I've been conducting a little experiment lately. A couple of days a week, I leave the house around lunch time and go for a little...run. Completely out of character for me, I know. But, there are a lot reasons for me to give running a try:
- I'm quite out of shape.
- Since I'm quite out of shape, I get a workout really fast.
- Running is free and requires no equipment.
- Running gets me out of the house. (Since I work at home, we have only one car, and Carter is cared for at home, I can go DAYS without leaving the house.)
Of course, there are also lots of reasons that this is a completely ridiculous idea:
- I hate running.
- I've always hated running.
- I will always hate running.
- We live at the top of a hill, so no matter which way you run, you have to come home uphill.
So, the jury is still out on how this experiment will go. I'll keep you posted.
10 comments:
Wow! I'm very impressed!
How about brisk walking? Much of the same benefit, without the downsides. Either way, I'm impressed too!
Cart Cart
I thought about walking. But my desk faces the window and so I see all the neighbors getting their exercise, and pretty much no one walks. (Running isn't in character for me, but pride and stubbornness are. I am a Leo afterall!) If I had someone to walk with, I totally would - and that would be a much more enjoyable alternative, from both a physical and social perspective.
And to be perfectly honest, my "runs" always end up as walks anyway!
(Just in case anyone is worried - I am being facetious about keeping up with the Jones')
Wow! Who knows, the more you try the more you might get to actually LIKE it????? Grandma B
I just started running in late December. And I felt the same way you did about hating running, always hated running, will always hate running. In January I started running with a group, a workshop that has coaches who guide us through workouts. It's all been about increasing the segments of jogging gradually. I went from 1 minute of jogging in late December being enough to make me feel like I was going to DIE, to now doing about 1/2 a mile of jogging at a time with walking breaks in between. By the end of the workshop (mid-March), I should be able to jog a 5K, and we'll be doing a longer mileage race, which I'll take walking breaks during.
When I was on my own, I started with the Couch to 5K program. Something like that might make the process more enjoyable for you.
Go, you!!!
Thanks for the tip, Amy!
Ah, this is how it always starts. Someone who hates running just decides to test the waters and before you know it you will be on a marathon training team. It's happened to so many people I know and I refuse to join them! Well my bad knees refuse to join them but I applaud you efforts and congrats on getting out of the house!
The incremental deal works. Last March I started walking (only half jokingly, I was trying to get into swim suit shape for Marc's bachelor party), then a little running, a little walking, rinse repeat. I now run about four miles around my neighborhood and can run up to five miles. I try to do this 4-6 times a week. The most important aspect for me is stretching before and after. My entire work-out takes less than an hour. I've lost about 12-15 pounds, and have less work stress. I love being out doors and being part of the walk, run, push your kids, walk the dog community. I waive at the on-coming traffic. It's nice. Did I mention it relieves work stress? If you can get into it, you might (gasp) find you like it.
Enjoy.
Good for you! I agree that home-is-always-uphill could really suck, but the rest of it should be good. I learned to "run" the same way that Amy describes: walk a bit, jog a bit, walk a bit, jog a bit, with the goal over time to increase the duration of the jog bits. I call it "jalk-wogging". :-) I currently jog for 5-7 minutes each bit, walk in between, and average a 13 minute mile overall. I love the convenience of a just-walk-out-the-door workout, and I definitely feel more connected to my neighborhood for being out in it. I initially missed the time/distance performance stats that come from a gym machine, but then I started using http://mapmyrun.com to map and assess each workout, and to track my workouts each month. I hope you come to enjoy it as much as I do! One caveat: be sure to work at it now -- in early spring -- so you're used to it before the heat comes... Bob :-)
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