Dear Running
Dear Running,
After our long and torrid relationship of steamy and triumphant “ups” (two half marathons and a grip of races)
and miserable “downs” (Like hurting my knee and I couldn’t do anything for two weeks… and was a giant stress ball)
I’ve decided that we’re better off as friends.
Having to be without you for the past month made me realize that I really don’t miss you as much as I thought I would.
I’m not saying I won’t come around anymore
or that we can’t occasionally do the things we used to
but to be honest, you never really were my favorite… you make me feel good so I kept you around.
Right now, I’m having a blasty doing other things 🙂
I’m excited to keep up with Insanity and when the program is over, jump into other things I adore, like yoga and spinning.
Thanks again for all of the free medals and shirts.
Gina
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Coming from a non-runner (one who sincerely put her best efforts forward to enjoy it), I know exactly where you’re coming from. But yoga, pilates, biking, and dance aerobics? Yes please! 😀
I love your letter to running! Just remember those medals and t-shirts weren’t free, you earned them!!! Now go rock out with those crazy insanity workouts! =)
Going for long walks each day = great substitute 😉
AMEN SISTA!! I just did this and LOVE not running!! I run if i want to, i dont feel attached, and dont feel the need to run. its SO much fun experimenting with different types of cardio! AND I feel MUCH better. I aint looking back!
So, at first when I saw you tweet the blog update I thought it meant you were going to stop blogging with your “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later…” tweet.
Hey, running is great but so are other activities. Have fun doing them!
hahah no way, you guys are stuck with me 🙂
Know that you can always lace up your shoes and just go for 1-2 mile run….anytime. Often times, I think of running as a big production–I have to have the right shoes on, my shin sleeves, my Garmin, my iPod and yadda yadda. I made it out to be a huge ordeal but really running is just walking but faster. You don’t necessarily have to run races or long distances to be a runner.
I think giving your relationship a break will definitely relieve a lot of stress–yippee! I can’t wait to hear more about this Insanity workout! Sounds, well, insaaaane!
Totally agreed. Running just isn’t for me — don’t particularly enjoy it. I’ve gotten really into taking long walks and listening to interesting podcasts. It nourishes my body and my mind.
Me tooo!! As far as me and running…my knees have come between us. Gentle little walk/run intervals for me now…plus, according to my heart moniter those intervals actually burn more calories 🙂
omg gina
when i got ur tweet saying, “its not goodbye its see you later”
i was prepared for the worst!!! HOWEVER, very glad you are doing something you love to do, instead of doing something you just KIND OF like to do
get it girl 😉
BTW thinking about getting insanity, you should REALLLLY post reviews on it, because as of now
im scared lol
What a cool post, I am trying to decide right now if I want to be a runner or not. I don’t enjoy it yet though people keep telling me I will.
Good for you for doing what you love and not what you just like”as friends”! have a great Sunday and thank goodness your not leaving us as a blogger, what would we do without you!?
Great post Gina! I think it’s great that you’re going to focus on what you love. That’s really inspirational.
I feel the same about running as you. I’ve never truly enjoyed it, but didn’t see any other way to get in such good cardio. Now I realize that walking for the same amount of time at a high incline is harder work….and I enjoy it more. And Pilates has done wonders for my balance and core. Now I only run if the mood strikes me, and that doesn’t happen very often.
Lol– this is a great post to say goodbye 🙂
Stick with what you love!
im crying at this dear john letter, so sad.
haha i’m sorry! i know that you love running though, which is why you should keep doing what you love!
xoxo
I can’t run anymore. As a former competitive one…its been a difficult loss.
But thank you so much for this post. Maybe I need to find “light” in other things.
You are stunningly beautiful by the way.
RUnning is fun, but spinning is definitely TONS more fun…at least in my opinion 🙂
Adorable. Spinning and other classes are way more fun. I hate the pressure my friends give me to run. They act like it is the only real workout.
I used to run a lot. I developed Runner’s Knee + then my IT Band was so tight it hurt to walk. I’ve realized running isn’t the end all be all. Now I love yoga, biking, and walking.
I was also forced to take a break from running. After such a long break I ran a 5K yesterday and really enjoyed it since I haven’t ran like that for almost a year. Just take a break and don’t feel guilty about it.
What a cute post! 🙂 So glad you’re enjoying the Insanity workouts – I agree with you 100%, do what you LOVE!
Also, you are gorgeous, Gina.
I’m totally with ya on this one Gina. I like running, but I don’t LOVE LOVE LOVE running. I hurt my knee as well (from a fall) and had to give it for about 6 months. It was hard because it was what I was used to, but I did more yoga, more strength training and more spin classes and those actually helped to change my body more than running ever did.
I’ll still run a few races and go for a run here or there but running isn’t my life.
I’m with you!! I tried running, and ended up with shin splints…not fun! Now, I stick to power walking, Pilates, and yoga.
Amen. After dealing with a stress fracture for 5 months that was the result of running, I’ve realized that there is more to life than running. It’s still going to be months before I can exercise again and when I can, it’s not going to be running. At least for a while and not to the extent I did before. Hurting your body like this is just not worth it when there are SO many other ways to be fit that are lots of fun!
So glad you are doing what you love. I hate running, and am absolutely NOT a runner. I know, a personal trainer who doesn’t run?! It does happen!! 🙂 I enjoy all my other activities, too.
