There I admitted it. I mean, I often wax poetic about running. I’ve written love letters. I’ve talked about how it’s helped me with depression. But it’s not always rainbows and unicorns. So, since our topic for Tuesdays on the Run is “what I hate about running,” I’m going to share why it’s not always my favorite.
It’s hard to improve, but easy to lose your gains.
I’m in amazing shape right now thanks to the Faster Way to Fat Loss. (I get commission if you buy through this link.) Have you seen my arms lately??? I’m strong and I’ve lost a lot of inches. But my running kind of sucks. I stopped running long in December and I find myself once again heading into half marathon season undertrained. And those speed gains I worked so hard for? Gone, all gone.
Running is a fickle mistress.
Some days running is amazing. Some days it is uncomfortable from the first step and does not improve for the entire run. Some days are a mix. And the most frustrating part is I never know which run I’m going to have when I start out. In fact, most of my amazing runs come when I least expect them.
If you don’t pay attention, it’s easy to get injured.
Running requires that you listen to your body. Going too far or too fast or too often can lead to injury. And sometimes, even when you follow all the “rules”, somehow a part of your body decides that running is not working for it. (And it’s also easy to not pay attention and end up on the ground when you trip on something. Not that I’d know anything about that…)
Running is expensive.
Sure, “they” all say that running is cheaper than therapy, but have you looked at the price of shoes lately? Even if you don’t wander down the “need all the skirts” path, you still need shoes and running clothes including a running bra. And if you aren’t part of the itty bitty titty committee, you’re gonna need a good one. If you like to race, cha-ching! MCM this year is $170 (probably plus fees) and I plan to run the 17.75 race to get in, so yeah, not cheap.
But despite all the “negatives” of running, I still love it. I’ve been running a bit more in recent weeks than I have in the past few months and it feels good to get out there more. The weather has been all over the place, but I’ve enjoyed several runs in tank tops. I love that we are heading into spring and that I’ve got my first race coming up soon. In fact, things are falling into place and I may actually have a race schedule soon! Woot!
While I’m at it, here are the new topics for Tuesdays on the Run. Remember to not just drop your link. Link ups are more fun when everyone comments and tries to visit other blogs in the link up. And yes, I realize sometimes life gets in the way. I’m coming out of 2+ weeks of barely having time to blog, much less visit. Fingers crossed that my “take back my life plan” continues to move in the right direction.
2/27: Grade your month
3/6: Treadmill Tell-All. Love it? Hate? Tolerate? Fave mill workouts? Tips for passing the time.
3/13: Luck of the Runner. How does/has running make you feel lucky?
3/20: Spring Break Running/Racing plans
3/27:DNS? DNF? Have you taken one/some? Why?
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All of these! But the things I love definitely outweigh the things I like least 😉
I feel like this year every time I make any progress with my running I end up not running for one reason or another and my fitness is set back so quickly. And I hate that it’s so easy to get injured from running!
All very valid points. For me, I think I hate how much time it tends to eat up!
I agree with all these points – I get frustrated with running because I find as soon as you take a small break, either illness or life, you have to claw your way back up again! You can’t just take up where you left off. There’s a lot of hard work involved. And yes, I wish we knew when we were going to have what run! On some days I have felt super leading up to the run; and then I start and everything falls apart!
Yes to all. I think to really run well, the sport tends to consume you, which is an issue unto itself. But yeah, we love it! Look at those arms! 😀
Yep, there are those days where I hate running and then I have a week like last one where I couldn’t get enough. Fickle doesn’t even begin to describe it! LOL
You nailed it on the “dark side”of running. Those stupid injuries sneak up on you…especially when everything feels so great that you want to run all the time….
I’m so jealous of your tank top runs! You look so cute in your skirt and tank!
Back in the day I heard that running was a cheaper sport opposed to others. Well just because there is not equipment involved to do it doesn’t mean it is cheap. Like you said, shoes, clothes, watch, race entries, etc. I like to think of myself as a thrifty person and was having a fit that I couldn’t find the shoes I wanted less than $100. My mom kept saying you run every day, you are going to get your money’s worth. I guess she is right.
It’s not just a pair of shoes! Due to my injury history, I have to see my chiropractor regularly to maintain a healthy body, and even with insurance, that’s $40 each time. Add on the nutrition, Rock Tape, and gotta have the cute running clothes, it does add up. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
See I don’t think running has to be expensive, I certainly made it uber cheap for lots of years. But then we want to travel for races and we want the fancy watch and of course then we need better shoes 🙂
Running is so fickle! After a few weeks of mostly slogging through my runs I had a great run last Saturday and ever since I’ve been trying to figure out why. Is it because I took a rest day on Friday? Or because I had pasta for dinner? Got more than usual sleep? I wish I could figure out the perfect recipe for a great run every time but I’m pretty sure that’s impossible…
Hooray!! I’m also running the 17.75k! Got an alarm set on my phone so I don’t miss registration. lol We should try to meet up at the start! 🙂
All of these!!! It’s funny how something we love so much can be so irritating 😉
You do look amazing!! Running has a mind of its own. I agree that the best runs are when you least expect it.
I agree with everything you said…I’m having an off month. I would say running is not my favorite right now. I don’t know, I feel like after the marathon, I’ve been vacillating between “I love running” to “I don’t want to run.” I guess that’s normal, but its kind of annoying.