I talk a lot. About the weather…vegan dinner ideas…what I did last night (*cough* bootydanced *cough*)…how I booked my chunnel tickets from London to Paris…peach cobbler pie…a road trip hiking + backpacking through Oregon…my love for Tim Riggins…gluten-free foods…and how I write weird letters to my future boyfriend I haven’t met.
But there’s one thing that I’ve purposefully NOT been talking about lately:
Running.
This summer, I went two whole months without working out. And you know what? I felt like crap. Being the CEO of my own life, I made the executive decision to start running again. I mean, I had run a marathon, four half-marathons and a host of 5k races – how hard could it be to start again? Unsurprisingly, the transition back to running wasn’t a pretty one.
Ever since I started pounding the pavement more than six years ago during my sophomore year of college, running and I have had what I deem to be a ‘special relationship.’ And by ‘special relationship,’ I mean that most of the time, I HATE RUNNING.
Yes, you read that right. While my arms swing back and forth in a rigid, forced pump, my lungs suffocate for just one more breath of fresh oxygen and the consistent strike of my foot hits the pavement creating a rhythmic runner’s metronome, the one thought you can most likely count on going through my Everythingtarian head is just that…I hate running.
But then something really funny happens.
About two miles in, my breath steadies. I become captivated by the sights around me. My cheeks burn with a soothing heat. And suddenly, I realize one very important thing: I feel great.
That unparalleled, unmatched euphoric feeling permeates my blood stream, flows to every part of my body and makes me think running isn’t such a bad idea after all. That is until my next run, in which my lungs verge on collapse, thick droplets of salty sweat run down my red-stained face, and I am forced to walk mid-run because my legs possibly make it one step farther.
And so it goes again, I hate running. This pattern is a repetitive one, and at any given day, I can wallow between hating…loving…hating…loving.
However, when my schedule finally slowed down after a crazy summer, I read an old blog post of mine that reminded me exercise IS a prescription for helping all of us feel our best. That no matter how much I may hate running in the moment, it never ceases to do clarifying, energizing things for me afterwards. Inspired, I did some silly things with money I don’t actually have:
I registered for a marathon relay trail race with four of my friends.
{this weekend, I proudly ran 6.55 trail miles in 65 minutes, thankyouverymuch}
Then, I decided to enter my name in the lottery for the Twin Cities 10-Mile Race…and got in.
{coming up October 2nd, for the record}
While running with a friend last week, I agreed to run a 2nd marathon with her next spring.
{Nashville Rock n’ Roll or Grandma’s Marathon, anyone?}
So…when I’m not blogging about food, working full-time, drinking beer, obsessively watching Gavin and Stacey or trying to chisel off the dog poop I stepped in this weekend with my new shoes, you can safely bet I am doing one thing:
Running, running, and running, running…
YOUR turn! Running – love it or hate it? Sharing is caring, after all!
{ 39 comments }
Great post :) i loveeee running. But, i def have those runs that just plain suck. The relay sounds like fun. I have a 10k oct 1st
I hate running. And i’m glad I’m not the only one saying it!
well..clearly I dont hate it because I keep doing it but I feel like I have the same inner dialogue during every run. I feel great when I’m done and love the challenges and the energy it gives me but I struggle every time I lace up my sneakers.
I love running! I used to hate it, but I never really gave it a chance until a few years ago. I think it’s necessary for me at this point in my life. Like you mentioned, after the first mile or so I really get into a “groove” and it just feels downright awesome!
I love, and sometimes hate, running. I had my daughter 9 weeks ago. I started running again 4 weeks ago. It’s been harder than I thought it would be to get back into running. But I’m going to get back there!
its hate most of the time, but LOVE towards the end of a run….your right exercise is a prescription! I need to remember that more
xoxo
lo
This is JUST what I needed to hear tonight, lady! I haven’t run in a looong time and my body has simply been feeling like crap because of it. Granted, when I’m running, I usually feel like crap as well because running + I have always had a ‘special relationship’ in that we hate each other, but I still loved the way it made me feel all around. I’ve been contemplating jumping back into it, but to be honest I’ve been a bit scared because I know it’ll be difficult. But I have to say, hearing this from you is definitely a boost in the right direction and hopefully this week I’ll work up the courage to lace up my sneakers again :)
I hate running. Seriously. I don’t know how people get past the feeling of having no breath and being exhausted! But that’s probably because I’ve never run long enough to get that good feeling that you’re talking about. Maybe one day! But for now I stick to things like yoga and walking…running and I just don’t get along.