I love this post! When I got into fitness, I felt like I HAD to run–that’s what fit people do, right? But, the thing is…I hate it. A lot of other blogs kept saying, “Oh, no. You’re GOING to love it. Just wait.” So I waited. But the truth is, no matter how fit I am, I suck at running, and it’s no fun for me.
Just last week, I did some power yoga and went for a walk in the woods, and I loved my day so much that I realized this “trying” to run is a waste of energy! I’m just doing the fitness I like!
Yay! I know you’re a stranger but I’m relieved. I just see so many people in my life ruin their joints and/or leg muscles from too much running.
Keep in mind that we all burn around 100 calories/mile no matter what speed we go, including walking. If you like getting outdoors and chatting with the girls, walk briskly! Sun and chat is good for us.
As a species we’re really more built for long walks than long runs. Man’s predators never chased us for miles! If we could sprint to the tree and climb up, we lived! : )
This post was hilarious! Good for you Gina! Do what you love and not what you mildly like.
Good for you, for figuring out what you love to do instead of forcing yourself to do something you don’t enjoy. I’m still new to running, and I love it, but I know I wouldn’t run if I didn’t like it. There are far less painful activities.
Great post! You are so active I love seeing what fun exercise routines you come up with!
Hey Girly, cute post! I was chuckling along as I read it. I think that some bodies are more suited for running while others (like my own) can only handle it in doses. Way to listed to your body and do what’s best for you!
Haha! You are too funny! Running and I also have a love/hate relationship! 🙂
I’m a huge lover of running, but I love doing other cardio, too! Running isn’t for everyone, and you should do what you love to do 🙂
good job haha. its not like your not being active doing a hundred other things!
Love.
I have had a similar breakup myself. I find that I can now only tolerate running like I do many relatives: in short doses.
Oh good heavens! I am soooo glad to hear, or read you blog this! I am NOT a fan of running and after many many 5Ks and a 10 K I finally happily accepted that fact. However…here’s the kicker…I just started back up. After a year off I decided to give it another shot, and I actually am kinda enjoying it. WEll, atleast the race part. I cannot make myself run on my own for shear pleasure. Will not happen, Therefore, I shall continue to finish with pathetic times, but that’s ok with me. lol. I did my first 5K in over a year last weekend and did another yesterday and another in 2 weeks. I am comppletely shocked w/myself! Good for you on putting it out there.
Running and I are on a relationship vacation right now:) I’ve been into kickboxing and body pump lately!
First, I just have to say you are one of my fave bloggers, Gina! And I think your obsession with ‘The Bizzle’ rivals mine :-). Anyway, I too have had a rocky relationship with running. I did just what you did and wrote it a little breakup letter last year (http://body-fm.com/2009/06/02/a-runners-low/). Sometimes I’m totally in love with running and other times I want to chuck my Asics in the garbage. I’ve felt guilty in the past because so many people think running is the best exercise out there, and I reeeaaallly want to like it all the time, because I want to be one of those hardcore runners. But honestly, I’d rather switch it up and swim, spin, lift, dance, or even just do short bursts of running. So you’re right — if our hearts aren’t in it, then we don’t need to commit to just running. Loved this post!
Loved this.
I tried to start running a few months ago, but just couldn’t get into it. I kept plowing on, because I thought, “Oh, but this is what fit, healthy people DO…” I liked it sometimes, but it hurt my knees and I didn’t have a supportive enough sports bra – ouchie – so I just started doing other things instead. Elliptical, strength training, stairmaster, long hikes, yoga, pilates… and I felt stronger and richer because of all the choice.
Maybe I will run in small spurts in the future, but for now, I just figure – as long as I break a sweat – or nourish my soul – or feel myself getting stronger, it’s worth it and it’s ‘enough’.
BTW: you are SO pretty!
I’m also trying to decide if I’m a runner or not. I just finished P90X and before that I was trying to run at least a week for about 3 miles. I liked it just fine. Now that P90X is over, I’m ready to start running again and seeing how it goes. I’d like to run my first 5K this year but we’ll see. Love your post! It made me laugh!
Hey 🙂 this post is adorable 🙂
I am slowly burning out on running, but am getting excited about cycling!! Not a good time to get burned out though since I am planning on running my first half marathon in June!!! I Hope I train enough in this slump!
Love your posts 🙂
Awesome post and so wonderful that you’re being true to yourself. No reason to force yourself to run when you don’t want to. I go through phases with it all the time and I happen to think that’s the healthiest approach to fitness!
Glad you’re sticking with what you love. As you’ve said yourself it is sooo important to make exercise fun not work.
I understand your break up with running. Right now I love running but I’m not *in love* with running. I view it more as a prescription for my weight loss. The more I run, the more I lose.
You know, following Insanity kinda makes you a crazy person in my book. Much respect for the crazies.
<3
I totally understand where you’re coming from. Running and I have broken up
in the past – always over injuries. And still I come back. Maybe this attempt will be the one that sticks for me!
Enjoy Insanity!!!
Great post! So glad that you are listening to your body and your heart. Thanks for the reminder to “check myself.”
Such a cute post 🙂 I love it!
Good for you- do what makes you happy! 🙂
xo
K
I’m so glad you’re happy! At the end of the day that is all that matters. Have I told you how much I want a workout room like yours. Bo trashed our apt today in his packing attempts and therefore I had to go down to the gym for space! 🙂