Earlier this year it seemed like a great idea to do something for charity. And having been *ahem* ‘rescued’ by the RNLI it seemed only right and proper to support the charity my brother works so hard for.
So I foolishly signed up for the Great North Run – a half marathon. Foolish for several reasons –
- I hate running
- I’m not very fit
- It rains allot in the North East – and running in the rain is really miserable
- I like cake
- The idea of doing a run with thousands of other people all forcing me to keep going makes me feel a little sick
- It’s 13 miles
- Running is REALLY BORING
- I would rather sail than run
- If I’m doing it for charity then I HAVE to do it
- I would rather clean my house than run
- It’s still 13 miles
- No one else likes running either so I have to do it on my own
- Everything wobbles when you run – and not in a good way
- You can’t drink wine while you are running
- I really, really hate running
- The Olympic torch bearers all do running – but only go about 200 yards – why didn’t I think of that instead?
- It makes your legs go all fat at the bottom (I believe ‘muscelly’ is the technical term)
- Did I mention its 13 miles?
- There are actual magazines about running – thats right – whole books, websites and magazines about running – essentially putting one foot in front of the other faster than walking (if you Google running, it brings up more than 369 MILLION sites?!?!?!?!). That’s terrifying.
- Everyone who runs on Facebook does ‘log my run’ stuff which is just totally intimidating
- I really, really, really hate running
- If you are exhausted and stop running, because you are wearing running stuff then everyone knows you are a skiving off wobbly runner who likes cake and give you that look to tell you they know you are weak and pathetic
- People from work have run it in the past and therefore feel it is helpful to share how horrible it is and how much it is going to hurt. Apparently there is a big hill in it. I hate hills.
In retrospect there are lots of other things I could have done instead. Like just give them some money – remind me of this one next time.
So I have been doing training. What this actually means that I have been going running (a little bit). I thought I had been doing OK until I saw in the training program thing I should be doing 5 miles by now. I nearly am, but I guess ‘nearly’ doesn’t get you through a half marathon.
So guess what I’m doing tonight? Wish me luck.
The Knitting Sailor 
I hate running too, if I have to run, I plugin my iPod and listen to something 🙂
Running is hard at first. But it gets easier and more fun the more you do it. I really started to enjoy it after the first twenty years.
Could be worse–a bicycle could be involved; just think of all the suffering going on right now at the tour de France!
You will be amazing. I am a crap runner. I am currently a *really* crap and frustrated runner. As in I can manage a portly, slightly limpy, waddle. But I will run again. Being a good runner means you have good aerobic fitness which means you can sail more and be less fatigued and therefore make less mistakes. This means you can sail more. We like sailing (not that I’m doing that, either. But hey-ho)
Get some gadgets, get some good songs, and get to it. Else I will sneak in and confiscate your knitting needles!!!
Will you please try to keep up to date?
It’s a hopelessly antiquated notion that if you hate doing something it’s because you aren’t any good at it.
Modern Science teaches that If you hate doing something, it’s because you haven’t bought enough equipment. How could you expect to like running without a suit of miracle wicking fabric, a heart-rate monitor, a GPS watch, and the proper software package to track your data? (I’m assuming you already own running shoes that have either ‘Air’ or ‘Gel’ somewhere in the name.)
And you’re probably still just drinking water, aren’t you? You will always be a hater until you invest in modern hydration technology.
If none of that works, it’s because you have pronated feet. I don’t know what pronated feet are, but unhappy runners who have bought all the other kit always blame pronated feet.
You made me chuckle today. I keep trying to start running and Tillerman almost had me believing I could do it until I got to the 25 year part. Ipod required and actually biking is soooo much more fun and easier on the feet. (I keep telling myself that it is ok I don’t run)
I’m thrilled so many people also hate it. People keep telling me I’ll get in ‘the zone’ and really get into it.
Liars.
O’Dock – you may be right – here was me undertaking to run in plain old jogging bottoms and a dirty pair of trainers. SIGH – obviously doomed to fail.
The good news is however that I have recently acquired new piece of sailing kit, so look out for me at the front of the fleet – my hubby bought me a new sailing bag complete with my name and ‘Dinghy Instructor’ embroidered on it…. I can feel my hiking has improved already….
I came to the exact conclusion as well some time ago. Great write-up and I will be sure to look back later for more news. 348565
“Hi I’m Bursledon and I’m a runner” – well I hate it too, started running well into my 40’s – why should i run when I have a perfectly good car? More than a few years on I’m still running – It does me good, I know it does me good, you just have to accept that for the rest of your like you’re a runner!
So I write about knitting and sailing (haha – supposedly!). The post I get most comments about is about how much I hate running. This tells me either
a. I should write more about running
b. Lots of other people also hate running, but like knitting and sailing. It must be a very particular demographic.
O’Dock – bought new running trousers with go faster stripe.
Good work!
You don’t need to wear them – just owning them will make you faster.
They have totally worked. All the way to London and back today – that’s hundreds of miles!
Admittedly on the train, but I believe this still counts as an achievement in Britain….
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