Running is one of my favorite things to do in life. Anyone who knows me well enough understands that. I've been doing it for sixteen years, I've logged thousands of miles on pavement and trails, I've been writing this blog for eight years, and I've written a book about how running made my life better. It's safe to say that running plays a big role in my life. However, believe it or not, there was a time in my life when I hated running. In June of 2008 I was taking a summer health and holistic class to get my final credits before college graduation. Part of the class time was spent working out in the gym, and our professor gave us the freedom to do whatever exercises we pleased, as long as we logged enough hours in the gym to complete the course. I enjoyed experimenting with gym workouts, but I distinctly remember how much I disliked running after I tried doing it on the treadmill. During that time, I was drinking a lot of beer, eating a lot of unhealthy food, I was an occasional cigarette smoker, I stayed up late and slept in late, and I wasn't very physically active. I weighed more than I do now, but I think the only reason why I wasn't overweight was because of all the walking I did around campus. In other words, I was by no means, a runner.
Over the last few months I've met a handful of people around Orange County who have told me that they want to get into running, but they don't like it. They want to like it, and they try to give it the benefit of the doubt, but the obstacles that they face while doing it make them feel discouraged. When someone tells me they want to get into running but they hate it, the first thing I tell them is "I know what you mean, I've been there". And that's because I really have been there. Running can be brutal. There's a reason why coaches make players run as a form of punishment in team sports. It's not fun for a lot of people. Runners warm up to the sport at their own pace. Some become fanatics right out of the gate, and for others, it takes time. People dislike running for various reasons. Here are the most common reasons I've heard, and here's what I would say to people who want to overcome those challenges:
"I want to get into running, but after a mile, I'm dying and out of breath". This often occurs because people are trying to run too fast or their breathing patterns are out of whack. What people need to understand is yeah, you're going to be out of breath if you try to run too fast right from the beginning. The advice I would give to those people is to slow down. If you're dying after a one mile run, that's perfectly okay for a newbie. Try running the mile at a slower, steadier pace, even to the point where you feel like you're going too slow. Running slow is okay. Trust the process. We all have to start somewhere. In most cases, if people can slow down, and get comfortable with running distance at a slower pace, their fitness will improve and the speed will come naturally over time. To improve breathing patterns during running, I would recommend spending a couple of minutes every day taking deep, full breaths and letting them all the way out. I remember doing that when I was training for my first half marathon and it really helped. So, if you're dying after a one mile run, take things down a few notches, go nice and easy, and try to focus on good breathing patterns.
"I want to get into running, but when I run, my knees start to hurt and I get shin splints". Again, I get it. These things happened to me in my early days. Weird pains that I never experienced before were popping up. I don't give a damn what doctors say, or anyone else for that matter. I'm going to set the record straight: running is not bad for your knees. There are people who run well into their sixties and seventies who have been doing it for decades. I've seen people in their nineties finish half marathons. These folks are living proof that running doesn't murder your knees. If I go see a doctor and they tell me I'm going to have bad knees because I'm a runner, I'm getting up and leaving. If your knees are hurting or you're getting shin splints, I would encourage you to take a look at your form. Most knee and shin pain comes as a result of coming down too hard against the pavement on the down stride. When you're out running, are your steps heavy? Do you find yourself stomping down on the pavement hard? If so, try to lighten up your steps. Try taking shorter, smaller strides, and lighter steps. Imagine the ground is lava, and you want to minimize contact. This technique weaves into slowing down your pace if you feel like you're out of breath and dying. If you're experiencing pain, trying taking lighter steps, shorter strides, and minimizing contact with the ground. That will help your body work these aches and pains out.
"I want to get into running, but I get bored. When I run, I just want it to be over". No one likes being bored, especially me. Boredom is a really fast way to kill the joy in any activity that can be fun. If you find running to be boring, I'd recommend trying things to make it more interesting. Try putting on some good music. Music that you brings you to a good place, psychologically. To me, running and music are one of the best combinations in the world. If you'd rather not wear headphones, try running in a place that you find comforting. Maybe a scenic place, or just a place that makes you feel relaxed. There's all kinds of cool places to run. The beach, the park, the woods, you'll find somewhere enjoyable. Even if you have to drive there, it's worth it. Another recommendation to combat boredom is try running with a friend or a group. I prefer running alone most of the time, but many people have greatly benefited from having a community around them and people to run with, including my wife, Samantha. It's a fun way to catch up with friends, and if you're all suffering together, it can bring you closer.
"My problem with running is I always want to run faster than the last time I ran. I don't like plateauing or having setbacks". I know, it can be frustrating. We all want to progress and improve with each run, and when we experience setbacks it's demoralizing. What I would say in this situation is you don't have to be at your best every time you run. That's simply not realistic. That's a hard thing for some people to accept, but you can look all over the internet, and you'll find plenty of stories about elite runners having bad races and experiencing struggles and setbacks. We're humans, not machines. Every run doesn't have to be better than the last one. In fact, it's okay if it's worse than the last one. The next one after that will be better. Having a bad run doesn't make you a bad runner. Keep at it, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. For me, once it becomes all business and pressure, and no fun and enjoyment, it's over.
If you want to get into running, but you're having trouble liking it, I hope this helps. I would like to say that this advice may not work for everyone. There's no right or wrong way, and different things work for different people. These are just techniques that have helped me not hate running. Running is not for everyone, and I would never force it on my son, my friends, or anyone else. I will never tell anyone that they need to run. But I would encourage people to give it the benefit of the doubt, trust the process, and take the time to get good at it. It won't happen overnight. I take a lot of pleasure in seeing people get into running by overcoming the initial hurdles. I hope to see it more and more.
