Does anyone else find that they enjoy the run more after they've done it? I'm not saying that I don't enjoy the runs... exactly... more that I enjoy it in retrospect. Is that the endorphins kicking in?
Did W6R3 tonight on a path round a running track that had several runners striding along at a fair old pace. But at one point I was keeping up with one of them who was on the inside track (I have to run on the path outside the track cos I take my dog with me - kill 2 birds/1 stone).. so... technically, I was running faster than her. Not that I'm competitive or anything...
Is this what running is about? Does there come a point when you enjoy the actual running as much as the after-run?
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Vivwestie
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> Does there come a point when you enjoy the actual running as much as the after-run?
Yes, and I reached that point last week (W8R2) I got into my stride, I was running a new route (although I'd walked it the previous week) and I felt good I knew where the 5K mark was and I listened to my own music and didn't bother checking my watch at all before reaching that point, I wrote about it here:
I really felt the run was invigorating and refreshing. Funnily, the day before my hairdresser had told me that she loved running because it made her feel so refreshed and I was envious because I'd never felt that before while actually running,
The two subsequent runs have not been as good as I've pushed myself (one was a Parkrun and the other was with a group who all were running just a smidgen above my pace and I struggled to keep up). I'm really looking forward to returning to running on my own again tomorrow.... back to the woods and empty estate road... striding along, without a care in the world... (I hope )
Thanks, Swanscot. It's interesting that you reached that point when you kind of relaxed and just ran to your own music. Perhaps it's because this IS a programme that there's a lot of emphasis on DOING the runs rather than just being able to enjoy them. And I do enjoy it at times, just not for very long - lol.
D'ya know what, jcm13 - the very fact that we're doing it and carrying on doing it I think is an indicator that we know that, at some point, we will do it for the enjoyment. I've read several books recently by ultra-runners and it's clear that NO-ONE enjoys running all the time, that at times it is always challenging and taxing and boring etc., - and that's what makes it enjoyable!
I love the buzz and energy you get after you've finished. But sometimes I get that during the run too. I always enjoy setting off, and the first 10 mins or so of running, then the gremlins usually make their appearance so the rest of the run is generally dealing with them and muttering the "I can do this" mantra till the end. But even when I'm pushing myself I always feel that I'm doing something special and important for me to achieve.
Well done on nailing the 25 minute run, it's a great feeling.
ehehe @ the gremlins. Your ones are lazy! mine have a go after the first 2 minutes and are definitely in a conspiracy with my legs. After the 8 minute battle (once we're all over the big hill) I love the feeling of rythmically pounding the leaves, gravel, tar or ash track and I always run in the mornings because it sets me up for the rest of the day sitting on my rear end in front of a pc screen. I only started feeling ilke this after I had completed week 6 so you never know, next week maybe?
Yes, Soozz - it is a great feeling - I'm a bit amazed really (although my right leg feels weird today :-\). I do enjoy parts of the run, usually the middle and the last minute! As I said above though, that once the running isn't part of a programme, and it's just 'running' it may be more consistently and regularly enjoyable.
I'm into week 6 and I am not having the enjoyment in my runs yet. I am usually praying to make it through. I do feel better once the run is over and that usually even carries over to the next day. Since starting this program I feel like I have more energy and I also feel happier.
Absolutely, gdeann. I do feel inordinately proud that I've stuck with the programme, never missed a run and always kept going. And you're right about the energy and happiness bit - I suppose that we're still in very early days and shouldn't expect to run before we can walk... oh, wait!
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I knew where the 5K mark was and I listened to my own music and didn't bother checking my watch at all before reaching that point, I wrote about it here: 
)
The Final Countdown................Week 9 Run 1
Running With the B52s
Not yet making the transition to cold weather running
Off the injury couch and into the mud
Park run-is it just me?
