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Practical Advice Advice on making running feel enjoyable

IRE1992

IRE1992

SF Supporter
#1
#1
I managed to achieve one my new year resolutions last year of going running once a week.
However my distance remains miserable and I'm finding increasing it extremely difficult due to the fact
that I really dislike the activity.
I've never been the most active person and though I've managed to be consistent about
going once a week it feels like an absolute ordeal.

Does anybody know how to make it less so, I'd really want to up
the frequency and distance this year?
 
AvidFan

AvidFan

Retired Cat Staff
SF Supporter
#2
#2
It's difficult to know what to suggest as I love running, and I mean I actually love it when I'm half dying running as fast as possible up a hill, probably because I am insane. πŸ˜‚

Some things that come to mind are:

Enter an event. Even if it's park run or something, gives you something to aim for and a bit of atmosphere. Races can be fun and they're not just for fast runners, you'll find 99.99% of the time there is always someone who finishes behind you (and the person who finishes last usually gets the biggest cheer anyway!)
Try to find a running group and make it social, you forget the exertion and just get chatty with people, and get and give support and maybe make friends.
One thing I really enjoy is my Garmin and Strava app - my runs are filled with segments, and getting little trophies on runs is nice, just for beating my own PB on say "Lampost near the carpark to the Hare and Hounds pub" or "Up the big 'un" segment. It makes it a little bit fun getting those trophies, and can give you a lift and motivation and you're only in competition with yourself from last week/month/year. I take great joy in getting them these days because I'm beating a ten years younger self in some cases. Gamifying runs this way really helps me with motivation and I enjoy analysing my stats afterwards.
Think about where you run - is it boring streets, or could you combine it with getting out into nature/relaxation?
Take a podcast or music on the go with you, you can see it as time just for you, nobody can call you, message you, and you can just let go into it all.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself and increase by say 10% every week, don't try to do it all at once. But I'd suggest trying to up it to twice a week at first, this will help your fitness a lot more than the once a week. One of the runs can be short to start with, you could even do some intervals or something to break it up. Eventually move up to 3x a week. That's about as much as I do these days, some intrepid souls out there do twice a day, but we're all different!

And well done on your streak so far!
 
may71

may71

mr. may
#3
#3
Imho, it's better to be dedicated to your health than to any particular activity. During the winter, it might be better to go for a 20-30 minute brisk walk three times a week, just below the level of breaking a sweat. Yoga is another good gentle exercise for the winter time.

In the spring and summer, you might want to try cycling or other activities. More vigorous physical activity is generally better suited to the warmer seasons.

If you really dislike an activity, and you're only doing it once a week, that sounds like a sign that it's not a good activity for you. The ideal physical activity is something you love to do.
 
seabird

seabird

meandering home
SF Supporter
#4
#4
I'm chiming in here, hope that's alright. I am encouraging you to sample a few activites to see which one feels good. Part of this is learning to feel, or hear your own body's responses. I love running, and have been doing it for many years on and off. I take breaks when it seems right, and then get back to it. I think it helps a lot to have a goal you want. Also, a few years ago I splurged for a few months and hired a really good coach who is an ultrarunner and a PT. That interaction was worth it to get me to stop doing some things wrong, and add in some other good habits.

There are a couple, probably more I don't know of, organizations which can be great for new runners: Still I Run is focused on comraderie for mental health an physical health, and parkrun is great because it's inclusive for eveyone including walkers and dog owners, and does little 5k non-competitive events every week.

I send cheeers to you for getting moving. Movement = medicene.
 
Chipetele

Chipetele

Temporally displaced
#5
#5
What is it you dislike about it? And what kind of running do you do?

I'm not a fitness expert (at the moment trying to recover from a month of bad eating. Stupid delicious christmas foods!) but I enjoy running. Interval running is what actually feels good and has the most benefits, as far as I'm aware. If you do jogging for long distances then it makes sense that you don't like it, that's quite bad for your joints as well.

Physical condition plays a part, too. When my physical condition was bad, I could barely do it and breathing was painful. When I improved, interval running became a euphoric release of energy. Instant mood boster :)

AthleanX has a lot of good videos on the subject:
 
AvidFan

AvidFan

Retired Cat Staff
SF Supporter
#6
#6
Chipetele said:
What is it you dislike about it? And what kind of running do you do?

I'm not a fitness expert (at the moment trying to recover from a month of bad eating. Stupid delicious christmas foods!) but I enjoy running. Interval running is what actually feels good and has the most benefits, as far as I'm aware. If you do jogging for long distances then it makes sense that you don't like it, that's quite bad for your joints as well.

Physical condition plays a part, too. When my physical condition was bad, I could barely do it and breathing was painful. When I improved, interval running became a euphoric release of energy. Instant mood boster :)

AthleanX has a lot of good videos on the subject:
Click to expand...
Oh I love intervals, and hill repeats, need to get back into that when it gets a bit warmer πŸ˜€
 
IRE1992

IRE1992

SF Supporter
#9
#9
Thanks for all the advice

ATM my running consisted of a jogging pace - with gradual increases in total distances - ran once forward , rest, then back.
However perhaps this week I will jog on the forward phase and try intervals on the way back.

My aim is to improve my overall wellbeing, I don't want to be gasping after running for a train or
sweat drenched after a lengthy walk.

Thanks
 
AvidFan

AvidFan

Retired Cat Staff
SF Supporter
#14
#14
IRE1992 said:
I managing to do it twice a week - however only tiny distance increase and still quite unpleasant...
I'm aiming to go for 3 by the end of this month.
Click to expand...
Well done!

I wish I knew the reason why I actually enjoy it - I'd share it with you! Like I said before, I might just be mad!
 
cev77

cev77

SF Supporter
#15
#15
Perhaps try listening to an audiobook while running? It seems music and podcasts were mentioned but people often seem to forget about audiobooks but I absolutely love them!
 
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