Oooh when is Nashville? I’ve always wanted to go there! I’m always up for a race! :D This week I spontaneously signed up for the Haunted Hustle in Middleton. I think signing up for races like that adds an extra element of fun since it doesn’t leave months to train. Yeah…that’s fun, right? haha.
Great job on the trail race and good luck with the TC 10 Miler!
I am the SAME way with the 2 miles in and feeling great. Getting out the door though… I hate it. I’d rather having to conduct a meeting naked.*
*This may be a mild exaggeration.
Tim Riggins. AWWWW so much love. Also London to Paris! So jealous.
I’m trying to get back into running. My stamina is terrible. I get tired after 5 miles. (Well, I did when I was running more) Now? I’m starting over with Couch to 5k so I can build up stamina and worth on my speed.
The 10 miler is on my birthday so I know it’ll be good! haha :)
Run Grandmas!!!!!!!
I ran it with Scott about 7-8 years ago and it’s one of my fave races ever! The people in Duluth are SO NICE and so friendly and the good ole Minnesota Nice people will just get you thru the race with their cheering and happy vibes.
Ive also ran the TC 10 Miler about….15 years ago.
Blast.from.the.past
Wish I lived up there; I’d run them with you!
I’ve been thinking hard about a spring marathon too. I’m trying to convince Colin that he could totally run one so I can have a training buddy.
I always think that if I took a break from running if it would come back to me and I think it would. I think once you have that appreciate for it, it never leaves you. Maybe just the endurance for it, but that comes along. Glad to hear you are feeling great and getting back into something that makes you feel awesome!
I have a pair of sneaks around here that look exactly like that! Except mine are currently not on my feet and instead laying somewhere in the middle of the floor I’m sure, but still – SNEAKER SISTERS! UNTIE! I mean, UNITE!
If it weren’t for the fact that I know running is going to stop sucking quite so much after the first mile or two I would never get my butt out the door in the first place. There’s a fine line between love and hate.
I have a very similar relationship with running. It takes me several miles to get into it, but once I do, hardly any other form of exercise feels as good. My mind is also clearest when I’m running—I take that time to work out issues, make goals and plans, reflect on what’s going on in my life, etc. You can’t do that in spin class.
That being said, training for my first half marathon burnt me out BIG time. It’s been nearly a year since I ran the race, and I still can’t stomach the thought of running more than five miles. I guess there’s nothing wrong with that—I get the same “high” on three or five miles than I get on ten (sometimes even more so), so for now, I’m just sticking with what my body wants to do!
I heart running… but I haven’t been doing too much of it lately :( Dog poop sucks.
I can’t relate to wanting to run, but I was very excited to recently see Gavin & Stacey, Season 2 finally get an arrival date in my netflix queue!
I have a love hate relationship with running but mostly I blame the weather for the mood changes hehe.
blah. i used to LOVE running! then i stopped doing it. so now it’s hard again and i’m having a tough time pushing past that “omg i’m going to die if i take another step so i’m just going to stop” feeling and getting back into the groove.
I also have the love hate relationship with running! I had never been a runner AT ALL (I would have considered laying down on the ground in front of the madman chasing me with the gun instead of running…) until this summer. I decided I didn’t want to look back in 10 years and wonder if I’d been able to do it but was too scard to try, so I did the Couch to 5k program and my dear partner and I ran the Madison Mini Marathon 5k last month! I may never be the fastest, and I may never go much further than a 5k, but I’m still loving the feeling I get as I run along. Good for you for setting goals to get back on track!
I TOTALLY have a love/hate relationship with running. Mostly hate. But I do love the way I feel after running. I have bad knees though so sometimes they bother me if I run. SO annoying. I do like the feeling of accomplishment I get after pounding the pavement but man is it hard to get myself out there!
Should I run the Nashville marathon?? It’s only like 3 hours away from me. hmmm…even if I didn’t run, maybe I’ll just come to give you a pre-race hug!
