“Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” George Addair
I read a comment the other day “I have never been a runner but I am thinking that I might want to start. However, I feel a little awkward and silly. Does anyone else feel this way?” Man, when I saw this it hit me right in the heart! YES!!! I would bet that almost all new runners feel this way. I mean, think about it, most adults that start the sport do it as part of a weight loss program, so if you are like me, then you probably started running in whatever clothes you had laying around that were comfortable, no REAL running shoes, slow as a turtle, stopping to walk, AND huffing and puffing… loudly with snot everywhere! YES!!! I have been there. BUT, so have a lot of runners that you pass and I’ll tell you what, when I see someone who is obviously new to the sport and out there struggling, I always smile at them and tell them “Great job!”
My personal experience has been that the running community is one of the most supportive and positive communities out there. When I am at a race or meet a fellow runner somewhere, there is that instant connection. What we do is not easy, but the rewards are AMAZING, so we all need that support. I have not experienced a negative comment, from another runner, ever. We are all in this together and we are all here to help.
I promise you that if you stick with it and be patient and kind with yourself, it will slowly get easier and easier. If you are getting out there and running very slowly four or five times a week, your body will adjust. Your heart will get stronger and your breathing will get easier. If you start to make small changes to your nutrition, you will lose weight, and the next thing you know, you’ll be buying stuff made of lycra! Crazy! I know. I own way too much lycra, it’s not pretty…
Believe me, I understand that you are pushing yourself way outside your comfort zone, but if you can push past your fears the rewards that you are looking for are right there! If the person who wrote that comment reads this, you know that I am here to cheer for you and provide you support. I am proud of you! If you are asking me, yes, start running. It just may change your life. God knows it changed mine completely.
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Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!
Hi Joe,
Love the blog, already read quite a bit and yes it does absolutely come of as if you just having a chat over a beer or coffee. Really loving this blog it’s very informative on a level that speaks to me.
Talking about feelings of embarrassment as a beginner, I can totally relate with people feeling this way as I constantly had this nagging feeling that people are looking at me probably thinking “jees look at that guy he should rather quit before he hurts himself” and it was tough having to deal with this mental garbage whilst also trying to run the short distance I could when I initially started. At times having to stop my run and revert back to walking during a session was even worse,,,, as it was (in my mind at least) a sort of confirmation that those eyes ( who ever they belonged to on a particular day ) could be right,,, maybe I should stop before I make a complete idoit of myself.
But here is the thing that changed my mindset, I was the one doing the running the walking the sweating the almost coughing my lungs out and I was doing it for myself not them, I made the simple promise after the first time I managed to run a small distance within my route that I will always without fail run past the point where I stopped running the previous day even if it was only a couple of feet.
After 4 weeks I’m finally running 10km all out.
I have learned one thing so far, take your time, small increments of success each day has a lot more positive impact in the long run.
Make time to rest, It truly does have a positive impact on your abilities going forward after each period of rest.
I now know why I failed completely and utterly on previous attempts so many years ago, I went out running thinking that I was a runner, wanting instant progress and success.
I now know that being a runner is something you become over time with lots of hard work and a lot of patience.
( positive support from others = best medicine for the mind and soul ) truly thanks for the assistance given thus far it has made such an impact on me mentally and physically.
I’m starting to feel like I’m becoming a runner but as they say, “Steady as she goes”.
Kind regards.
Herman.
Herman, you already ARE a runner! So proud of you! Be kind to yourself and keep going. It gets easier and easier I promise. The funny thing is, once it got easier for me, I started to look for ways to make it hard again! Instead of 10k I wanted 20, then 42, and then 45… welcome to the tribe! Peace! Joe the Runner