I Hate Running

I’ve decided to restart an old category called Who I Want to be Wednesday. These posts will be generally about me, sometimes related to heath, well being, and personal stuff.

Wanna Be Wednesday - I hate running, but I'm getting used to it! | saynotsweetanne.com | #personal #reflection #motivation

 

Alright, I admit it. I used to lie in school to get out of running the mile. (Sorry Mrs. Bowers.) My dad was a diabetic, so I dropped some words like, “Hypoglycemic” and “sugar low” and faked symptoms of shakiness. It usually worked to get me out of it all together. Once it got me a candy bar, and a couple of times I got to walk to track instead of run.

I have never once run a mile.

And it wasn’t just running. I once wrote a persuasive essay (the primary writing curriculum at the time) at the end of 5th grade to express why I shouldn’t have to play kickball at the end of the year for “fun”. I put forth a convincing argument about how I didn’t find it fun, and if it was truly about celebrating the end of the year, I should be able to celebrate it in my own way. I even managed to avoid swimming in most of my swim class. (The teacher was a male and as soon as I said “M day” he said “laps around the pool”.) Sadly, I still can’t swim.

Sometimes, I wonder how much of my current Graphic Design career is owed to the fact that in middle school we had to choose art or gym. I chose art. Every time.

Now, I’m not overweight. I’m in an average medical bracket and I always have been. I’ve done workouts and such for short stints, but cardio exercise has always kicked my butt. I feel like I am going to simultaneously puke my guts out while my head explodes. It makes me feel awful, horrible, subhuman. I feel like I have been reduced to a sweaty, squirming, miserable heap of pain and discomfort.

So, when runners would say to me, “I love running, I love just being alone to THINK!”

I would say, “I can think on my couch.”

But then I grew up. And as an adult, I have a certain set of responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to myself, to my husband, to our future children. I am responsible for my own health. That’s right. There is no one in this world that I can hold accountable for my own bodily state more than myself. And I’ve started to own up to it.

I started running.

I downloaded an app (Rundouble for Android, based on the Couch to 5k model) and I followed it. It started small, with a 30 second run between a minute or two of walking. But over the past 6 weeks it has ramped up. So much so that this weekend it told me to run 25 minutes straight.

I did it.

I ran 2 miles this week. Two whole miles. This is something that not only had I never done, I’d always fought against. I’ve triumphed not just over my physical discomfort, but over my mental weakness as well. I feel amazing!

And you know what? It doesn’t make me sick like it used to. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not that runner who goes on and on about how amazing running feels. Not yet anyway. Its still hard. But I don’t feel like I’m going to vomit. In fact, I’m even able to breathe through my nose the whole time and take deep breaths!

For the foreseeable future, these 25 minute runs are my work out routine. I think it might even bump me up to 30 eventually. Hubby and I are considering doing a 5k, in which case I’ll have to push myself to train for that extra bit of distance. But for now, I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished!

What about you? Do you run? How have you taken responsibility for your heath? Got any tips for me!?

Stop in and visit some of the other bloggers who are on a journey to better their bodies too!

Pint Sized Baker – Paleo Ice Cream
The Haas Machine – What We Ate
Heather’s French Press
It’s Yummilicious – Quinoa Cranberry Chicken Salad
Je suis alimentageuse – Vegan Peach Cobbler
Wonky Wonderful – Chicken & Salsa Verde Quinoa Bowl
Sweet Twist Of Blogging – Week 3 Exercise

 

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Kayla Domeyer

My name is Kayla and I am a Graphic Designer. That means that I love pretty things, and also that I like to make free printables! I'm so happy that you've stopped by to visit my blog, and I hope you will follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest or Instagram!! (Yeah, and I'm totally addicted to the internet).

17 thoughts on “I Hate Running

  1. Thank you for sharing the app you use, I’m going to try it out! 🙂 Sounds just like what I needed. Perhaps I’ll even get around to reading the couch to running book I have haha.

  2. You’re hilarious! I love to think on my couch, too! I used to DREAD the mile in school… seriously have migraines leading up to it because it brought up so much anxiety in me. What a terrible thing to do to kids!

    And congrats for being able to run 2 miles. Even though I am not a runner, I totally am jealous for those who love it. I don’t have enough will power at this point to push through it… maybe some day?
    Gillian @ The Haas Machine recently posted..Wednesday’s “What We Ate September 9-15, 2013″My Profile

  3. LOVE it! I recently wrote a blog post with beginning running tips from a beginner runner (me). I was not opposed to running as you apparently always were (although I did always take art, and majored in it in college too), but never did run consistently, or felt awesome doing it, but I finally ran a little over 3 miles in under 30 minutes! That is a great accomplishment for me, though it’s taken me months to get to that point.
    Katelyn recently posted..Beginner running tips from a beginner runnerMy Profile

  4. I did the same thing in swimming class and I have never been a physical kind of person either. I love art too and could sit at the computer creating things all day (sometimes I do). But I know how important it is to do something physical so I ride my bike and walk with the local hiking club. I am attending some bike classes of late. Nice post, Anne. Keep up the good work – I am amazed at how you turned things around!

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