I've been running since I was in middle school, and while I used to sometimes think that running sucked, I've changed my mindset. I've been pregnant three times, given birth twice, had surgery, and partially tore ligaments in my knee. All that time away from running has made me appreciate it a whole lot more. I never have to run--I get to run. Running is sometimes hard, but it's also my favorite thing and one of my happiest places to be.
Yeah, my pendulum has settled somewhere in the middle of the black and white. More difficult to explain, even to myself, but it still makes the most sense.
You know I care about responding because I wrote this on my phone, it disappeared, and I'm re-writing it.
Running is hard. That's no lie. I've done it for most of my life and it's still hard. But I don't equate it being hard with it sucking. I never equate running with Type 2 fun because even when it's hard, I'm happy to be there and I'm enjoying myself. Hard ≠ suck. Hard ≠ unfun. Which probably means I'm sick but 🤷♀️
That said, I call my dips during races (especially ultras) "the suck" or "the paincave" or "the sufferfest" but this is actually why I run those races. I love to play in that space, see what I can do in it. I remember my last race, in June, I was *in it* pretty deep. It was hot, I was feeling the weight of going fast, climbing steep hills, trying to push. But I disappeared into the feeling, the moments, because that's what I do. I'm sure most people would have said that sucked but in my head, that's not a fair description...it was just hard and that's what I signed up for.
I love running, all the elements of it, the ups and downs.
You nail it in the first couple sentences of the third paragraph of ramble (which I love entirely 😂) but then you argue your way out of it!
The big question is why do you do that when you can just accept that it sucks and you like that aspect of it. You understand that the suck is important, and that it's ok for it to suck. Embrace the suck! I know you already do, because you couldn't have disappeared in the feeling without... the feeling.
It's an interesting psychology in the delineation of language, anyway! I prefer doing things that suck to things that are hard.
How do I speak to myself? Generally in a way that cheers me on, in a way that celebrates what I’m doing. That inspires me on.
“This sucks” has a negative spin to me and it feels both passive and reactionary. That’s the phrase that everyone who didn’t run in the 2000s and 2010s would say to me when they told me I was lame for always running.
Running is hard reminds me how badass I am that something is hard and I choose to do it anyway. Running is hard is how I see it.
Though…it actually doesn’t feel hard most of the time. It just objectively is a hard thing to do, to all the time, to do well, to have committed a quarter century of my life to.
It's a constant surprise to me that I can love something which doesn't just suck, it sucks much of the time. That first mile when you feel almost nauseous? That last sprint burst when you realise you've got too far to go? That bit where the person you'd clocked as slower than you overtakes while holding a conversation? That bit where you seem to be funnelling your quids into more races, more kit? Yeah, there's a lot that's sucky. But I love the people. I love having run. And I love feeling my body come alive and push itself.
Yeah! "Running sucks..." is always just the start of the sentence.
Some of those things can be avoided, tho. I just stopped entering races and reframed my ideas around personal records. I found I can actually gauge my performance more accurately at a run club. Less human traffic at the start line!
Yeah that's totally true. And to be honest, because I'm less than three years into running, I still get a massive kick out of entering races. I hope that once that sheen goes I'll diversify into hitting the trails where the vibe is so different. I'm very lucky that South Wales is crammed with enthusiastic running clubs (though mine is the best, obvs!)
Ugh, the first mile always sucks. When you’re in the back half of your 50s it’s all creaks and pops and “now why does THAT hurt?”, but if I make it to about mile 3 I’m usually good. Mile 18 of every marathon or ultra I’ve ever done also sucks. It’s at that point that I wonder why I didn’t just take up knitting, or crossword puzzles. But again, once I break through that it’s great and in fact I think it’s BECAUSE I have to break through that that it becomes great.
My warmup miles take longer and longer with every passing year haha. I do like the diagnostic aspect of running though! Few things highlight your body's weaknesses like running does.
I had a similar reaction when I heard you on the podcast - no it doesn’t! I love running! And I do, but it has taken me a long time to get to the place where I’m not stressed about pace times and take more time to just enjoy myself.
That said, running sucks…
- when it’s 80 degrees and humid out
- when I have to do strength classes consistently so I can continue running
- when I’m doing a mile race (why!) and feeling like I’m struggling AND I could go faster
I've been running since I was in middle school, and while I used to sometimes think that running sucked, I've changed my mindset. I've been pregnant three times, given birth twice, had surgery, and partially tore ligaments in my knee. All that time away from running has made me appreciate it a whole lot more. I never have to run--I get to run. Running is sometimes hard, but it's also my favorite thing and one of my happiest places to be.
