If you were to ask me before yesterday why I choose to run, I wouldn’t have had an answer for you. I like to think I enjoy running, but to be honest 75% of the time I am running I hate it. I hate the way my legs feel, I hate how I loose my breath, and I hate being slow. I finally discovered yesterday the reasons why I run: I like the way it transforms my body, I like the challenge it presents, I like doing something most people wont do, and I like being able to eat mounds of spaghetti and wash it down with a fat piece of cake. For these reasons, I will continue running.
Yesterday Manfriend and I went for a five mile road run. I have run three miles, I have run four miles, I have even run five miles..but never outside. You’d think running five miles on the dreadmill would be worse than five miles outside, but yesterday proved that to be wrong. I am not the type of person that can zone out and be one with nature while running, I need my music. Leaving my jams at home to try and be present in the run was a terrible rotten idea.
The distance between his house and mine is 6.6 miles. A one mile walk to warm up, five miles to run, and .6 miles to cool down. If I told you this was an enjoyable run I would be lying to you. I wanted to die halfway through..I might have even cried..maybe…don’t tell anyone I told you that. I don’t know why I was in my head so much, but those miles couldn’t end fast enough. Manfriend was nothing but supportive in convincing me the road was like a rodent wheel and I was the hamster on crack that runs obsessively. I once had a gerbil that would run on her wheel when I was trying to sleep. Gerbils are not nocturnal like hamsters, so I could never figure out why she was up at night when she was supposed to be sleeping. Owell, I digress.
I have decided to sign up for a 10k in March, so this was a good training distance to be prepared for that. The ending two miles felt so much better than the first three, if I could just figure out how to get started in my run I know I would enjoy it so much more. Anyway, back to the main subject of this post. I ran that five miles because I knew I had rewards waiting for me when I finished. The meal of the night was white bean burgers, with broccoli, carrots, onion, and garlic stuffed in them.
Manfriend suggested we use white beans and throw broccoli and carrots in the mix for a nice color/photo. Such a little foodie. The chili powder died the beans a brownish color, but the broccoli still POPS!
I would run five miles every day to have this meal again. We also made a special trip to the store for this..
I swoon for cake. I drool for cake. I run for cake.
I love spin class, I love hiking, I love swimming, and I even love walking. I love them because they are easier for me than running. I can spin my life away on a bike and walk away with a sweaty back and a pep in my step, but running is something I work for. This is what makes it desirable to me, and this is why I continue to pound pavement so I can wake up the next day feeling accomplished.
Q: If you run, what keeps you going?
I don’t run, but maybe I could be convinced for that CAKE! argh Yummo.
Yoga is my fix…. I enjoy the challenge of different poses, and when I finally ‘get’ one, it’s such a high. I love to see my progression – strength and flexibility wise, it’s really encouraging.
Yum, love a good beanie burger too
yoga and long walks with my doggie.
we are off to view a film and drink wine. goodnight, friend. xxx
I’m not a runner at all, but even if that cake was at the end of a marathon, I’d sprint the whole way! MAN it looks good!!
So does that white bean burger, major props to Man friend for adding in such pretty colors heehee
Holy cake. I think I’d do anything for cake. As long as it has a load of frosting on the top. As for running, you should be proud you made it through! It may have sucked, but you did it
I hate running long distance, so I just don’t lol I do sprints and intervals, the most I go is 3 miles!
Yesterday was a craptastic-I wanna die-why does this hurt so much-when will it end run for me, too! 3 miles of miserableness… I remember thinking the same thing when I started running outside, this should be way more fun and easier than the treadmill!! RIGHT!! NOT. It is SO NOT easier. BUT! I keep returning day after day to the pavement because of how it makes me feel AFTER the suffering. I mean FUN.. yes.. after all that FUN. Just like in life, there will be good runs and bad runs.. I keep going because I can SEE and FEEL the improvements, plus the runners high aint too shabby, either
NICE WORK on those 5 miles!! Be proud, lady! And YUM.. that burger? That CAKE?!?! Mmmm……
I used to be the same exact way, I hated running. But I promise you it gets so much easier! You will learn to love it more and more and having the cake waiting for you isn’t too bad either
Good job on those 5 miles!!!!
Look at all that avocado piled up on your burger. Yum yum. I love this post, because I really dislike running, but I still do it. Well, I sort of do it. But maybe I do it for the same reasons you do: it’s hard for me. It’s a challenge. It does good things for my body. And I still loathe it, most of the time.
Here’s to keeping running, even if there’s crying involved.
