Q and A: One For Me and One For You, Dear Readers
August 14, 2008 by Kelly Turner
Filed under Fitness
Rachel sent me this question:
Can someone just not be “good” at running? I have tried and tried and tried for the last couple months to work up my endurance and speed and it just isn’t happening. I am lucky to get a ten minute mile and even then I do intervals (2 minutes running & 1 minute speed walking and even then I only get up to 3 miles). It never seems to get any easier. Do you have any suggestions on ways to work on endurance? I do elliptical and the bike sometimes but don’t feel like I worked out as hard.
Rachel- My answer would have to be yes. You know why? Because I suck at running too.
I know you must all be doubled over in shock, with your jaws on the floor, but I, Kelly Turner, personal trainer and fitness blogger of the year (I just gave myself that award) have zero endurance.
That’s not to say I haven’t tried. Growing up, I never did any sports that required a great deal of endurance, or a lot of running of any kind. I did gymnastics and played volleyball for a few years. These are more quick, explosive sports, so I never really trained for anything longer than a minute and a half floor routine.
After I got too old for sports (isn’t that sad when that happens?) I wanted to teach myself to run. I had visions of being one of those runners that gets up every morning at the crack of dawn and has 15 miles under their belt by the time 8:00am rolls around. It seemed so simple: just run as far as you can.
Not so simple.
I started doing the whole run a bit, walk a bit thing, to slowly increase my endurance, but it never worked. No matter what I did I still felt like I couldn’t go any further after a few laps around the track. OK, 2 laps. Literally.
I got side aches, I got bored, and there was nothing to keep me running. There was nothing to not stop me from running. So I would soon give up. I tried all kinds of programs, I tried treadmills (which held my attention for a bit longer) but I still couldn’t make it very long running.
So is there a physical trait that some people have that dictates who can run for hours and who can barely make it a lap?
Sort of.
People are born with fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers. You cannot change the amount you have of each, and everyone has a different ratio. Slow twitch muscle fibers are made for endurance activities, while fast twitch is made for explosive bursts of movement. The more of slow twitch you have, the better your body will be at long edurance runs.
Truth is, I have no idea if I have more fast twitch or slow twitch muscle fibers. I DO however know why I can not and will not ever be a runner: I hate it.
There is no doubt in my mind that with a strict program i could train my body to be able to run miles. It might even be at that point right now, but I still can’t. You know why? Its boring. I get side aches. It’s hard. There is no one chasing me or making me run, so since I don’t enjoy it, I stop. Im sure if I had to run for my life, I could go for hours, but when it isn’t life or death, I can’t push myself to keep going.
So my question to RACHEL is, can you not run because your body physically will not let you (you collapse, your heart explodes, your legs give out and you scrape you face on the sidewalk) or do you just stop because you feel like you can’t?
And my question to you RUNNERS out there is, is it honestly easier for you or do you just enjoy it so much so you push through the boring hell of it all?
I love to run, not because of the way it makes me feel, but because NOT running makes me feel crappy. If I skip a run, I get antsy, stressed, and stir crazy. Seriously I feel like punching someone. I need the stress relief. And I love it when I hit a wall, pushing through the pain just gets out more stress and frustration….
now I want to go run.
I agree that people can be runners or non-runners by nature because I feel I have been both! I used to have the exact feelings you have of boredom, can’t go faster, get side-stiches – three miles was my max… and then all of the sudden two years ago something “switched,” I have no idea what, and I started running 3-4 miles at a time, my times got faster, I started to LOVE it and now I am training for my second marathon and think running is the best thing ever. I can get into a groove and feel like I am flying through miles 7-10 of a run and it’s the best part of my day. I have no idea what happened to my fitness or whatever other than staying consistent with it (but I’m not complaining). Having seen both sides of the coin I understand why some people love running and others can’t stand it!
