When does running stop hurting & become 'enjoyable'?

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goo_mason

goo_mason

Champion barbed-wire hurdler
Location
Leith, Edinburgh
Grasshopper, to run fast one must first learn to run slow.

Serious question; if you are cycling and running are you getting enough rest so your body can adapt to the punishment training?

I'm not cycling whilst I'm doing the 9 weeks - I don't think my legs could cope. I'm looking forward to getting back on the bike though - it's pain-free & enjoyable!
 

hotmetal

Senior Member
Location
Near Windsor
When does running stop hurting and become enjoyable?
Shortly before your knees give out. when I was 30-something I used to run 10 miles (none of this 'k' malarkey) but now I can't even walk down steep hills. Probably a few years of martial arts started the problem but running finished it, I wish I'd have stuck to cycling and swimming like Silver Fox said. There was a brief period where I used to actually enjoy running (after I left school where the games teacher would question your sexuality in front of the whole year group if your cross-country time was not very good!) However, the fact that I now cannot go fell-walking any more (which I enjoyed far more than I ever did running) makes me seriously wish I'd never started running. That said, Howard my typography lecturer when I was at university used to run the Bob Graham round (google it) plus another 8 peaks in less than 24hrs and he was in his late 50s, so maybe it's just my knees. I just cycle now.
:bicycle:
 

MrJamie

Oaf on a Bike
Compared to cycling, running doesnt seem to have that same effortless cruise setting, unless maybe you are extremely fit. I dont run that much recently, but i think the attraction was the post-run endorphen hit and achievement in a good time/bigger distance/tougher route.

What was strange for me was that despite being very heavy for running at between 17 and 20 stone (going downwards :P), i never got any joint pain at all from running. I ran several times a week, mostly 5-10k runs but ran over half marathon distance a few times. When i started cycling more last year, i noticed my knees didnt take to it well, mostly on hills and probably from my choice of gears. I find if i drop gears, i lose so much speed i have to further drop until im quite quickly grannygearing up a hill i can power up so much quicker.
 
I'm not cycling whilst I'm doing the 9 weeks - I don't think my legs could cope. I'm looking forward to getting back on the bike though - it's pain-free & enjoyable!

There's the answer Goo. If it feels good do it, if it doesn't, don't. At least you gave it a go.
 

fimm

Veteran
Location
Edinburgh
Grasshopper, to run fast one must first learn to run slow.
+1
I'd still go for the theory that you're running too fast. And technique. Can you hear yourself coming a mile off? Even if you're not as light as you'd like to be, aiming for a quiet foot fall is good. I'm in Edinburgh too, if you'd care to meet up (though I should emphasise that I have no qualifications to talk about this sort of thing whatsoever).

I'm interested by the fact that you have not lost weight, too. Are you monitoring what you eat? Has the fit of your clothes changed at all? (Muscle is more dense than fat, so if you have built some muscle and lost some fat your body composition will have changed even if your weight has not.)
 

Ludwig

Hopeless romantic
Location
Lissingdown
I used to be able to run for 20 miles effortlessly and found running was very enjoyable and used to compete all over the country. Some people are natural born runers and others aren't. If you train every day it becomes part of your routine and isn't that painfull. You have to say that cycling is a lot less stressfull on the joints but running is much cheaper, convenient and can take you to places that no bike can.
 
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