I want a burger that looks like THAT!
Oh, and cake.
I don’t run—it hurts me. Although, there were times I got immersed in it and really enjoyed early morning runs by the erie canal…just me, my music, and the turtles! I injured my knee in a way that is not detectable by MRI but still hurts when I run…so I don’t do it anymore.
Food looks so yummy!
And you GO girl! That’s awesome. I tend to bottle up all my anger and frustrations, so running is where I really release all that. When I wanna stop, I just get mad at whatever I’m mad at. And stomp it on the the treadmill/ground/etc.
Music also helps. I have a really hard time working out without music. It inspires me and makes me a happy runner.
Now I sound like a bipolar exerciser haha. I think what keeps me running= Half inspiration from music/Half anger I don’t let out anywhere else.
Thanks for this question! Never thought about it. Was therapeutic to answer.
Haha great post! I loved how honest you were. It was funny, yet very true! Best of luck to you in your upcoming race, I hope to hear about how your training goes as you venture outdoors more often and escape the dreadmill, I mean … treadmill.
What keeps me running is how much better I feel afterwards, the confidence and sense of achievement it gives, as well as all the cool race t-shirts I’ve racked up. Haha!
I LOVE your honesty haha…cake is definitely one the reasons I run! On those difficult runs, I always remind myself of how amazing I’ll feel after, even if I feel like death while running! I used to love running so much but lately, I am not enjoying it as much…rather than fight it, I’m focusing my energy on other workouts and running only 1-2 times a week…I’m enjoying the change, as well as the occasional runners’ high!
I hate running too! I wish I didnt though. I only ever run on the treadmill, I just cant run outside- I dont last at all! Glad Im not the only one who runs and doesnt actually enjoy it! xxx
Oh wow… that cake. I am loving your honesty in this post! I think it’s Lululemon that has an ad similar to what you are saying here.. that says something along the line of “I run for dessert, there I said it” haha love it. I mean, Iike to run, but at times I don’t LOVE it. The times I do actually love it is when I feel fantastic on the runs, which does happen sometimes. Not lately though as my legs have felt like utter crap because of over-exercising, low iron, and whatever else.
Strength training has been more of my thing lately as a matter of fact.. I am loving the changes I see on my muscles
I run for cake, too. And chocolate. And ice cream.
I run because I love the way it clears my mind and makes me feel like I’m flying! Of course fueling up is an added bonus too
The most important part of your run was that you didn’t give up! Having a huge mental block in the middle of a run is the absolute WORST. Even during my run today I wanted to turn around after 3 minutes…but the best part is that you pushed through and finished the run! You should feel so good about that
And the cake at the end was probably the best part!
Umm I would TOTALLY run for that burget! YUM!
way to go with the run! I find that doing longer runs with my husband keeps me motivated to keep going!
Yum, I will run for cake…or that burger! I run because I love to push myself to do things I never thought I could! It’s part of the reason I love to run races!
yayyyy for signing up for a 10k! i’m with you though. a lot of runs for me can be really unenjoyable too. but then i have a good run and it makes all those bad runs just go away. running is a weird thing. but i love it
belated happy birthday!!
i hope you had a good one!
OMG britt, i know exactly how u feel about running! I WANT to love it. But even after a kilometre of running, i feel like my lungs are about to give in and that im gonna die from breathing too hard. But i think that for every run, there is a running hump, it differs with every person. once you get over that hump (whether it be one mile into the run or five miles) it’s smooth sailing from there
oh and that cake looks SCRUMPTIOUS
CHEETOS! And hummus. Two things I can’t eat till AFTER I run becuase I get soo sick if I run with them in my stomach. Imagine that lol.
I’ve moved away from running but if that cake was presented to me at the end of a 5 mile run you bet I’d be running for it!!
so much to say about this post! First of all, I love ya.
I love the fact that you don’t give up when you’re running even though it’s so hard. I can relate so much. I hate running because I’m always in my head. Once I get out of my head running becomes so much easier and the miles don’t seem as long and painful. Second- it’s great that you have a support system! Running with someone who’s cheering you on has got to be a major plus! Third- white bean burger? I’m intrigued and now want to try one. It looks colorful, amazing, and delicious. 
Have a great weekend!
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I’ll run for cake!
THe thought that I feel pretty darrrrrn strong and sexy…. despite all of the sweat and flailing limbs. Also, I think the sooner and faster I get started, the closer I am to being done
Looks like you had a true meal of champs! I love that you and manfriend ran to each other’s houses!