I recently (like within the past couple of months) have started running more. Not necessarily for a reason, it was just a way to change up the cardio. Oh, and then there was the neighbor who wanted to start running with me after she saw me running one morning. So now I run 4 mornings a week. I’ve always hated running (it bored me and it’s hard!) but I’m beginning to like it. It’s definitely a harder cardio workout (in my opinion) than many other things. Having someone to run with helps. I find that music sort of bores me sometimes (sorry, I don’t always get super pumped because of songs). I need something to take my mind off of the running, so I recently started downloading podcasts or audiobooks onto my ipod. So far it’s helped me out! I think a big part of running is a mental block…at least it is for me.
Running is not easy for me and I’m not sure it ever will be, but it’s “tolerable” and I do enjoy it…and it’s the easiest form of exercise next to walking (aka no equipment needed). Also, I think some people think they need to run FAST to “be a runner” which is not the case. You should run at a more comfortable pace. I’m not a fast runner and I probably never will be…I’m okay with that though.
Okay, this comment was super long. Sorry.
I hate running too. I can do any other aerobic activity (except stair climber which terrifies me and makes me feel like I’m about to die), even for as much as like two hours at a time if I am feeling totally crazed, but I hate running so much I just can’t stand it. So it’s good to know that others feel the same way.
One interesting thing I observed, last year I played soccer a couple times a week (very casually– I suck at soccer) and was really surprised that I was able to run consistently and with a pretty good degree of endurance during the game, despite “not being able” to run at the gym or outside. The funny thing is that some of the other kids (college kids that is) who I know were in worse cardiovascular shape than me could run much faster and more explosively after the ball, but would be winded in between “plays” and at the end of the game while I was feeling as fine as when we started. Now this is a totally long, rambling story but I can conclude that 1) there’s something about running that sets it apart from other kinds of cardiovascular exercise 2) cardiovascular fitness developed from biking and elliptical will enable you to run when you have to, even if you hate running for exercise itself.
I wish I liked running, though, because I think runners definitely have the best legs.
As a newer runner (aka up until last April I’d only ran a mile ONCE in my life, and I could barely run down the block without dying), and definitely not a natural runner, I have to admit running is HARD. It is hard to learn to do and hard to learn to enjoy. I hated running when I first started, but I was already signed up for a half marathon, so I felt I had to do it. I still didn’t like it much after the half but I kept working at it and slowly improved my speed and endurance. But it wasn’t until I learned to use running to deal with stress/depression/anxiety that I actually began to enjoy running. I don’t think I’d like it if I wouldn’t have found such a great benefit from it.
A few things that helped me stick with running, even when I didn’t really like it: enjoyable music, watching tv on the treadmill, and intervals. Even now I’ll still get bored trying to do a longer run on the treadmill and I’ll have to do intervals to keep my interest going.
Not sure that helped at all… but that’s my $.02 I guess. :-)
Growing up and until recently I was definitely “NOT a runner.” I said it was because I was born with boobs and hips, and that I was worried it would jiggle everything around too much. I hated running in school and barely achieved the Presidents Physical Fitness award because of my lung-burning,terrible running.
After I had my three kids, I wanted to get back into working out, but needed more variety than biking, kickboxing, yoga, and sculpting. Walking had become too boring, twelve laps around the track took 45 mind-numbing minutes and I needed “more.”
I decided to try a bit of running – I could only do 1/8 of a mile at a time at first. I started with intervals on the (slightly elevated) treadmill (minute running, minute walking), by May I ran my first 5k, it was way easier than I expected -I’m not a fast runner, but I finished in just over 29 minutes.
Last weekend, I ran a 4.8 mile race (my pace was 9:08). Yes, I’m not running huge distances, but this time last year I thought running one mile was ridiculous. I warn you – it does get addictive. I just ran 4.5 miles this morning and can’t wait to get out again.
One thing that really worked for me? The book Chi Running. I like the philosophy, and concentrating on my form does help to keep me focused.
I’m not a fast runner or a particularly good runner but i just love to run! Period! I enjoy it and it helps me tremendously with stress and depression! I can’t go a day without a run. As model behavior says not running makes me feel crappy!!!
I’m not a natural runner by any means, and for running to “feel good” I had to run regularly for almost three months..and it felt look poo most of that time. Sometimes though when it’s really hard to run, it just signals that it’s time to take a few days off. It’s amazing what rest can do for the ole legs!
