Overcome Your Top Running Excuses

Each time I tell a non-runner about my running, my face lights up and I get all gushy and excited like a love sick teenager, which ALWAYS provokes a response as to how they wish they could or should or used to…but don’t run.

And having been in their shoes once upon a time…I mean you’ve heard the story about how I faked knee pain to get out of running with a boyfriend right??!

I get them, but I also know we’ve all got excuses and it’s time to put them to rest.

Overcoming Common Running Excuses

Whether you’ve set a goal to run your first half marathon, you’ve fallen off the wagon after the holidays or your last big race, it’s time to put the excuses behind you. Excuses are the easy part of fitness, but we didn’t choose running because it was easy!!

We choose running because it challenges us and forces us to grow!

“I hate running”

Well yah, did you read my story?! I faked knee pain so as to get out of running with a very attractive guy, that’s hard core college student hate.

Which means you have two options:

Don’t run. There are thousands of awesome ways to get your sweat on, so do those.

Try again. Embrace the discomfort and keep trying, until the day you start to feel proud of yourself for making the effort which can in time actually turn into a genuine love for the sport. And you might just find that once you aren’t being made to run for a punishment, this becomes something for you.

“I can’t run, it hurts my ____”

Umm again, yah. It hurts to do anything new.

Every time I do Pilates, lift weights, or even do my runner strength training at home,  I’m sore for days, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad for me, it means I need to go at a pace that gives my body time to adjust and I need to learn proper form so I don’t hurt myself.

We’ve busted the many myths about how running is bad for your knees or anything else, so this is a story that you’re telling yourself. If you want to run, start slow and build smart. Checkout the Couch to 5k plan!

Too old, too boring too tired? Today we bust your running excuses, so you can get after those goals! #motivation Share on X

“It’s just so boring.”

This one is always a tough nut for me because I have never found running boring and that includes training for 8 marathons solo…maybe I just like myself more than the average person. No really, I think it’s because I learned how to use my running time in a variety of ways:

• Listen to audiobooks
• Listen to podcasts
• Watch tv shows
• Think…dream…plan <<my favorite
• Music – easier than ever to access
• Grab a friend (you aren’t the only one thinking about starting again)
• Run somewhere new!

“It’s too cold, hot, wet, etc.”

Listen I’ve run in every conceivable weather scenario over the years and I absolutely complain about it. Didn’t expect that did you.

BUT I also love how badass I feel after coming in from a 10 degree snowy run and I love how comfy I feel when using the treadmill because the humidity was 99% again in Florida.

I’ve tested out the best rain gear , along with the right winter layers, because I know that it’s worth getting outside because of the experience and the opportunity to explore new places.

Don’t be treadmill averse. They are not the devil that everyone makes them out to be. They are a fantastic training tool and a great way to mitigate all weather excuses.

“I’m too old.”

Of course it may be different to start running at an older age, but the benefits remain the same as they do for everyone:

• reductions in the risks of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer
• reduced depression and anxiety
• weight control
• improved bone density, muscles and joint mobility
• improved mobility and coordination

In other words, running fights off the aging process pretty darn well. Check with a doctor, find someone who truly understands older runners (less speed work, more rest days, variety) and get going.

“I don’t have time.”

I 100% understand that life is busy, but I also know that we all waste time scrolling through Instagram or watching those too funny cat videos our friends share on Facebook. And generally this excuses goes hand in hand with “I’m too tired.”

At the end of the day, you might have spent 10 hours sitting between the car and the office, but you feel physically tapped out. This is because your brain is tired, not your body!

Repeated studies (and personal experiences) have shown us that just a few minutes of exercise can actually help to increase your energy and improve your mood, isn’t that a nice gift for those that live with you??

• Get it done in the morning before life gets busy
• Start planning for a RUNCH session (plan ahead in general)
• Tell yourself 10 minutes is enough so that you’ll just get started (and if that’s all you have then it’s still better than nothing!!)
• Maximize your time with intervals or a HIIT session
• Find a friend to run with so you feel less guilty for taking time for yourself
• Remember your physical and mental health matter, it’s ok to carve out this time

“I don’t have the right gear”

You can get started pretty quick and pretty cheap compared to any other sport. Of course you see me running around with multiple different fancy watches or lots of shoes, but that’s just because I  built the arsenal over time!!

So what do you really need?

RUNNING ESSENTIALS

If a brand new runner were to ask me what they really needed to get started, this would be my keep it simple list:

GREAT running shoes
Don’t settle for mediocre, you’ll pay for it in the long run with lots of PT visits. Why? Because they aren’t made to support you over longer distances, the shoes break down faster or don’t offer the appropriate level of cushion or support for your needs.

Find a Foam roller
Go for the high density…yes it may hurt a little more at first (forever), but it’s worth it. They last longer and dig deeper for that at home massage which you will commit to doing nightly while catching up on your DVR. The link above will help you review the different types from a roller to a ball to a massage stick.

Pick a GPS Watch
When I started running I just used a plain old stop watch and then at home mapped my run on the computer to figure out distance…cheap, but not efficient! Checkout the link provided to find out how to pick a GPS watch that will meet your needs. This doesn’t need to break the bank, but it will make training a lot easier.

Great Running Headphones
It took me a lot of trial and error to find headphones that would stay in while I get my massive sweat on and of course right as I fell in love with them, we moved on to wireless headphones!! I resisted for awhile, but again they make life so much easier and ensure that you’ll be able to listen to music, an audiobook or podcast while running, which can really help as you start out to just give the brain some distraction!

Shirts/Shorts/Sports Bra
We can’t go without talking about what to wear right? Everyone has a preference on what feels best from shorts to capris or sleeves vs tank and the key is:

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD?! It sounds ridiculous but if you love how you feel in your gear you are not only more likely to put it on, but then associate it with feeling strong and confident which leads to better workouts.

Pretty much everything is wicking and cooling and all that technical jazz now, so go for what you love and checkout the link above to understand what all those different technical terms mean now!

What’s your biggest workout excuse?

How do you encourage new runners?

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