When it comes to running, the question I’m asked surprisingly often is: “How can I like it?” Sure, people want to know where I buy my shoes, what races I’ve done, what I eat before running. But so many times, I find people on the newbie side of running who just want to run, and call themselves a runner. Not-so-coincidentally, this also leads to my least favorite answer.
I do not believe you can make yourself love it.
And to push my luck with rare hate mail even further, I’ll say I think you’re wasting your time if you’re trying to love it but can’t. You can’t help it, it’s not your fault. I say this mostly because running is hard work. It is sweaty and there are hills and in order to keep doing it, you have to put in the time. There is no way around this. It will use your time, often in a very unforgiving way, and if you’re not feeling it, if you dread every step and complain every second, it is not worth it. Sure, you will have tried but you’re not going to get anything out of it. It’s supposed to be stress relief and all you’re going to be is one pissed-off hot mess when you’re through. This is not healthy.
I only say this because I’m the number-one-in-your-face annoying runner that begs and pleads with people to give it a chance. “Just try a mile,” I say, “it won’t be that hard.” I lie a little in hopes that this person will somehow reach that feeling that so many runners do, when they don’t necessarily love every run, yet they know they have to have it. Whether it stops at that one mile or grows and grows is not the point. The point is someone has been turned on to this brand of crazy I preach and few things feel better than that. But I don’t want them to hate it, so when someone asks me the dreaded question of “How can I like running?” I tend to disappoint. There is no magic spell– I wish there was. Exercise and stress relief shouldn’t be like that relationship that feels wrong yet you stick around anyway, because you want to be like someone else. The payoff will never be good enough.
What it comes down to is there is just not enough time in life to spend it on something you don’t like, something that doesn’t feel good to you. If there isn’t good reason for you to pound out the miles, to wear out the belt on the treadmill, DON’T. Find a bike or a pool or some good hiking boots and try something else. I have a friend who is a World Champion kayaker. She is never more high on life than when she’s in the middle of a river, 1.3 seconds away from flipping over into some insane rapid. She will not run to save her life. There are other things out there, people.
We all should strive for that, we deserve that. No, you will not love every minute of anything, but you shouldn’t have to hate every minute, either. So let it go. Say your goodbyes and well wishes and move on. And in a few months, or years (or whatever, because I’ll wait as long as it takes), maybe give it another try. Lace up your shoes, give me a call, and I’ll sell it to you all over again.
_______
*Or any other good break-up line
Bre says:
I run. I don’t like it, and if I could magically hit optimum health tomorrow then I’d certainly give it up.
Still… I run.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
brookem says:
Ha, “it’s not you!”… or… “I’m just not that into you.”
Running for me, at least during triathlon season, was a necessity. I never loved it, but I liked it enough. It’s not my favorite, that’s for sure, but I know what else I like better, and I go for that in the off season instead.
November 28th, 2007 at 7:37 am
anne says:
Oh its definitely me - I really can’t stand it. (Sorry!)
November 28th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Danielle says:
I absolutely agree with you. I’m so there, trying to get people (including my 60 year old mom) to start running, but it’s just not for everyone. Which is why there are so many other things out there. Everyone should do some sort of exercise, but unfortunately we aren’t going to get them all to run…I wonder if the people that absolutely hate it though ever really truly give it a chance. Cause if you don’t, you’ll never get the high!
November 28th, 2007 at 7:56 am
JACC says:
Strangely, the only part of running I’ve ever liked was the sweaty and the hills.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:47 am
sizzle says:
exactly! we all have to find our “thing” that clicks with us.
i, for one, feel much better now because running did not click with me (or my very ample bosom).
November 28th, 2007 at 10:39 am
The Exception says:
I did enjoy it at one time, but then I enjoyed swimming for hours on end at one time too. Perhaps there are different activities for different times in our life?
If you don’t love it from time to time, then don’t do it. There are so many other things to do - and you will love one of them!
November 28th, 2007 at 11:23 am
sue says:
You know? I just wish I had someone this enthused about it all that lived right next to me that could get my butt out of bed and moving and get me in shape. Alas, I’ve not found anyone so I’m still a potato.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
barbara bruederlin says:
Some days I love it, some days I like it, some days I tolerate it but just barely.
FOr me it pretty much evens out and that’s as much as I can ask.
November 28th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
backofpack says:
Oh, I love it! But, there was a time in my life that I hated it. I didn’t like running at all during my teens and twenties, then some friends talked me into trying it at 35. I did, and at first, I didn’t like it, but I felt compelled to continue…I don’t know why. It wasn’t long till I fell in love with running, and here I am almost 14 years later, still loving it, still running. So, yeah, put it aside if you don’t like it, but try it again every decade or so!
November 28th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Database Diva says:
I know that I didn’t love running when I started running. I’m not really sure how I managed to stay with it long enough to start loving it, or exactly when it happened, but it happened. I think the encouragement I got from people I met online helped me stay with it, especially when my friends and family were acting like I’d just joined a cult
November 28th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
suzanne says:
i love running. love your blog.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:43 pm