Yeah, my pendulum has settled somewhere in the middle of the black and white. More difficult to explain, even to myself, but it still makes the most sense.
Running sucks but not running sucks far more
(Source: Icing a temperamental achilles on the sofa as I type this lol)
I'm thinking about starting a campaign to abolish Achilles tendons. As far as I know, they only cause pain and irritation!
You know I care about responding because I wrote this on my phone, it disappeared, and I'm re-writing it.
Running is hard. That's no lie. I've done it for most of my life and it's still hard. But I don't equate it being hard with it sucking. I never equate running with Type 2 fun because even when it's hard, I'm happy to be there and I'm enjoying myself. Hard ≠ suck. Hard ≠ unfun. Which probably means I'm sick but 🤷♀️
That said, I call my dips during races (especially ultras) "the suck" or "the paincave" or "the sufferfest" but this is actually why I run those races. I love to play in that space, see what I can do in it. I remember my last race, in June, I was *in it* pretty deep. It was hot, I was feeling the weight of going fast, climbing steep hills, trying to push. But I disappeared into the feeling, the moments, because that's what I do. I'm sure most people would have said that sucked but in my head, that's not a fair description...it was just hard and that's what I signed up for.
I love running, all the elements of it, the ups and downs.
Blaaaah okay I'm done rambling
You nail it in the first couple sentences of the third paragraph of ramble (which I love entirely 😂) but then you argue your way out of it!
The big question is why do you do that when you can just accept that it sucks and you like that aspect of it. You understand that the suck is important, and that it's ok for it to suck. Embrace the suck! I know you already do, because you couldn't have disappeared in the feeling without... the feeling.
It's an interesting psychology in the delineation of language, anyway! I prefer doing things that suck to things that are hard.
It’s all about language.
How do I speak to myself? Generally in a way that cheers me on, in a way that celebrates what I’m doing. That inspires me on.
“This sucks” has a negative spin to me and it feels both passive and reactionary. That’s the phrase that everyone who didn’t run in the 2000s and 2010s would say to me when they told me I was lame for always running.
Running is hard reminds me how badass I am that something is hard and I choose to do it anyway. Running is hard is how I see it.
Though…it actually doesn’t feel hard most of the time. It just objectively is a hard thing to do, to all the time, to do well, to have committed a quarter century of my life to.
Exactly! Even though you accept and even say that it sucks when you're in the pain cave, prior trauma tells you that it can't possibly suck haha.
And I think this is common with runners for a reason that will be found in a study a few years from now.
No no no the suck is a place. I never say it sucks.
The suck is a place where the energy has been sucked out of me and I keep going. Because the energy returns. Running never sucks.
It's a constant surprise to me that I can love something which doesn't just suck, it sucks much of the time. That first mile when you feel almost nauseous? That last sprint burst when you realise you've got too far to go? That bit where the person you'd clocked as slower than you overtakes while holding a conversation? That bit where you seem to be funnelling your quids into more races, more kit? Yeah, there's a lot that's sucky. But I love the people. I love having run. And I love feeling my body come alive and push itself.
Yeah! "Running sucks..." is always just the start of the sentence.
Some of those things can be avoided, tho. I just stopped entering races and reframed my ideas around personal records. I found I can actually gauge my performance more accurately at a run club. Less human traffic at the start line!
Yeah that's totally true. And to be honest, because I'm less than three years into running, I still get a massive kick out of entering races. I hope that once that sheen goes I'll diversify into hitting the trails where the vibe is so different. I'm very lucky that South Wales is crammed with enthusiastic running clubs (though mine is the best, obvs!)
Running does suck. But then, it frequently doesn’t suck too. It’s the lows that give you the highs.
Exactly! When everything's amazing, nothing is.
Ugh, the first mile always sucks. When you’re in the back half of your 50s it’s all creaks and pops and “now why does THAT hurt?”, but if I make it to about mile 3 I’m usually good. Mile 18 of every marathon or ultra I’ve ever done also sucks. It’s at that point that I wonder why I didn’t just take up knitting, or crossword puzzles. But again, once I break through that it’s great and in fact I think it’s BECAUSE I have to break through that that it becomes great.
My warmup miles take longer and longer with every passing year haha. I do like the diagnostic aspect of running though! Few things highlight your body's weaknesses like running does.
I had a similar reaction when I heard you on the podcast - no it doesn’t! I love running! And I do, but it has taken me a long time to get to the place where I’m not stressed about pace times and take more time to just enjoy myself.
That said, running sucks…
- when it’s 80 degrees and humid out
- when I have to do strength classes consistently so I can continue running
- when I’m doing a mile race (why!) and feeling like I’m struggling AND I could go faster
I'm glad you got through the initial reaction to stick around!