Do you actually ENJOY running, or is

[Papa Deuce]

it more like a health thing? Or is it mental, like you do it because it is ingrained in you?

 

[CarolA]

I haven't reached the "enjoy" the actual running, but I LOVE the feeling of accomplishmenet I get when I set a new distance goal and make it!

 

[Kimickey]

I absolutly love to run. It's a great stress release for me to take couple miles run. Plus I'm in the Air Force so I run regularly, so it's second nature for me

 

[MouseDogMom]

I'm still new at this, but I love the way I feel after I run. I don't completely enjoy the running yet, although when I'm walking I can't wait to get my lungs back so I can run again, but once I'm done I feel so good that I'm ready to go do it again! Not only do I just generally feel better, but the stress level is so much lower that I can't imagine what I'd be like if I weren't running right now.

 

[momrek06]

Somedays I love running. Somedays I hate running. Somedays it is ingrained in me. Somedays it is a mental thing with me....BUT one thing is for sure, I would NEVER stop ever. That feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT every time I am done is MY drug of choice. I am 52 y.o. and run 5 miles in 65 minutes. A little over a 12 min mile. I have a 23 DS and a 20 DS and I can OUT RUN them any day of the week. = ACCOMPLISHMENT.




p.s. and when my DH walks in the door with a HUGE ice cream sundae NO GUILT THERE AT ALL. Sit down and give me a SPOON!!!!

 

[solotraveler]

I'm still new at this, but I love the way I feel after I run. I don't completely enjoy the running yet, although when I'm walking I can't wait to get my lungs back so I can run again, but once I'm done I feel so good that I'm ready to go do it again! Not only do I just generally feel better, but the stress level is so much lower that I can't imagine what I'd be like if I weren't running right now.

Bingo! For me it's the feeling of accomplishment AFTER the run that I enjoy the most.

Having started running (on and off at times) about a year ago, it'd say about 60% of the time I hit a groove and enjoy (or don't actively dislike) the running part. The other 40% of the time I'm not tickled that I'm out there, but I feel good when I finish. As an aside, it was MUCH easier to enjoy the runs during the training plan prior to the marathon then just doing it for fitness.... at least for me. (That's why I figure I'll be a marathon runner for life.)

Keivn (Solotraveler)

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Somedays I love running. Somedays I hate running. Somedays it is ingrained in me. Somedays it is a mental thing with me....BUT one thing is for sure, I would NEVER stop ever. That feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT every time I am done is MY drug of choice. I am 52 y.o. and run 5 miles in 65 minutes. A little over a 12 min mile. I have a 23 DS and a 20 DS and I can OUT RUN them any day of the week. = ACCOMPLISHMENT.
p.s. and when my DH walks in the door with a HUGE ice cream sundae NO GUILT THERE AT ALL. Sit down and give me a SPOON!!!!

I'm with you on it! Some days are better than others. I have found that if I rest I rust! Moving, even if I am not necessarily going "fast" is what keeps me able to move. It does eventually get easier and is always worth it!

 

[littlegreydonkey]

Yes - when I'm running down a hill, or having an unusual sprint spurt, and everything is going fast but nothing hurts, and the wind is whistling past me and Scooter are on the shuffley and all is right with the world. Other times, I hate every second!!!!! But everyone is right, the feeling after a run - especially a race - is what keeps you at it - even after a bad race (and I've had some stonkers) 10 minutes later you're like 'okay when's the next one'.

 

[plutosmyfav]

I love running. As Helen put it, there's that point in the run when "all is right with the world" and I feel I could do this forever. I truly love every aspect of the sport. Except when I don't.

When I don't love running I loathe it. I feel enslaved by it. I dread the next run and throw temper tantrums (in my head) about how unfair it is that I have to do this.

But either way, I'm always happy after a run. I always feel better. I've never finished a run and thought, "boy I really wish I didn't do that today".

Its one of those pay now, play later sort of addictions that occasionally gives you a play now/play later jackpot. In that respect, its sort of like gambling. I keep going out one more time hoping to hit that runner's high jackpot. It is sooooo worth it!

I have a friend who claims she doesn't get "runner's high", she's lucky if she achieves "runners Okay". But she keeps running because she loves how it feels in the end.

It seems to get all of us one way or another.

Sunny

 

[msblrobs]

I love running also. I wake up at night, literally, looking to see how soon it is until I "get" to run again. I am on the treadmill, happily, by 4:30 most mornings. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes I am less than motivated when I begin, but I never pass up the chance to lace up my shoes. It is my stablilizer and my identity. My name is Sara and I am a runner

 

[AmyBeth68]

I used to hate running. I think it began when I "had" to run as training for field hockey. Trust me...5 miles wearing cleats, nursing shin splints and carrying a wooden stick will make you LOATHE running. For many years after being tortured with those daily 5 mile runs I wouldn't even consider lacing up the old sneakers and taking a jog.

But at some point a few years ago I decided to give it a try. Heck...it's relatively inexpensive (at least compared to going to the gym), it's outdoors and I love fresh air and it gets you in shape pretty quickly. I tried but found that it was still painful, not quite the torture I once I experienced, but definitely not fun.

Then I decided to set this goal for myself of completing the WDW Marathon. My whole family was like.... YOU!?! But you HATE to run?! Exactly! I had decided to fix my dysfunctional relationship with running. So I studied, bought GOOD sneakers, bought cool running clothes AND approached my training plan with a positive attitude, realistic short-term goals AND commitment. Guess what? I swear I enjoy my runs. I feel great afterwards but I also enjoy the feeling during my run. Believe me...it's still hard at times. Those hills just wipe me out....BUT....I don't hate it.

Sorry for the long-winded answer. Geesh, I wrote a book?!

 

[sap1227]

I'm still new at this, but I love the way I feel after I run. I don't completely enjoy the running yet, although when I'm walking I can't wait to get my lungs back so I can run again, but once I'm done I feel so good that I'm ready to go do it again! Not only do I just generally feel better, but the stress level is so much lower that I can't imagine what I'd be like if I weren't running right now.

This is exactly how I feel! I have to force myself to start the run/jog, but once I get started I feel good and once I am done I feel GREAT!

Christy

 

[Buckalew11]

I love running also. I wake up at night, literally, looking to see how soon it is until I "get" to run again. I am on the treadmill, happily, by 4:30 most mornings. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes I am less than motivated when I begin, but I never pass up the chance to lace up my shoes. It is my stablilizer and my identity. My name is Sara and I am a runner

I think I'll print this out and recite it every day--hoping it will come true for me!!

 

[goofyguy1958]

OK, I have been running for 17 years now and can honestly say that I rarely love the actual act of running. I have a tendency to push myself too hard unless I run with a group and end up dead tired after every run. That being said, take away my running and I would be the worst villain ever known. I really enjoy those runs where I allow myself to slow down and just take it all in. An example of this was this past Saturday when I hooked up with a fellow runner who forced me to slow down by getting me lost. I planned on doing a good hard 10 miles and calling it qiuts but I let myself be talked into going longer after 5 miles but I would have to slow down. When all was said and done, we had loged 14.5 miles in under 1:57 and even threw in some pretty nasty hills and I LOVED every step of the way. In summary, I may not love every run but I love to run.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I had to come back and check the replies. You know I can relate to every one of them in some way, well except the getting up at 4:30 Sara. I just cannot do that.

 

[goofyguy1958]

I did today! In fact, so much so that I registered for the Goofy Challenge when I got home!