I personally think a lot of it is mental. However, I do also think that some people have natural runner mindsets. More than in any other sport, I think you have to have amazing mental strength to keep going (well ok, as a former swimmer, I know that two hours in the pool takes mental strength too). Me? I go in waves. Meaning that I’ve had times in my life where I was just the *epitome* of a runner and was running sub-eight minute miles for 4-9 miles about six times a week. I’ve also had periods in my life (aka NOW), where I don’t have that running spark, and running doesn’t make me happy like it did before. So I do something else to avoid making myself permanently hate running. I’m hoping I get back to that runner mindset, but like I said, I think a lot of it is mental and my brain isn’t ready to run for hours yet.
Anyway, the point of that looong comment is that you can become a runner if you can somehow make yourself like it. If you HATE it, then you probably won’t stick with it. Why would you? I think if you love some other activity, you’re good at it, and you know you can stick with it, you shouldn’t MAKE yourself go running just because it’s the quickest calorie burn or because everyone you know says it’s the superior workout. Plus, I know that I said it was mostly mental, but I do think that if you are horribly flat footed or have knee problems (that aren’t weight-related), maybe you just aren’t cut out for running. I say just do what works.
OK, I’m done for reals now.
I’m a runner, but I rarely enjoy the process WHILE I’m running. Sometimes it feels like I’m going to die of exhaustion or boredom (especially if I haven’t run in a while). I do it because I feel really good afterwards, and like someone else said- I get all crabby and lethargic if I don’t. Plus it gets me in shape faster than anything else.
I think everyone should give running a shot and stick with it for at least a few months (it’s not easy for anyone at first). If you still don’t like it, then just stick with something you DO enjoy.
you guys aren’t making me feel any better. You are supposed to say “Running is so easy for me! and fun! I always feel like i can run forever!”
I’ve always known its a mental block for me. Sometimes when Im having a bad day I can run about twice as much as i usually do. and if im on the treadmill and im especially distracted, i can easily run more than I usually do- so its all in my head. Either way its still not fun, so Ill stick with stuff I like. Why suffer through when you can do something you enjoy?
I am no expert, but the few times I have gone running with people who think they can’t run, the thing I’ve noticed is this: they’re going too fast. (Often they refuse to believe this because they know they aren’t going fast compared to what how other people run. It’s a matter of pride. I do it too. All the time.)
My feeling is that if you’re willing to let yourself sloooow down and not judge your speed, you WILL be able to go further without tiring. Unless you hate running, it might be worth getting a kindly running partner who is willing to “pace you” and force you to slowslowslow down.
–p.s. I’m not “good” at lifting, but I do it anyway, using this same philosophy– if 5 lbs is the most I can lift for now, I’m not going to start with 20 just because I feel like 5 isn’t really lifting–
There is no better way to put it than I push through the boring hell of it all. I don’t think it is any easier for me than the other average Jane. I simply enjoy the alone time of a run and the feeling I get afterwards. I love knowing it is just me and some sneakers…no other equipment required (well except for a sports bra that offers ample support). Some runs suck. Some runs hurt. Some days, for no reason at all, you just want to quit and be back home. Other runs go so great that you don’t want to stop. It does hurt almost always. My legs ache, I get stomach cramps at times, my digestive track doesn’t always want to cooperate, and I have lost my share of toenails. But at the end of it all—yes, I enjoy the feeling of working out my entire body and the self awareness that running offers me, so I push through the boring hell of it.
sweetsandsweats.wordpress.com
I’m new to running (about 1-1/2 years). Some days I enjoy it and some days I push through the boredom. I push through on the boring days just to get to the days when I do enjoy it. I will say that with endurance running it takes a while to get into the groove. Patience is a virtue in this case. Sometimes I don’t hit a groove until 4 or 5 miles out. Then it is all good and I’m having a great time. Anyway, I’m not sure “enjoy” is the right word for me anyway. It is more like feeling so accomplished and pleased with making my body and mind do something it might not have felt like doing, but was totally capable of handling. Is that enjoyment?