By temeers / September 19, 2024
I’m a runner. I’m not a fast runner, but I do sometimes compete in races, which helps keep me motivated. Running is only part of my exercise routine, but I’ve managed to do it consistently for many years. My journey to become a runner didn’t begin with the cross-country team in high school or with running track in college. My sports background started with martial arts and weightlifting. Running wasn’t in the mix for me until later in life. I’m sharing this because many of my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances have shared similar stories about why they can’t run. For some, the truth is they just don’t want to. The stories usually start with a knee problem. To be fair, knees are a problem for many people and can certainly be a reason not to run. For that matter, back and other problems can too. I have both back and knee problems, but mine are probably not as bad as some. Still, some of my friends who say they can’t run likely can.
Running is difficult. It’s taxing and exhausting. It’s boring. And, it may be the best form of cardiovascular exercise available for many. Human beings are designed to run. There’s an old saying:
“If you’re a gazelle on the plains of Africa, in the morning you get up and run to avoid being eaten by a lion; if you’re a lion in Africa, you get up in the morning and run to catch prey so you don’t starve; whether your a gazelle or a lion, in the morning, in Africa, you’d better be running.”
The moral of that story applies to humans, too. The “problem” is that we (humans) don’t have to run to avoid certain death or to get fed anymore. If we did, I’m pretty sure most of us would be running. That’s a good problem to have, but it illustrates my point. Many of us who don’t run simply don’t want to because it’s, as previously mentioned, difficult, exhausting, and boring. Some have found other forms of exercise, like biking, swimming, and basketball, which is great. For me, running fits into my schedule, and I focus best. It requires almost no equipment or special facilities, and I can do it almost anywhere – even when I’m on vacation. So, I run.
I started running because, after years of weightlifting, I realized I needed cardio to stay healthy. Weightlifting and a little bit of martial arts weren’t doing much for my heart health and endurance. In my mid-forties, I had never run a significant distance. I figured if I could run slowly -and by slowly, I mean very slowly- for ten or fifteen minutes a day, perhaps for one mile, I’d be in better shape as I aged. It would be hard, but it would be done quickly, even at my slow pace. I started running in the winter on an indoor running track at my gym. The track was one twelfth of a mile, so three times around equaled one quarter mile, which was my initial goal -goals are important. On my first run, I didn’t finish the three laps and thought I was going to pass out. Being totally out of breath, with my heart pounding, confirmed my suspicion that I needed cardio training badly. Fortunately, I was in the habit of going to the gym almost every day. Since I was there, and so was the indoor running track, I pushed myself to run three laps to reach a quarter mile every day for a week. By the end of the week, I was running the three laps without stopping and had enough breath left to speak. Over the next month, I increased a little bit every few days and finally completed my first mile. I was thrilled. What happens to you when you keep running is that you get better at it. You eventually catch your breath and keep it, and you discover you can run a little longer and a little faster every few days.
Being able to run one mile, in addition to my other training, gave me the confidence to tell some friends who are marathon runners that I started running. They were very supportive, and with their encouragement, I soon ran my first 5K race. I came in pretty close to last, but finishing it was a milestone for me. Since then, I’ve run dozens of races, including two half marathons. I’m still not a fast runner; I usually finish in the middle of the pack. But I’ve found that my weight control, endurance, and overall fitness have improved dramatically since I began running. My resting heart rate, a key indicator of fitness and health, hovers in the forties most of the time. My energy level is pretty consistent. I sleep better than before I started running. And, while I try to maintain a healthy diet, when I don’t, I don’t see significant weight gain. Running is still difficult, exhausting, and boring at times. But those challenges pale when compared to the benefits. I recommend running as a supplement to whatever other exercise you do, and I suggest that at least some folks can succeed at it, even if they think their knees are shot. Just talk to your doctor first.
One universal experience runners share is that even if you don’t enjoy every run, you’re always glad you did it. Even if I’m having a hard time running, I know I’ll be glad when it’s done. Here is a famous running quote I saw on a t-shirt:
“I really wish I didn’t go on that two-mile run today,” said nobody, ever.