My dad wanted a runner and I'm not it

Get back to running son! Don't think I don't visit these boards.

Kevin, you seem like a nice kid and I`d like to try and help you out. I actually work with a guy who seems pretty similar to your dad. I don't want to use his real name, so let's just call him "Jack." Jack is an avid runner by all accounts. He runs 70, 80, or sometimes even 90 miles per week. He goes to sleep early every night so that he can wake up at 4:30 am for his daily run and he often does a second run in the evening. This grueling schedule, coupled with the time he must commit to his job, seriously affects his relationships, especially with his family. Moreover, he`s constantly complaining around the office about how tired he is, and how much pain he`s in. And all this for what? You are absolutely correct...middle-aged mediocrity. Well, the thing that I`ve learned about Jack is that running is an escape for him -- an escape from problems that, frankly, neither of us want to know about. So, realize that your dad`s obsession with running is probably nothing more than a desparate attempt to try to heal some greater affliction. On that basis, consider yourself fortunate that you don't need to obsess over running as he does. And, if I may say, if you find yourself going down that path, consider seeking professional help. Lest, in 20+ years, there will be a post here by Kevin Jr. raising the same concerns about you. You have the power to stop this. Best of luck my friend. And happy reading.

Kevin, your dad is never going to love and respect you unless you become a runner. Stop being so selfish and get out there and run. Glad you aren't my son you sound like a real wimp!

Whether you're black, female, gay, whatever, let's hope that society will move forward and that one day your dad can accept you for who you are - a non-runner.

Parents just shouldn't try to make their child what the parents want.

They should support them in their own interests.

A lot of runners here probably took it up on their own without any urging or support form their parents.

What if your grandfather hated your dad for his running and tried to get him to stop?

Would your dad have been OK with that and stopped running?

You do not disappoint him because you loathe running.

You confuse him. He was born not capable of understanding how anyone doesn't like to run.

You are confused by him. You think he wants you to run to become good. He wants you to run because it is the most fun thing he does every day. The reason he became good at it was that it was the most fun thing he did every day. Now, he fears that you will be unhealthy because you sit around all day.

You will be confused by your son if it turns out he hates to read. You will fear he will never get a decent job or he will live his life in ignorance. These cycles of confusion are all across the world and very old.

You need to talk to your father and tell him that running may not be your thing.

During that conversation you need to tell him that even though it is not your thing you will start running 2 miles every day. Tell him on odd numbered days you will run 2 miles easy and on even numbered days you will run 1 mile easy and the second mile you will alternate four 100 meter near sprints with 100 meter jogs and then jog home. Tell him you doubt you will ever run more but that you will run this cycle to stay in shape.

Ask him to read a book(s) you really like for 15 minutes every day so the two of you can discuss it during the mile or two you run slowly every day. Tell him if he doesn't do his reading and can't hold up his end of the book conversation, you will stop running just like he stopped reading.

Here comes the hard part. If the deal doesn't work the first, second or hundredth time, talk to him again and start it over at the beginning of a new month. This will keep the two of you talking. Talking is the only thing that will break the cycle of confusion.

A couple of hidden points. You need to think of this not as running every day but as talking with your dad about a book every day that you happen to do outside while moving. Second, while you may never become fast, at 14 to 18 years old, if you run 100 m near sprints every other day for several months, there is a pretty good chance you will eventually be able to beat your 40 something year old dad for the 4th 100m sprint of your run.

I am hoping this is a joke or as they say troll post. But if not that's to bad. I hate to say it kiddo but in my eyes your dad is the joke.

OP,

You may want to stay in the closet. Just saying he is not gonna take the other news you have for him very well.

OP, have you ever considered that maybe your dad wants to run with you BECAUSE he loves you? Some father & sons throw the baseball or fish together; others run together. There will come a day when you wish you could do either with him. So, unless he's asking you to run gut-busting intervals or a hard 20-miler, then go for a run with him.

I'Always like how Centro sr got his son to start running using reverse psychology telling him, "you're too soft to run, stick to soccer."

Dhddhdhdddddd wrote:

I'Always like how Centro sr got his son to start running using reverse psychology telling him, "you're too soft to run, stick to soccer."

That's right.

Centro I was an American Record holder in his day.

He didn't push his son into running at all.

Now Centro II is threads about chasing an American Record himself.

He wanted to prove his dad wrong that he could be could at track.

This thread is complete BS.

9/10 because you fooled pretty much everyone, but a person who is NOT a runner would not post on Letsrun.com, even in the fake situation you created.

Keep doing what you're doing man. It's better to be more of a thinker than a runner. Only a few of the best runners actually go professional after college and join track clubs. You will have more success being the smart guy that you are. Just look at all the philosophers. But i'm sure your future will be bright since you're a smart guy. Many runners like me wish to be a student that gets high scores on the ACT/SAT. I know how it feels to have a dad that expects so much. You sir are blessed so use your brain!

As always, you're wrong, Flagpole. I used to come here before I was a runner because I knew my dad did and I wanted to be able to talk to him about something he enjoyed. He never pushed me, but I saw his passion when we talked so I decided to give it a try and found that I liked it.

The problem with the OP -- like almost all kids -- is that they're completely self-absorbed. They think that everything has to be about them. So what if you don't like something? That's life. Stop being such a bore and try to be interested in what someone else likes once in awhile. You might find that you actually like it too.

MollyP wrote:

As always, you're wrong, Flagpole. I used to come here before I was a runner because I knew my dad did and I wanted to be able to talk to him about something he enjoyed. He never pushed me, but I saw his passion when we talked so I decided to give it a try and found that I liked it.

The problem with the OP -- like almost all kids -- is that they're completely self-absorbed. They think that everything has to be about them. So what if you don't like something? That's life. Stop being such a bore and try to be interested in what someone else likes once in awhile. You might find that you actually like it too.

You are an anomaly (seriously one), and even at that, you still had some sort of interest in it (if nothing more than initially being able to talk to your father about running), and obviously were open to the idea as you have become a runner. No way that is a real post by the OP.

The glass is always half full young man. Some kids don't even have a father. Anyways, man up and tell him how you feel. He'll respect you for it, even if it takes years.