and give yourself some pep talks.

    souce: http://healthyflat.com

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