“Running Sucks!”
What is up with all these runners who love running day in and day out? I’ve been running for 15 years and I still often DON’T ENJOY RUNNING. It’s a never-ending repetitive motion that is exhausting and sometimes painful.
But somehow, I am still running.
Is it for the benefits? Or is it from getting over the reasons why I hate running, one step at a time?
Here are 17 running excuses why I hate running at some point in my life, including some that still occur half-way through my run today. And some ways I deal with them to keep running.
Too Hard to Start
The first runs are so challenging, especially after a break. So much extra effort is needed for a pace I used to do easily. It’s frustrating, it’s hard, maybe it’s not for me.
Too bad, that’s the reality. The first runs are tough because you are giving a shock to your body. It usually takes 2 weeks to start feeling the benefits and over 6 weeks to get in shape.
The only way to go around this is knowing that “hard” is normal and performing worse than before is normal, BUT you will get there in a few weeks. It’s a pill that’s hard to swallow, but your body will thank you shortly for swallowing that pill.
Just start slow, incorporate some fun, and make it as easy as you can for your first runs. Then hope for the best.
Takes Too Much Time
Getting changed, going out for an hour (or 3+ for the long runs), then cleaning up. Some runners also post their day-long runs and their lives seem to only contain running.
Running seems to take too much time and it just doesn’t have the priority to take over my life.
But have a look at How Much Should I Run to Reap the 8 Common Benefits of Running? To reap the benefits of running, just 2 hours a week broken down into multiple days is already a good amount. Now that seems a bit more reasonable.
Sometimes, I spend more than 2 hours a week dreading the thought of running when I could have already finished my runs.
You can also run any time of the day, so squeeze an hour for running next week. It doesn’t have to take too much time.
No Motivation
Now that most competitions are cancelled, I am guilty of feeling that my running is pointless. Even if there were competitions, I’m nowhere close to winning them. Why work for something if there’s no goal in sight, right?
But the goals don’t have to be a podium finish. The goal can be achieving 20 minutes of consecutive running.
There are different goals that can motivate you while not overly out of reach. Here are some examples.
Run a personal best on a route. Add an extra mile to your longest run. Find a new landmark or viewpoint nearby to run to. Explore a different neighborhood. Join Strava and compete with other runners on a course, etc.
Another useful way I find to get motivation out the door is to find a running buddy. The guilt of missing an appointment is good enough motivation to run the first step out of your door.
Boring
There isn’t much variety putting one foot in front of the other foot repeatedly. It gets boring in a few minutes. On some of my running routes, I just cut the route short because the scenery seems the same and I am just bored out of my mind.
Some ways to add flavor to the monotony of running –
Design new routes, observe how weather affects your scenery, find animals along your route, count your steps from A to B and compare it with your next run, blend other activities that can involve running (orienteering, hiking, soccer, etc.), try trail running, get a running partner to run with, run for the sunrise or sunset, or even become a philosophical thinker during your run!
Tiring
Running takes effort so getting tired is part of the deal. The thought of my exhausted muscles can become a deterrent from starting any run. There are times when I’m already tired from a day of work, so I give myself an excuse to skip my planned run.
Take your run slow. The accumulation of lactic acid is one of the major causes of your tiredness, so stay slow and maintain aerobic to reduce the lactic acid in your body.
Sometimes, a day of physical inactivity still results in a tired mind.
Running could be the cure of mental tiredness. I have had some lazy weekends of inactivity and ended up feeling more exhausted than the days I went out for a full day run. Maybe running doesn’t necessarily result in a tired body.
Self-Conscious
“I run too slow”
“I’m a bad runner”
“I look fat”
“My legs don’t look good”
“I am ugly when I exercise”
These are common self-commentary when running. The answer to this:
“Nobody cares!”
Pedestrians ignore runners unless they get run into, and other runners are all busy with their own running. The only one that judges is yourself.
Every elite runner still needs slow runs, every active runner still has some bad runs, and most runners don’t look their best when running.
However, running will help your weight loss and tone your body, so you WILL end up looking better after the runs.
I think runners are still an attractive type of species to many, particularly regarding their mental strength. There’s no reason to feel self-conscious about running!
Painful
Your body takes a lot of beating when running, and pain can be common. Sometimes you feel sore in your muscles or slight pain in your joints. It may make it harder and harder for you to run.
It’s worth looking into the cause of the pain and see if there’s a solution. It is possible for anyone to run without pain. You may feel better if you get some rest, regularly stretch your muscles, do strengthening exercises, check if your shoes need replacing, or improve your running form.
If a suspected injury is developed, get checked out before continuing. A painless run is achievable.
Feeling Out of Breath
We forget about our lungs when we are inactive. When we perform a vigorous activity like running, we ask a lot from out lungs, so feeling out of breath is normal. It isn’t a pleasant feeling and it’s reasonable you may want to avoid that feeling.
Be assured, that feeling eventually goes away. You can’t push hard when your lungs don’t cooperate anyways. Your lungs will get stronger as you run more and eventually you won’t get the same terrible sensations.
