Yeah, I’ll never be able to do one of these puppies, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t simulate (or at least sympathsize with) the feeling on really crap runs.
I had one of those break-you-down, am-I-even-a-runner runs on Saturday. A little over 7.5 miles with some speedy pals, and I couldn’t keep up. We’d start together—they’d nicely wait for me at corners and such—and then I would slowly drift to the back, and then continue to fall farther and farther behind. As they sped away, all I could concentrate on is that I couldn’t keep up, which made everything, from my glutes to my ego, just hurt that much more.
Turns out, it was a good run for me—my average pace was about 20 seconds faster than it normally is, thanks to continually trying to catch up—but that doesn’t mean it didn’t inpsire me to think of some things I wish weren’t true about running.
1. You have to move your own body weight by yourself. Granted, running isn’t pull-up (or even push-up) hard, but dang it if it doesn’t feel like that some days.
This is true, but it doesn’t feel like it when you’re been passed. Repeatedly.
2. You feel like you’re flying, then another runner truly flies by you, and you feel like a concrete statue of a runner.
Some might call running an obsession.
3. On the days you don’t or can’t run, all you can think about is when you will run again.
4. The first mile—or three—always feels so horrible, like you’re revving up the engine of a Model-T: all spurts and no hum.
Truth, child, truth.
5. No matter how many pedicures you get, your feet will never look normal again.
Or don’t. And pay the price.
6. The climb up a tough hill seems to go on forever, while it’s downhill counterpart whizzes by. I know life isn’t fair, but this is so.not.fair.
7. You can’t bank runs; if you ran 13.1 six months ago, then took off a nice chunk of time—or, worse yet, were injured—you get to start all over again from mile 1.
Google “chafing” and you get some really gross pics. You’re welcome for not posting them here.
8. Chafing. Actually, not just chafing, but not knowing you’ve chafed, and then getting in a hot shower and discovering you did.
9. No matter how awesome and accomplished you feel after a run, you still have to make—or figure out—dinner for your family.
10. Knowing that a run, no matter how ploddy or ugly or awful it feels while you’re doing it, is always, always worth it. Which means, of course, that there’s no excuse to quit—or to not go.
What do you wish wasn’t true about running?
I still remember the mantra that I got from you ladies, specifically, you, Dimity, if I recall correctly. “Get up early, go for a run, feel good all day.” Thanks for being candid about your run.
Just coming back from 7 weeks on the couch due to an injury. I hate starting at zero!
I’m really feeling #9. It’s not enough try and be fit. The family must eat too!
Truth! Read each of the ten and said “yup” after each one.
Preach it! So, so true. For me, it is realizing that I can help ladies into the sport of running, encourage them, and possibly expect to see them lap me after several races….and need to be okay with that.
We all have those bad runs? Even Ironmother Dimity?!?!? Thank you Dimity for sharing your bad run and these 10 truths. I just had a nasty Facebook encounter with a friend who doesn’t understand what running means or does for me. I really needed to be reminded that there a lot of people who understand and know that running is about more than just the miles :)
Definitely #9! No matter how much training I do – I’m always in charge of getting them fed. No take-out for us. (sigh)
Dimity- your posts always make me smile! Yep – I was nodding at a whole bunch of these!
Just what I needed on a Monday morning. THANK YOU, Sole Sister!
Amen X10!!!
Kathyin,
Good luck! I’m on week 11 of stress fracture rest and it’s making me nervous that I’m not more anxious to get back out there when I’m given the “ok”. Am I still a runner? Even if I’m not “hating” my non-running time?
I come up with some of the craziest ideas on a run!! Great list!!
Oh boy #8 for sure. Stupid bra line chaf hurt like hell. And I discovered it in the shower too. Ouch.
Word, sister. Word. One thing I love about running is that you don’t really compete with anyone but yourself (unless you’re Alberto Salazar or a Kenyan). That being said, I really resent struggling to keep up with a guy who’s speed-walking.
It’s happened.
Yes, all of these things! This morning’s run was just like this – I was passed by all these young cross-country guys and felt like a fat old jogger, but in the end it was my fastest 3.5 miles ever. EVER.
Thank you for this. I had one of those runs yesterday too. After a fabulous running summer…I thought I was invincible. But as it always does, running humbled me. I gasped and puffed through 6.5 miles…wanted to do 8, but couldn’t catch my breath anymore. Did my one mile walk of shame. And saw a neighbor who reminded me that “even a bad run is better than no run”. So true!
And BTW, you could do those pull ups. You just need to train!
I’m a new”ish” runner, so my toes are mostly in tact and I have not experienced chafing. But what is up with #4? I spend my first 1-3 miles convincing myself I can run and my legs are not made of lead, even though they feel like it. every. single. time. Are you telling me it’s always going to feel like that?!?
I wish it wasn’t true that some people just can’t get past injuries. I’ve been out with plantar fasciitis for almost 3 months and am starting to feel discouraged.
When another runner overtakes me, I imagine I am tied to that person. Makes me run faster! Fun list!
#3-4-8-9-10!!
I wish I could just feel excited by the goals I set for myself, and not pressured by them. I wish I could run in hot weather without feeling like death from my gut.
Almost.always. First mile or 2.
Try graston at the chiropractor!
I wish I could lose weight with running alone. I can run at a decent speed and do half marathons but never lose an ounce, though I have gained muscle. My body needs the fuel and I need to strength train.
I can’t tell you how much better it makes us “newbies” to read posts like this and realize that even more seasoned runners have bad runs :) Helps build my stamina for tomorrow!
Wonderful list, and oh, so true!! As a newer runner “of a certain age”, I will likely never be in first place. But I will always be faster than SOMEONE…..
OMGosh, this is so true. And my favorite is #9.
Loved #8. I’ve startled my family any number of times with that one.
I hate that the most common time for me to run is dark:30 in the morning. HATE IT!
#7 — that’s me right now. Injured a week before my second half marathon and *waiting* to run again. Ah, starting over. Truth and hard to reconcile BUT I know I can “earn back” everything I feel I’m losing right now. Sometimes it is hard to be patient.
Thank you, thank you for this Dimity! I had what I called a ” craptastic” run about week ago. 15 mile long run that I thought .. What the bleep is wrong with me. Thank you for always being open & keeping it real for us. Love! Yes, yes & yes 4, 8, 9, & 10
The graphic between items 2 and 3 comes off as rather mean spirited…especially in a post that seems tobe ttrying to talk about how running overall is positive no matter where you’re at or what gets you down.
Haha I love all these, especially 9! No matter how long I run, I never get a break.. always gotta finish the house duties!
Love this! Especially #8. Happens to me all the time!