So. I have been hating running recently. Hated the thought of doing it, hated when I was out doing it. Was thinking: why am I making myself do something that I dread?
This is all on the back of quite a few weeks of awful runs. Some runs where it was just soo hot and it really exhausted me and a few runs that were just too fast (trying to keep up, and failing, with daughters (children!!) who have been wanting to come out with me).
Really contemplated stopping running altogether (one daughter said that would be a bad example to them just because I was finding it tough.. I retorted back that I didn’t care if I was a bad example!). But it has taken me a year to get to this point and I kept thinking it would be such a waste of effort! Grrr..
The point of this gerny post. I changed two things.
1) instead of listening to music, I listened to RunPod with jenni falconer. I thought that actually listening to people talking would engage me more. It worked a treat, I was so busy listening to Paula Radcliffe talking that I barely thought about what I was doing!
2) slowing right down, as slow as I can go.
And the last two runs I have done, I can say that I enjoyed every step. Which for me, a a big deal. I loved it. My run on Saturday was 1 hour and 25 minutes (😄😄😄) and I covered 11k. Longest distance and time for me. I wasn’t exhausted when I stopped, I actually felt I could have gone on!
So for anyone reading that’s struggling, slow down, try a podcast and don’t put pressure on yourself.
Written by
Leosmit
Graduate10
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Love your post Leosmit, my reasons being you had the thoughts of why am I running , I hate running. Then you turned it around to something really positive and totally changed your thought process which is excellent.
I also listen to RunPod and I've slowed down... it's the way to go 😉 well done you for sticking at and remember the difficult runs make us stronger runners 💪
Lots of baby time now the under 12s can mix . Baby hugs hates hugs but shows his love in so many ways and his smile and giggles melt my heart every time. Thank you for asking 🤗
Thank you for your honest post Leosmit, I've been feeling a bit off with my running lately and so to hear that other people have experienced the same thing is reassuring. But more so that you found your way out of it and have found your happy again. I think I might try a podcast, I don't know if music is always enough of a distraction for me either.
Well done for staying positive and getting your mojo back and happy running 👍🍾🏃♀️🏃♀️😀
Thank you so much forest run. Thing is I like people, I like hearing stories so that’s why I think podcasts are working for me when running. I’m more engaged with listening to the conversation.
Try 'Don't tell me the score' a series of podcasts on BBC sounds. So many fantastic podcasts there around so many things like sleep, resilience, how are mind works etc.
That’s great to hear. Enjoying it is so key. I want to get the point where I don’t dread it but look forward to it. Thing is, it’s makes you feel so good after!
I’m good thanks! I’ve been shielding and nursing my persistent Achilles issue, so no running for me. Hope to get back to it some time soon 🙄. Keep up the good work 👍😁
Saw your reply to a post and how you have a persistent Achilles injury. Try cutting a piece of old carpet just enough to fit under the heel and use it in the comfortable shoes you use daily. This takes the pressure off the tendon just enough to allow it to heal. An old physio told me to do it when I was struggling with the same injury years ago. Worked in a few days. Good luck
Thank god im not the only one!!! Some of my runs lately have felt hard...like dragging my carcass through treacle...but....I have stopped worrying about my pace, or my time...I’ve changed my watch face so I don’t see how far I’ve gone...or I have just done a short run and been able to carry on because I haven’t set off too fast...I went for a planned 4K this morning but carried on to 5 just because I could. I know it’s not as far as yours but I honestly think that distance suppresses me, it makes me think I can’t do it...I think if I’m at 2k and I’ve planned a 10 I still have 8 to go...and that messes with my head...and my legs...and my breathing and I end up walking. So I’m not doing that anymore...now and again I will throw a 10k in but I am sticking to runs that I’m capable of and finishing them on a high instead of being disappointed with myself because I’ve walked a bit or just not enjoyed the run at all. We all have to reboot...rethink..& remember how far we’ve come...like you say, drop the pressure and run because that’s what we love to do!
Mummycav, I work in fractions as to what I havve run rather than what I have to go - it soon increases 🙂, so if running a 10k: 1k = 1/10, 1.25k= 1/8, 2k = 1/5, 3.33k =1/3 , 5k = 1/2 (half-way😁) etc. I find it helps. I always find the first 5-10m minutes the worst and relax a bit when I have managed the 5k bit
I find that with distances too - my brain has a different response to time though. It will happily let me run for 30m but 5km is a chore. Bizarre. Glad I’m not the only one who finds distances unmotivating!
