I've been pondering... Why is it that a lot of people do not run? Maybe they are "just lazy," but running is a natural ability, just like walking. When did running become weird? Why is it weird? Of course I do not think it's weird, but when you are out running, do people ever stare at you like they've never seen a person running? Sometimes they might even say something like a girl driving by me once said to me, "Wow, I wish I could run like you!" Why couldn't she? She has two legs.
What wrong, you can't afford a car?
Because they don't have to, would rather watch football, goof off or play video games.
In fact, I thought I was done this Spring. I couldn't stay focused on training, running just bored me for some reason. I barely broke 30 minutes in a 5 miler on Memorial Day, so I decided I'd quit running. Well within a couple weeks, I break up with my girlfriend at the time and get fired from my job(which sucked and stressed me out anyway), a blessing in disguise? I needed something to do, so I started up again. Within a few months, I'm running as well as I was at my previous peak of my career..so yeah, why not run?
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Of course I do not think it's weird, but when you are out running, do people ever stare at you like they've never seen a person running?
No, but I wouldn't notice or care if they did.
txRUNNERgirl,
This was just emailed to our group of runners from a good running friend. She had to give it up and it's pretty sad.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago I have been diagnosed with a newly recognized condition called exercise induced endothelial fibrosis of the external iliac artery. In other words I have narrowing of the artery that gives rise to the femoral artery and thus supplies blood to my leg. This condition affects mostly cyclists and endurance athletes. Little is known about the cause, the appropriate treatment, nor the long term prognosis. There are only a few doctors in the US who have seen cases of this.
If I am ever to be able to run/train regularly and race again I would have to have surgery. Long term prognosis with surgery is unknown. Once I have surgery I am committed to having foreign material in my vessel, needing blood thinners possibly for life, and potentially more future surgeries. Also, continued participation in activities with repetitive hip flexion, as in running, could cause the surgery to fail.
If I choose to not have the surgery I would not be able to run. However, not running means the condition may not progress and thus surgery may not ever be needed to maintain my current activity level. Thus far, I am not affected by the problem except during HIGH intensity exercise and during running.
I am doing a lot of soul searching right now. What I have come up with thus far is that for the last ten months I have learned to live without running and racing but, I would not be able to live with not being able to walk well or exercise; especially if it is because of a complication to a surgery that I elected to do now with my current ability. Although, I am not sure that scenario is at all likely it is still a risk that I am not willing to accept. If things were worse such that I could not do any exercise or if it affected me during everyday activities I think I would be more okay with my decision if there were complications. Therefore, I may elect to wait and see what happens with my current level of activity. If it gets bad enough then I can proceed with surgery.
So you all probably figured this already but, as much as it pains me to say this, I have to give up running. My overall health and happiness depends upon me being able to be active for many years. I could never live with the regret of choosing to do an elective surgery and having decreased ability because of that choice.
I will miss the friendships, the shared goals, the shared hardships, the conversations, the joys, and pains. I will miss the competition. Most of all I will miss the kindness and open hearts that I have been witness to in all of the runners I have met. Runners are an awesome breed of people.
Thank you for your support.
I think your reasoning is flawed. Yes, all people CAN run in order to execute on their fight-or-flight instinct, but not everyone is built to run as a hobby. Isn't this rather obvious when you witness the crazy messed-up running form of so many people? Nature created some humans to stalk fast-moving prey, but most are not built that way. Especially the ones who evolved from fruit and nut eating ancestors.
What a stupid question.
Out of all sports that are a "natural ability" as you say, running is the hardest. Harder than cycling, harder than swimming, harder than XC skiing, harder than walking, etc.
Need I go on?
Why don't you swim?
I am always surprised that people run casually. Running is WAY too hard to be schlepping around with at a 20:00-22:00 5k that I see so often at small races. And don't even get me started with the ones who run slower than that. Unless you are over 50 or female ... or both ... why do people bother to pay to go to races and then "run" a 27:59.
That is EFF'ing ridiculous.
Less people should run. Not more.
She does swim.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
I've been pondering... Why is it that a lot of people do not run? Maybe they are "just lazy," but running is a natural ability, just like walking. When did running become weird? Why is it weird? Of course I do not think it's weird, but when you are out running, do people ever stare at you like they've never seen a person running? Sometimes they might even say something like a girl driving by me once said to me, "Wow, I wish I could run like you!" Why couldn't she? She has two legs.
Because it's not necessarily the most sensible form of exercise.
It is not an affinity of the legs; It is an affinity of the heart.
darkness wrote:[/b
Less people should run. Not more.
Let's be grateful that many slower people choose to support races. There wouldn't be many races if there was a time limit for finishers. Elite racers don't complain when YOU enter a race.
There are plenty of reasons not to run. All of which, outside of disease or some other ailment, can be disputed or classified as stark unwillingness. I really cannot think of one reason not to run outside of the aforementioned and reluctance.
Some people don't like to run. I run because I like it.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Why is it that a lot of people do not run? Maybe they are "just lazy," but running is a natural ability, just like walking. .
No. Although it is a natural ability, not everyone choose to use it all the time. Smoking and drinking are natural abilities as well, but do you smoke or drink 1+ hours every day?
Sometimes they might even say something like a girl driving by me once said to me, "Wow, I wish I could run like you!" Why couldn't she? She has two legs
So, why couldn't you run like Defar? you has two legs as well.
Are you just bored again?
Gerry wrote:
It is not an affinity of the legs; It is an affinity of the heart.
Nice.
"Never let them see you sweat" is the mantra for some.
Others are lazy or feel it is undignified.
While most are selfish and are convinced their
time is much too valuable to be spent recreating.
They are driven in a different way, to make money,
to bury their competition and have material wealth
which will somehow validate their worthless existence
in the eyes of their parents or the "in-crowd".
"One reason most of us become runners is that we prefer relying on ourselves."
-Bill Rodgers
Because then there wouldn't be the cross-web rival letsnotrun.com
tRg,
I like you, and think you are cute and quirky, but you've lost me a bit here. Not your finest work. Take a few days off to ponder things without starting a new thread.
Your Fan Always,
Tedjo
Yep - do you know how your friend got diagnosed for that condition? I suspected that I had something similar and went to see a vascular surgeon. Within one minute the doctor told me that I didn't have a vascular problem because he felt a strong pulse near my ankle in my bad leg. Then to appease me he conducted a doppler test (while resting) on my entire leg and everything came back negative. Still, I don't feel 100% satisfied with the visit because I think the only way to get properly diagnosed is by testing the artery during exercise, but the surgeon said I was wrong and he really didn't have any clue about this exercise induced condition.
Thanks
Tedjo wrote:
tRg,
I like you, and think you are cute and quirky, but you've lost me a bit here. Not your finest work. Take a few days off to ponder things without starting a new thread.
Your Fan Always,
Tedjo
What he said.