On Valentine’s Day I expressed my love for running. It should come as no surprise however, that I have a love-hate relationship with running. Sometimes the things (or people) you love the most are the ones that have the power to aggravate you the most. So here’s today’s list:
10 Things I Hate about Running
1. Injury. ‘Nuf said.
2. Pit stops. That sudden urge to “go” when there’s no bathroom in sight. (Oh dear, did I really make this Number 2 on the list? That’s not punny.)
3. A slogfest run. It happens to everyone (right?!) — the occasional run where you can’t seem to get out of first gear. Recently I ran for two hours and simply did not have many miles to show for my time. Let’s just say never again will I schedule a late day long run shortly after a meal of carnitas tacos. That lump of food felt like a ball of lead weighing down my belly and keeping me from running anywhere near a decent long run pace.
4. The Dreadmill. I’m pretty sure that treadmills without music, audiobooks or televisions are reserved for the people doomed to the sixth circle of Hell. The Heretics in Dante’s Inferno are trapped in flaming tombs in the sixth circle of Hell. When I’m sweating on the indoor treadmill without anything to entertain me, I imagine that’s what a flaming tomb feels like.
5. Pulling a sweaty shirt over my head after a run. The only thing worse is pulling a sweaty running bra over my head.
6. Speaking of sweaty…. Laundry, laundry, and more laundry. Sweaty workout clothes nearly double my weekly laundry loads. As my sister once noted, laundry is a Sisyphean task. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the cruel king of Corinth who was punished in Hades by being condemned to forever roll a large stone up a hill, only to have it roll back down over and over again as the stone neared the top.
7. Not to beat the sweat issue to death, but…. I cannot stand that transition at the end of a run where you go from sweating profusely in your running clothes to absolutely freezing when you stop running and the sweat evaporates in your own little scientific cooling experiment.
8. Ice baths. While an ice bath might sound like a great idea when I’m roasting in that sixth circle of Hell on the treadmill or running in the hot summer sun, I will never, ever get used to that first breath-taking moment when I dip my legs into a post-run ice bath.
9. $$$$. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping for running gear. I’m not a shopper in general but running clothes and accessories? Sign me up! I just don’t enjoy plunking down the money for them. I justify the cost by reminding myself that any money I spend on exercise is “free” money that is “saving” me the money I would otherwise have to spend on anti-depressants and other health-related bills.
10. People who do not follow proper race etiquette. People who do not line up with the appropriate pace group should be required to take over for Sisyphus for a while. People who do not pull over to the right to walk or tie shoelaces should be condemned to that sixth circle of Hell.
What’s your running pet peeve?
Yes! to all of these but especially #7!
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Yesterday I was so cold and eager to get home and change out of my clothes that I forgot to stretch after my run. All I could think about was jumping into a hot shower!
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Ice baths? I’d not heard of that before so had to look up why – I can’t say I’ll be trying that any time soon. Especially after reading this recent article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/08/ice-bath-exercise-new-research
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Thanks for the link! That was an interesting article. I wonder what the dangers they allude to are.
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Cars that don’t make any attempt to pull over a little – when I’m already on the edge of the road or even in the ditch – really?!
And the injury thing is a huge hated item.
However, I actually love my treadmill!
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I agree about the cars — I think every car should pull over at least a little, just to signal to the runner that the driver actually sees her! And I also like the treadmill IF I have a television, audiobook, games or music to go with it. I particularly like the treadmill for speed workouts.
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I also dislike
Sucking in COLD air (it’s gonna be 25 with wind chills when I run today with a friend. Ugh.)
Still having a cold butt at the end of my run
Post childbirth leakage. I don’t actually ‘hate’ many things, but I do this.
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My pet peeve today is not being able to run yet because I’m not fully recovered from my physical disability incurred from my car accident in 2006. It’s no fun watching other people “go out for a run” while I’m walking to train for my 9th marathon! I’m on Twitter too @pgjr99. You’ve got some great posts!
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