Suppose that you weren't anchored to running and you allowed yourself to organize your life around more productive activities instead. Suppose you weren't always chronically injured and depressed, and lifted weights to stay healthy and improve your appearance instead, and never got injured doing it. How much better would your life be without an activity that produces nothing, accomplishes nothing, is totally irrelevant to modern life, and actually undermines your health rather than improves it?
10/10 because my life would be 10x better. I wouldn't be 145 pounds and 6'1 which is bad because I cant get any girls. The only girl so far who cared for me that I found attractive dumped my sorry butt because in part because I cared so much about running. Running sucks and part of me wishes I had never discovered it.
stuck with match.com wrote:
10/10 because my life would be 10x better. I wouldn't be 145 pounds and 6'1 which is bad because I cant get any girls. The only girl so far who cared for me that I found attractive dumped my sorry butt because in part because I cared so much about running. Running sucks and part of me wishes I had never discovered it.
Same here.
But I got the bug and I don't want any antibiotics for it! LONG LIVE RUNNING!!
Ill take running over being overweight like the vast majority of the rest. Girlfriend is a runner. Make super hot running babies. Can't beat it. Love it when people say I'm skinny, 5'9 and 135lbs. My response is that I'm normal.
This article isn't only about running, but it mentions compulsive running being a problem much more so than any other physical activity. So, yea-its the worst sport/thing ever. Its scientifically proven to ruin a happy balanced social life.
Id be about 30 pounds heavier, eating very unhealthy, Taco Bell, ribs and donuts every day. Maybe some Wendy's chicken nuggets too.
"If it were easy, everyone would be doing it."
This is a very good thread topic, and I've thought about it quite a bit over the years. Perhaps my life would be better if I had, as you say, organized it around more productive activities instead. But who's to say that I would have? Maybe I would have ended up hustling chess in the park for two bucks a game. Maybe I would have become even more reclusive than I did, and without the self-esteem that I needed to break out of my isolation.
Right now, in my fifties, I like that I became a runner. But there were some very tough years when I was doing little more than running, working, and trying to squeeze in a few hours of sleep. When I think about those years, my consolation is that I don't think that I had the psychological and social tools to have blossomed in other ways. I suspect that if I hadn't been a runner, I would have been a hermit who didn't run instead of a hermit who did. I prefer the latter.
Avocados Number wrote:
This is a very good thread topic, and I've thought about it quite a bit over the years. Perhaps my life would be better if I had, as you say, organized it around more productive activities instead. But who's to say that I would have? Maybe I would have ended up hustling chess in the park for two bucks a game. Maybe I would have become even more reclusive than I did, and without the self-esteem that I needed to break out of my isolation.
Right now, in my fifties, I like that I became a runner. But there were some very tough years when I was doing little more than running, working, and trying to squeeze in a few hours of sleep. When I think about those years, my consolation is that I don't think that I had the psychological and social tools to have blossomed in other ways. I suspect that if I hadn't been a runner, I would have been a hermit who didn't run instead of a hermit who did. I prefer the latter.
Your post reflects the article I posted above. It's all about how runners become obsessive because its one thing they feel they can completely take control over in a wrold where there are so many other things they can't control (ie social acceptance,confidence, self esteem, etc) It also really briefly discusses how some of the types become the way they are as a result of an unhappy childhood (ie family issues,bullying,non acceptace etc) The point I'm trying to make is that most runners are F*** ups to begin with in one way or another. So I guess it isn't even worth considering what life would have been without it. You didn't really choose it, it chose you.
Running isn't the problem, it's your attitude towards running. If you were running for the pure joy of it, you wouldn't have posted what you did. You need balance in your life and that might mean a vacation from running. But I hope you don't drop it entirely.
Run some beautiful single track trails in the mountains, especially on wild winter days or cool spring mornings. Take your time and run at a pace that feels comfortable. You can run fast, or slow. You can even walk at times. Don't bring your watch. Hopefully you'll do at least 6 to 8 miles so the endorphins kick in.
forget racing, forget your training log, forget mileage goals. Don't obsess about gaining a bit of weight and how it might minutely worsen your 10K time. Run because it's fun. Try being a "soul runner" and forget the competition which has burned you out.
If viewed objectively, almost everything you can do accomplishs nothing of overwhelming importance. Once we're dead, we're all wormbait. Presidents, kings, everyone. Read the poem "Osymandias" (by Shelley?). So, what could possibly be more important than enjoying the worlds beauty while exercising vigorously, especially while sharing the experience with friends.