I late it, or hove it (love + hate, obvi). I used to run lots of long distances. Then I stopped. And every time I run again I’m like, hey this is fun, then I go weeks without repeating the action. I’m contemplating a 15K in December, and training would start in about a week. We’ll see if that happens.
I thought I was going to hate running but I started doing it because it was cheap cardio. Turns out, I love running!
Also, I love Gavin and Stacey. My little bro was home in Ireland and came back raving about it. He got me and big bro totally addicted!
next spring meaning THIS spring 2012, or next-next 2013? Because if it’s 2012, you guys should do green bay, because all the cool kids (me) are. Grandma’s is a potential for 2013 for me as well!
I have a love hate relationship as well. Those days where the miles fly by, the temperature is perfect and you feel like you could run forever are the days that I live for. The other days I think this sucks why the heck do I put myself through this but then I remember the PR’s I set and how I feel after a perfect run and I keep going. Always in quest of that perfect run.
I ran Grandma’s this year and granted I had only ran one other marathon, I had a fantastic experience, from race day transportation down to the finish area. Despite the fact that it was cold and dreary, lots of people came out to cheer all the runners on and you totally can’t go wrong with a beer bong at mile 20!!! you should run Grandma’s it is a fantastic race put on by awesome people. Plus, how can one go wrong with running a flat route along spectacular Lake Superior!
I do love running – but can totally relate to your love-hate relationship. There are days where I really don’t think I can put one foot in front of the other :) Having said that, there is no better feeling than the feeling you get after a great run – I think that’s what keeps us crazy runners going back for more :) xoxo
Running… love it. I am proud to stay that I still love it even as I enter my tapper for my second marathon!!! I’ll be running Twin Cities Marathon!!!! YESS!!! That said, I do not love every minute of every run. But I don’t love every minute of anything so there ya go. Case and point: traveling. Love it… but oh LORD it is stressful!! I did the Grandma’s half a couple years ago and I LOVE that course!!
You DO love running!!
i used to hateee running but now i LOVE it! i even ran my first half marathon yesterday :) woot woot! and then i’m running my first marathon in a little less than a month :)
It hurts to get back into it, but I love running. I had a 25k trail race this Saturday….and sprained my ankle 6 hours before leaving for the run.
so…I’m out of running for a while.
and I’m mad. I miss it already.
…unrelated, why is the Grandma marathon thus named?
I’m the same as you! I hate hate hate it .. but then I get into the run and I don’t want to stop! Crazy, do you think?
Good luck with those races! You’ll kill it, I’m sure!
I felt like I could have written this same exact post. Thanks for expressing exactly how I feel about running. I’m hoping that I start leaning toward loving it soon, as like you, I just signed up for a marathon and am beginning to think I must be crazy!!!
i hate running, too! i pretend to like it. but really, it’s a drag. especially after my doctor told me how bad running is and the amount of damage i’m doing to my 5ft body. he literally broke it down for me. step by step by step. {which i ignored step by step by step}
but you’re right. running is love/hate. maybe more hate/love? since it starts out as a hate and then, like you said, grow up to that love.
you’re going to do outstanding on your races. kick some major BOOTY!
I’m not comitting to anything, but if you signed up for a marathon in Nashville I’d be mighty tempted to throw on my cowboy hat and giddy on up down.
LOVE IT!! But hate it for like the first mile!
Holy cow how do you do it all?! I can barely handle working full time & blogging! By the way: I hate running. Bah.
I absolutely love running, however, I think it’s the absolute WORST form of exercise to try to get back in shape for. It’s tremendously frustrating to try to get back into your rhythm after a break in running. Uggh!
Running! Oh man, so great. And good on you for getting back into it, and finding that groove (after 2 miles). Running is the only thing I like to do as much as I like eating and reading. If I could do all three at the same time, life would be extra golden.
Have you read “Born to Run” yet? I’m sure everyone tells you to read it, because everyone told me to read it and I was skeptical at first: “Sure, I love running, but reading a book about it?? Sounds boring!”
I. Couldn’t. Put. It. Down. So good! Motivating, inspiring, funny, suspenseful. Just like the best runs are!
I’m definitely a one day hate it, one day love it runner. Some days I feel like I could go on forever and others making it to the end of the block seems impossible. The important thing I’ve learned is its 99.9% mental – once I tell myself I can do it, the rest is a breeze :)
Comments on this entry are closed.