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So, this has been something I've been wanting to write about for awhile now. The elusive run.
It all seems so simple to me. I'm not in horrible shape - I can hold my own in any kickboxing, step, or dance class. I can spend a good hour on the treadmill - alternating running and walking at a steap incline - keeping my heartrate high, but not too high. I can squat-press almost my entire weight. I can hold a plank for a full minute. I'm not weak.
So why is something that seems so simple, and as Mandie put it, so organic, so frustratingly difficult for me to handle?
Running.
I've been trying it a bit more at the gym, on the treadmill. Instead of my usual run for 2 minutes walk for 2, I forced myself to run through an entire song - of course the songs I pick tend to be well over 5 minutes, but still, I can do it. I feel like I'm going to die at the end of the song, but I can manage. But what I can't imagine, is to continue running. Run for a total of 40 minutes? or even 20? I thought that by now I'd be able to.
After talking with two different friends, each at a different level of running, each saying that I just need to run outside. "Running on a treadmill is different. You can do it outside. You'll see."
So I tried that. I strapped on my heart rate monitor and ipod shuffle and took off.
Liars.
It's not that I want it to be easy. I get that exercise is not easy. It's just that I don't want to feel like I'm going to die. And my heartrate? Shoots way up there - real quick.
I want to enjoy it. It seems so natural - just go for a run... all you need is some shoes and you're set.
While I was running a good song came on the shuffle and you know what I wanted to do? I wanted to dance! Not run. Maybe running just isn't for me....
But I want it to work. I want to be one of those that enjoys a good run.
I used to hate yoga, but I stuck with it and now I enjoy it, I still find it difficult, because I'm not flexible, but I truly enjoy it. Maybe running will be like that?
Maybe.
3 comments:
Sounds like we have the same issue. Well, not so much the dancing issue, but the running with heart pounding and not enjoying it much issue. For me, I started on the treadmill and it wasn't until after I figured out the whole breathing thing that I moved outside (running was euphoric once I could do it outside) but I had to get to that point. And all I can tell ya is that persistence is what got me there. I jog-walked on the treadmill for months and then one day, something changed and I was able to go for longer, faster, and without feeling as if my heart was going to explode in my chest. Keep up the good work. You'll get there. Heck, I'm working my way back to that place because I've been lackadaisical about my workouts for the past, well, really long time, and now I have to get back to that place. There really is a runner's high, though, and it's totally awesome. :)
I second the 'figure out how to breathe' thing - I was horrible at running until I figured out how to breathe. I was really bad - like heart rate shooting up to 200 after 30 seconds bad. Or 'I can't breathe, the whole world turns white and I pass out on the sidewalk' bad. (I've done that 3 times now...)
Then Joel told me to measure your breathing - so I started doing it where I breathed in for two steps, out for two steps, in for two steps, out... if I got winded, then it was in for 3 steps, out for 3 steps. Constantly pay attention to that and measure it to keep it even.
I've successfully made it 11 miles in one run now - on my way to 13.1 for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon on August 2!
breathing?
Really?
I never gave that much thought.
Makes sense.
That's also why swimming is so hard for me...
But now I've got something new to try and something to concentrate on... thanks for the advice!
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