As you know already, if you want that full body glow, then you’re absolutely going to need to do some running. However, it’s running, and running doesn’t exactly get the best reputation (but how could it). Runners talk about it like it’s this pure, freeing, life-affirming thing – you just lace up, head outside, and immediately becomes the sort of person who clears their head on a morning run and somehow enjoys hills. Yeah, okay. For a lot of people, the beginning feels far less poetic than that. It feels awkward, tiring, mildly insulting, and while it’s hard, it can eventually get easier, but it does take time before it gets easier.
And that’s why so many people quit before running ever starts feeling decent. It’s not usually because they’re weak, lazy, or “just not runners”. Well, most of the time at least. Honestly, it’s because the opening stage can feel a bit like garbage, and a lot of people assume that means they’re failing, when really it just means they’ve started at the same annoying stage nearly everybody else starts at. So that’s basically why people give up so fast, unlike other exercises.
People Think it Should Feel Good Almost Immediately
Some exercises really do give that instant gratification, but running just doesn’t. And that’s usually the thing that catches loads of people out. They start running, expecting at least a little reward straight away. Like, you might instantly expect a better mood, stronger body, nice post-run glow, maybe even some smug sense of achievement. Again, some exercises do that, lifting weights often does that immediately. But instead, what they often get is burning lungs, heavy legs, and the strange feeling that their body would actually quite like to sit down now, thanks. And yeah, that’s discouraging, and for months it can be like for – yes for months!
They Start Like they’ve Already Got Something to Prove
When it comes to any sport, or well, any exercise, a lot of beginners feel like they have something to prove, even to themselves. There’s just a lot of pride. Usually, people think “real running” has to look a certain way from day one, and if they slow down or take walk breaks, they’re somehow doing it wrong. But obviously that’s not true, you’re being sensible.
But really, a lot of people would stick with running longer if they stopped trying to impress some imaginary panel of judges in their own head. Usually, the best way to combat this might be to not put on or jog in public, for example, if you have a treadmill in your own home, that alone might help fight this idea.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
Soreness and the Struggle Make People Feel Embarrassed
Even though it’s totally normal to struggle and deal with soreness, for so many people, there’s just this embarrassment factor to it all. Like, why is this so difficult? Why does everybody else make it look easy? Why does one short run feel like enough exercise for the entire month? And unfortunately that embarrassment can kill momentum quickly. Somebody misses the next run, then misses another, and now the whole thing starts slipping before the body’s even had a fair chance to adapt. And that’s really how it goes.
So, it’s really just about keeping the momentum, it’s really about pushing yourself, and just being realistic here. Obviously, encouragement helps too. Some people will use apps to help, like those Couch to 5k apps, to help them build up that momentum. You can go this route, but others might go with an online run coach who can help them out if they’re really struggling and dealing with guesswork. It’s up to you how you want to do it, but don’t let embarrassment kill off the chance of self-improvement.
As you know already, if you want that full body glow, then you’re absolutely going to need to do some running. However, it’s running, and running doesn’t exactly get the best reputation (but how could it). Runners talk about it like it’s this pure, freeing, life-affirming thing – you just lace up, head outside, and immediately becomes the sort of person who clears their head on a morning run and somehow enjoys hills. Yeah, okay. For a lot of people, the beginning feels far less poetic than that. It feels awkward, tiring, mildly insulting, and while it’s hard, it can eventually get easier, but it does take time before it gets easier.
And that’s why so many people quit before running ever starts feeling decent. It’s not usually because they’re weak, lazy, or “just not runners”. Well, most of the time at least. Honestly, it’s because the opening stage can feel a bit like garbage, and a lot of people assume that means they’re failing, when really it just means they’ve started at the same annoying stage nearly everybody else starts at. So that’s basically why people give up so fast, unlike other exercises.
People Think it Should Feel Good Almost Immediately
Some exercises really do give that instant gratification, but running just doesn’t. And that’s usually the thing that catches loads of people out. They start running, expecting at least a little reward straight away. Like, you might instantly expect a better mood, stronger body, nice post-run glow, maybe even some smug sense of achievement. Again, some exercises do that, lifting weights often does that immediately. But instead, what they often get is burning lungs, heavy legs, and the strange feeling that their body would actually quite like to sit down now, thanks. And yeah, that’s discouraging, and for months it can be like for – yes for months!
They Start Like they’ve Already Got Something to Prove
When it comes to any sport, or well, any exercise, a lot of beginners feel like they have something to prove, even to themselves. There’s just a lot of pride. Usually, people think “real running” has to look a certain way from day one, and if they slow down or take walk breaks, they’re somehow doing it wrong. But obviously that’s not true, you’re being sensible.
But really, a lot of people would stick with running longer if they stopped trying to impress some imaginary panel of judges in their own head. Usually, the best way to combat this might be to not put on or jog in public, for example, if you have a treadmill in your own home, that alone might help fight this idea.
Soreness and the Struggle Make People Feel Embarrassed
Even though it’s totally normal to struggle and deal with soreness, for so many people, there’s just this embarrassment factor to it all. Like, why is this so difficult? Why does everybody else make it look easy? Why does one short run feel like enough exercise for the entire month? And unfortunately that embarrassment can kill momentum quickly. Somebody misses the next run, then misses another, and now the whole thing starts slipping before the body’s even had a fair chance to adapt. And that’s really how it goes.
So, it’s really just about keeping the momentum, it’s really about pushing yourself, and just being realistic here. Obviously, encouragement helps too. Some people will use apps to help, like those Couch to 5k apps, to help them build up that momentum. You can go this route, but others might go with an online run coach who can help them out if they’re really struggling and dealing with guesswork. It’s up to you how you want to do it, but don’t let embarrassment kill off the chance of self-improvement.
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