All the best for your post-recovery runs. What podcasts will you listen to?
So glad you are still here and going. 'Comparison is the thief of joy's they say on The Running Channel and they're right. 1 hour 25 minute running is a tremendous achievement. I always think of running like it's my wellness time and whether it's 1 mile or 10 I ran it and it was progress. Well done you. I'm so chuffed you are keeping going.
Oooh. I've been hooked on the Running Channel recently. I'm taking a week off running (plantar fasciitis, I think, and/or possibly metatarsalgia) but I'm still watching the Running Channel
I loved it! Thought I'd start at the beginning so listened to the Peter Andre one. Never thought I could run without music. Only thing was it didn't move onto next podcast automatically. Looking forward to listening to more, thank you X
11km? That’s amazing! 👏 I agree - I’ve started listening to audiobooks and so there’s no space in my head for negative dialogue. You’ve inspired me to (consider to) do some longer runs! 😆
I feel weird saying this, but it some ways a longer run is easier. Maybe the fact that you can get into a slow, steady rhythm? I’ve only done 2 over 60 minutes though so I shouldn’t really be giving advice!! 😆
Well done you. Amazing how mind over matter really does the trick. Will try the Runpod idea too as really bored with music. Have got books on Audible so might try those as well. So glad you have beaten the running blues
Aww I'm glad you were able to turn it around! It always saddens me somewhat when people say they hate running. Though I have definitely thought it during a crappy run or two. I think at the end of the day, when I stop running and give it up--as I have in the past--I do miss it and I miss the fact that I was able to do it.
So just for background, I was a cross country runner in high school running anywhere from 3-10 miles daily (about 5-16ish km). I always said that I didn't love track but I was a chubby kid and my parents said I had to do some activity. I have like two left feet so I was like well running---I guess I'm coordinated enough for that. And I loved the camaraderie of the team so that kept me going even when I didn't always love my runs. I stand by the fact that I didn't think of myself as a runner who enjoyed running the entire 3 years I spent on the team. Then I got busy with adulthood and stopped running and every few years I would get this urge to just take off like I used to be able to do and clear my head on a long run. But whenever I did my lungs burned, my legs ached and I would stop after about half a mile. So it reinforced the fact that I hated running--although none of these things happened when I was on the track team because I was used to running and had the endurance to back me up. So this time when I started couch 25k I had been cycling for months prior and had built endurance, and I was easing back into running. I fully expected to quit a few weeks into it and hate running the whole time. But 5ish weeks later I'm running (out of program) 4 miles on my longer run days and building endurance. This week I have plans for the first 5 mile run I haven't done in many years. I don't love running every single time I do it--particularly when I'm building up my mileage. The first three miles will be fun. The last two miles will be a mental struggle simply because it isn't mileage I'm so used to and have to work myself up to it. And some days are miserably hot/humid. But I think about the fact that a month and a half ago I couldn't run half a mile. And I think of those really stressful days when I just want to be able to take off and run for as long as I can and shed all the bad of the day and the fact that this year I'll be able to do that again. I'm trying to run through the bad runs to have the strength and ability to let me run on those days where I really do want to run.
That all being said I'm just glad that you found a way of making running fun for you and so many people make the error of pushing themselves to run too fast for it to be enjoyable or get in the rut of listening to the same thing over and over again. I have a full broadway run playlist with all my favorite upbeat broadway songs, many of which I've seen performed on stage so on bad running days I play that and think back to all the shows I loved attending.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to post that. Really encouraged by reading that. You have been building your distance up well. Made me smile to read that you have a Broadway play list! And clever that the songs are linked to happy memories. You’re exactly right, making the run enjoyable is key and it has just taken me a long while to get there. Send a wee post as to how you find your next run - enjoy it!
It’s good to hear you have worked through your demons. I think it’s always a good idea to try something different, and there’s never any harm in slowing it down.
Me too! I just stopped running this week. Not injured, just not motivated. Too hot. So I appreciate that you didn’t stop and found a way around. I’m looking up runpod for a reboot.
Please don’t say you mean you’ve stopped permanently? You’ve had such great progress though! One of the podcasts I listened to the other day talked about the importance of mindset. The speaker said she dreaded her runs and then instead of focusing on the losses of running (losing weight, losing inches, losing calories), she kept thinking of the gains - a gain for health, a gain for lung strength, a gain for mental health, a gain for fresh air, a gain for new friendships. I’ve tried to focus on this also over the last few runs.
Keep it up though. Reading your progress is great and it would be fantastic to keep that up.
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