P.S. lifting weights does nothing for your cardiovascular system unless you do a nonstop circuit routine. Even then it can't compare to running. You can overdo lifting as well as running. Once again you get locked into numbers, but instead of running too many miles, you do boucoup sets and spend hours per workout. Instead of obsessing over your times, and getting injured pushing your training, you obsess over how much you can benchpress and get injured trying to lift more than you should. Find an old power lifter and I guarantee he's had, and probably still has, a shoulder problem.
ahhhh I suppose Id be able to walk pain-free all year long, play the occasional game of basketball without worrying about my achilles and party and drink more...
I'd also be fat and unhealthy
Think how many people are crippled and dream at night about running. Stop your whining, because you've abused your gift. Think how lucky you truly are. You're blessed.
You will attract most girls by being confident and fun. Your problem is you lack both. If you don't believe in yourself, who will? I've seen butt ugly guys with girls on each arm. They had personality. The girls found them interesting and fun. That's all it takes. Without it, a 100 extra pounds of muscle will do you no good.
Find a girl that likes running and take her on your favorite trail. If you're faster than her, slow down and enjoy it. If she's faster than you, don't fret, compliment her and tell her to go at her pace and you'll catch up when you can. Talk to her. Ask her about things she enjoys and listen when she tells you. Make eye contact and smile. You will do great.
Define "productive"...
And running is the best part of my day, everyday. If I didn't have it, I would be miserable. Plus, I think running has only helped my appearance. 6 pack? check. Great legs? check. Big Biceps? well... what the f*** does anyone use their biceps for anyways? The best part is that you get to look down on everyone else who doesn't do it.
G wrote:
Think how many people are crippled and dream at night about running. Stop your whining, because you've abused your gift. Think how lucky you truly are. You're blessed.
You will attract most girls by being confident and fun. Your problem is you lack both. If you don't believe in yourself, who will? I've seen butt ugly guys with girls on each arm. They had personality. The girls found them interesting and fun. That's all it takes. Without it, a 100 extra pounds of muscle will do you no good.
Find a girl that likes running and take her on your favorite trail. If you're faster than her, slow down and enjoy it. If she's faster than you, don't fret, compliment her and tell her to go at her pace and you'll catch up when you can. Talk to her. Ask her about things she enjoys and listen when she tells you. Make eye contact and smile. You will do great.
I thnk you are missing the OP's point entirely. This is a about a lot more than getting girls. You are probably a person who is a compulsive runner himself and thats why you can't even fathom the though of running being unhealthy. You are in denial my friend.
Countless people have come on this board asking about careers that allow them to train for marathons-others have gone to grad schools that would be ideal for running. Let's face it running has distorted the way we arrange our priorities and organize our lives. That is NOT healthy. People in other sports are lucky. When soccer is over, it's over. They move on.
I'll tell you the same thing I tell people who use running as an antidepressant. WHY DO YOU NEED AN ANTIDEPRESSANT? Why is your life so dull that the most exciting part of your day is a totally monotonous activity that produces little rewards? If running is the best part of your day, maybe you need to work on improving your day outside of running.
I always say running (or any form of exercise) is a natural anti-depressant. Without running, I'd be grumpy, angry, depressed, & sloth-like. I can see what happens to me (mentally, emotionally, psychologically) without running (during, say, an injury, or full-rest week). Thank goodness for running!
Why not stop running? LOL. Seriously my life did get better when I quit. And it got even better when I became I rec runner. Granted, I never race or aspire to be super fit. I just run. When I don't feel like runner I do something else. Its the racing/how far can I push myself mentality that ruins everything.
If I didn't run I would have more friends and have much more fun. Countless friday nights i've thought about how it sucks that I can't go out because I would be at a meet or would have a meet the next morning. So many ruined weekends thanks to running.
Runner Zilch wrote:
I always say running (or any form of exercise) is a natural anti-depressant. Without running, I'd be grumpy, angry, depressed, & sloth-like. I can see what happens to me (mentally, emotionally, psychologically) without running (during, say, an injury, or full-rest week). Thank goodness for running!
If you would be that miserable of a creature without running, then something is wrong with you.
Actually, I'm not a compulsive runner and I do recognize that running results in a lot of injuries. But, it would result in far fewer if people weren't trying to push increases in speed, mileage etc and if they'd pay attention to fledgling injuries and take a few days off. I don't always follow my own advice, so there is a little compulsiveness there.
But people are naturally compulsive. They overeat, overdrink, gamble too much, watch too much T.V., smoke, pursue the wrong women, work too hard, spend too much time on message boards, whine excessively, make endless excuses to explain their own failings etc etc.
But i'll tell you what. I feel absolutely fantastic after running a mountain ridge on a stormy day. And what could be better than having a fantastic, happy day?