not yet enjoying...

[jabellik]

I have graduated on Wednesday and am proud of it but... I have never had yet the feeling of enjoying my runs. Some have been easier, depending on how my body was tired, but none has been a pleasure. Can anyone give me clues about this question?

[Hidden]

Ive never found it easy yet, other than saying slow down.

[Hidden]

What do you think about when you run? If I think about how hard it is, how much longer I have left etc. I don't enjoy it as much. If I let my mind wander and start thinking about things other than the run, I tend to enjoy the run much more. My advice would be to zone out, if that makes sense

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

I always used to enjoy the anticipation and sense of achievement more than the run itself - still do sometimes! But it does get easier and more enjoyable - stick with it!

[Rignold]

What exactly is the question?

[rmnsuk Graduate]

For ages, all through the program and well beyond graduation, my enjoyment was the sense of achievement I got when I finished, but that's not really enough for the long term. Then one day I found I just enjoyed running the "i can run forever" feeling, "forrest gump moment", call it what you will.

It doesn't happen every run, but enough to make me want to spend hours running round the d$%^&*d lake day after day. The other days I just think of the 500 calories I sweated out and how I can go back and have bread, oil and balsamic, and olives, if I'm lucky, for starters before dinner.

[jabellik Graduate]

thanks a lot !

[gary_bart]

That's a pity. So it's all just work for you? That's how I remember running being, and that's why I avoided running for so many years. Maybe you just need to expect to be happy while running? That might be part of it. Not ecstacy, but happiness.

There is that endorphin story, too. I don't think I've yet hit an endorphin high, but maybe that's what those of us finding it enjoyable are discovering. We're becoming a species of drug addict. Apparently to get your endorphins you need to go and find some pain, though, and for myself I haven't actively sought out any pain.

Don't you feel satisfaction during a run when something you know was tough last week goes better on the run you're busy with? I've had that happen with hills. I know the hill I'm on was killing me last week, and just a week later, when I turn it up a gear, I just go faster. No pain. We all have some parts of runs like that, I think? But I'm still just guessing. I'll have to think some more about this. It doesn't always happen, but there are definitely parts of runs, and some entire runs that just make you feel good.

Hmm ... maybe it's because I took such a long time about it? You could try that out quite easily. Redo a section, not because you don't think you're ready for the next one, but just to see whether you can do it better the next time, and see how much better. And then redo it again. This will mean you take on your next challenge much more fit than you would have been. It will be less of a struggle for you, and more filled with little successes. Maybe you just need to stop working so hard, and be a bit irresponsible about getting this job done. Do that and you switch from "job mode" to "game mode". Instead of ticking off Week 6 on schedule, and according to the deadline, you're off to go play "run rabbit run" using the Week 5 podcasts again.

That's a less irresponsible suggestion that may appear at first blush (as the judges love to say, for some reason), because if you can find a way of running that is its own reward, you're going to keep on running for the rest of your life, just because you want to run. If you rely on extrinsic motivators (like achieving such and such a time next time, and being on time and up to scratch according to some programme) as soon as those fail you (and fail you, they will), you're going to miss this run, skip that one, avoid that one, chicken out of that one, realise you're never going to make it through that next one in a million years ... down, down, down ...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Where do you run? I have just returned from holiday on the Shropshire/Herefordshire borders and have been running tracks and footpaths in glorious countryside. In my pre running days I would never have considered going out for a 6k walk before breakfast, but doing it as a run is a delight and makes me feel more alive in my environment than mere walking could ever do.

The same goes at home. I now know every footpath within three miles of home, because I have run them, but would never have got round to walking them all. Your routes can make all the difference.

[davelinks Graduate]

I have struggled to run further, but today made my mind think of other things rather than dwell on how I feel and whether I'm enjoying it, or how long it's taking, I also saw some people either walking or cycling who I usually see on the run, and say hello, anything to divert my mind.. And the nagging ache was better as well, I ran through it pressed on and did 5k, albeit slow.. but seemed to enjoy it better..

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Remind yourself how you felt on that very first run of week one. And then marvel at how far you've come. Do that run again and see how you feel. I bet you'll feel majestic!

The point I'm making is you're a very new graduate so don't be too impatient. It takes time but it will happen and probably when you don't expect it! Just keep running and getting the miles on your legs and one day you'll suddenly feel " I can run forever". Honest.

[jabellik Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you very much for your kind and helpful message. Have a good day and happy runs.

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate]

First up, congratulations on graduation. Someone once told me that you enjoy your runs best when it feels like "cruising in the fast lane with the top down", so a nice easy pace with the wind blowing through your hair. Something you really might like to try though is running with others. That could be parkruns or other oragnised races; there are plenty of them out there. Your emphasis changes from just doing the distance to competing with others. I'm not suggesting for one moment that you have to be at the front with the gazelles (I'm certainly not) but you will almost certainly find others of a similar ability to run with and in my experience that "throw the kitchen sink at it " feeling over the last 800m is a really big rush.

And once you've crossed the line, there is a genuine feeling of camaraderie and mutual respect that you just can't buy. Incredible.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

It may be worth considering whether you are the kind of person who does enjoy things. That may sound a bit silly but you may be looking for a big boost when small satisfactions are more reliable.