Start slowly at a conversational pace to ease your lungs into running, walk a bit when the breathing gets hard, and you will get better over time. Remember, no runner quits a race because they ran out of breath.
Lazy
Humans are inherently lazy, that’s why we are smart. We are lazy to optimise energy, so we sometimes choose not to run.
To choose running over not running, we’ll have to remind ourselves why we run. There are certain goals in life where running is the most efficient way of achieving those goals. Write them down and train your mind to optimise energy by choosing to run.
Also, It’s easy for your body to stay lazy for the dreaded 2-hour run. Your body might feel less lazy if you tell your body that you’re just stepping out of the door in running gear. Cheat your mind.
Too Old
There’s a myth that older people should avoid vigorous activities such as running. This 102 year old runner who started running at 89 proves that myth wrong.
Lots of runners become runners well after their retirement and have been able to keep their consistency. You can even get an extra 3 years of longevity from running, plus the many health benefits of running.
Being old is hardly an excuse anymore.
Impossible for Me
There are millions of runners in the world. 17.6 million runners crossed an official finish line in 2019 in the US.
With this huge running population, runners come in all forms and sizes, and likely include those who are in worst shape than you. Running can be hard, but it’s not impossible.
Running is Lonely
Some like the loneliness from running, some hate any moment without social ingredients. While running tends to be an individual sport and most runners run alone, it doesn’t have to be.
There are plenty of running groups around the world, and a high chance you are near one if you are reading this. Find these groups, join them, and run with your new friends! Most welcome runners of all levels and are especially happy to include beginner runners.
You could also join the many team races available around the world where you need to complete the race together with your partners.
Find someone to train for a goal together. This one-on-one time with a training buddy sharing similar goals is a great way to take the loneliness out of running.
Hard to Get Gear
You don’t need to transform into a running gear junkie before your first run. All you really need is just comfortable clothes and a pair of running shoes. You can have a look at How to Choose Running Shoes for Beginners in 2020 if you find running shoe shopping to be a challenge.
The Mexican Tarahumara tribe, some of the best runners in the world, run with shoes made from old tires. The beauty of running is you need very minimal set up. Don’t worry about all the gadgets yet, nobody looks down on you if you don’t have the latest running top or GPS watch.
Weather Is Bad for Running
If it’s too hot, run slower, run shorter, hydrate often.
If it’s too cold, layer up with the many forms of running apparel for cold weather.
If it’s raining, there are plenty of light weight running jackets available, and you’ll be wet from sweating anyways.
If there’s a storm, find a treadmill or work on your core muscles at home.
There are ways. Fun ways. What’s lacking is your will.
Getting Injured
It seems common that runners keep showing off their various types of injury. It’s scary for a beginner to think that they will be injured from running at some point. Some studies even show than 79% of runners will be injured at some point in a year. However, this doesn’t have to be the case.
The major reasons of injury are runners’ inherit structural imbalances and runners increasing their running intensity too rapidly week after week. With a basic understanding of your running form and following the 10% rule (Increase your training intensity/volume less than 10% per week), a lot of the injuries can be avoided.
Over the years, I feel healthier after consistently running. I’ve had fewer doctor visits and I don’t recall any doctor visits related to running injuries. The benefits of running can outweigh the risks of injury.
You will have to do your own risk-benefit analysis of running. I believe the risk of running can be managed and it’s very likely that going out for a run does more good than harm to your body.
Burned Out
Feeling tired, unfocused, unproductive, or unhappy from running are signs of being burned out. It’s quite common and it has happened to me quite often. The main reason is from overtraining.
Getting out of the burn out takes time, and usually relies on a change of your training method. Take a rest, cross train, perform alternative forms of exercising, mix traveling with your running, or adjust your training plan.
I comfort myself by understanding that feeling burned out is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that I need some adjustment, and it is okay to take some time off. I will come back stronger and more refreshed.
No Progress
For a beginner, your third run may feel as painful or more painful than your first run. For a novice, it seems like you aren’t constantly running better. Our progress seems plateaued from time to time, and it is very demotivating.
Remember that patience is key. Training results don’t happen in a day as your body takes time to learn. For me, I get lucky if I see results in 2 weeks. Most often, it takes 2 months for me to look back and realize I have improved. Even so, bad runs happen. That’s just the nature and that’s okay.
Take a step back and review your training. You might not see progress because not enough time has passed, you might not see progress because you are overtraining, or you might not see progress because you missed a certain type of training.
I guarantee that you can come out the other side stronger.
Conclusion
“I still hate running” but that’s okay.
You are not alone. It may be tempting to fake your positivity and motivation as a runner, but deep down, every runner has their doubts sometimes.
Share your misery, you’re not alone. Then find solutions together.
Millions of people still choose to run. Even with all these excuses to not run, there must also be enough reasons to run. Get a reset and refresh your mind, maybe it’s only your mental fatigue that’s hurting your running performance.
Have you had running lows? Have you hated running at some point in your life? Leave a comment and let’s share the misery and solution together!
