Runners ???

[spedrunner]

Do you feel like you have an unhealthy relationship with your running?

My doctors want me to slow down for various reasons, i am thinking my running is becoming more obsessive than healthy

i find myself beating myself up for missing a run (even when my body needs it) , I find myself running the same time every day, and if im "off" it throws off my day, just a lot of unhealthy thinking

Please share your experiences and how you were able to get back into a healthy fitness cycle/pattern??

Thanks!

[Deleted]

I do this, though not with running specifically. I get into a pattern of all-exercise-all-the-time. It's really hard to back off and find a happy medium. I find that I really do perform better when I do rest, and I try to convince myself that it's a better place for my body. It's hard though and a constant mental struggle.

[RoryGilmore]

Honestly, I injured my foot and was forced to back off. I couldn't even walk without pain. It was that moment (or several moments since it was months!) that I realized that I did this to myself -- I injured myself because I overused my body and overdid it. I knew that either I found a healthy balance or I wouldn't be running at all.

[taratru]

I was getting there last year when I got injured, so the injury helped me step back and reassess. This spring has been hard for me in terms of finding balance and figuring out when I need to run and when I want to. I find that if I take a break, a real actual break, I find it again.

I also have to be sure to have other things to do...good books to read, making plans with the kids, going shopping...other things to look forward to.

[runaways]

I struggle with this. I've never actually transitioned into a full-blown eating or exercise disorder, but I have definitely skirted the line at various times in my life. I think for me a really big thing was actually recognizing that I have these tendencies, which I think are largely genetic based on my family history, and also recognizing that they are problematic. It's easy to see that sort of thing as a "good" issue to have based on our culture, but that's so false.

Also, I look at my body as basically a machine. It has a limited shelf-life, as I am reminded daily by what I see at the hospital. I want to prolong that as much as I can, and that means finding a healthy balance. Feeding it right, exercising it well, but not overdoing it either. I have a fairly clinical perspective on it.

I have no idea if this is helpful to you at all but you're absolutely not alone.

[spedrunner]

Thanks girls all this is really helpful

I am obsessed with having to run first thing in the morning. I run at 4 am daily....if I miss a day I beat myself up or don't feel well all day
I know it's mental mostly and my thinking
I also stress out about going to the bathroom. If I ruin def will go, if not pi may not and this makes me feel crappy (literally)

Def recognizing my behaviors as boot normal. My dr s are telling me to cut back, I've already list my period and I'm not really enjoying it. Or much of anything bc my run is on my mind....

[joenali]

It drives me crazy when I miss a workout. I feel like a failure when I do. I missed my swim today for various reasons and I'm thinking through my head how can I make it up? Even when the rational side of me says it's ok.

I understand about scheduling in a workout, especially swimming as there are only certain times of the day I can go. If I'm late I can't get it all in and it frustrates me.

I'm not a doctor, but what you are writing about doesn't seem uncommon amongst athletes. I don't know if there are other things you are obsessing over, but to me this doesn't sound like its overtaking your life... Unless you feel it is.

[osulori]

I was definitely getting a little unhealthy with my running last fall...the only thing that really forced me to rethink my philosophy was getting pg. And even then, it was really hard (and still isn't easy) to wrap my head around the fact that I had to think about something/someone besides myself and that slowing down/decreasing distance/taking more rest days was not only okay but what I HAD to do.

Any other time I've gotten a little unhealthy about it, though, I wasn't able to really adjust my thinking unless I got hurt...and even then I'd end up lapsing back into old habits. It sucks

[foundmylazybum]

I've had times where I was obsessed with running hard all the time..never taking an easy day--and scared that if I took an "easy" day I would be slow forever. I still worry about that and it's very hard for me to take easy or slow days--and hard for me to take lower mileage days.

I'd rather just not run lol.

One thing that seriously helped me was having two watches. I have my Garmin and it's great but I use it for specific things--checking in with myself to know I'm still fast and in shape, and to check for specific distances on runs. I use it when I'm not especially concerned with..enjoying the run.

I run with my regular watch to run for time, and to really check in with how I'm feeling.

It's generally my recommendation to TAKE YOUR WATCH OFF sometimes--or to get a watch that you use just for time.

Tune into how you actually feel on runs. It was a huge eye opener for me to go to one of my favorite places to run--and be constantly checking my Garmin--and then mentally beating myself up b/c I wasn't on the "right" pace. I completely and totally missed out on the enjoyment of running! Not only that, I couldn't even see that um...my favorite place to run is a hilly single track trail so really the time is different anyways--didn't matter! SHOULD BE fast! (I stopped wearing the Garmin there--all the time)


Find places you actually enjoy running. Spend time looking at the scenery around you and take it in. Forget the pace--your body will tell you what pace is right for that run.

Believe me--this isn't that easy--letting go, perhaps actually listening to your body and running easy...so yeah...try that!

[breezy8407]

I was that way in high school and the first few years of college. I cried when I had pnuemonia and my doctor said I couldn't run for a week.

I think what changed me for good was an injury in college. I broke my foot and wasn't able to run for 2 months. It was really hard, but I think once I realized that I wouldn't gain 100 pounds, and the speed I would lose would come back, I accepted it.

I guess I don't have any good advice. I am in a way different place now, mostly because of my life situation now. I still get really down on myself if I miss a planned run. I used to be afraid of gaining weight if I didn't run. Is it something you are afraid of happening if you don't?

[D2M]

Guys, I'm really sad to read some of the responses in this thread. I kind of want to give you all a big fat hug. I love running and was really bummed when I had bad tendonitis a few years ago and couldn't get outside for a few months, but there are so many other things to be excited about -- beautiful weather, other types of exercise, reading a good book, trying new foods, etc., etc. I know some of you are serious athletes, but there's no reason to beat yourself up if you miss a run or don't do well on one.

spedrunner, I am not a doctor or a medical professional at all, but it's concerning to read that you feel if you don't run, your day is ruined. It sounds like you are on the right track by talking to your doctor and trying to get help. I remember you mentioned a while back that you don't get your period and have struggled with an ED, so I hope you are able to find happiness outside of running every day. Please take care of yourself.

[spedrunner]

May 1, 2013 9:00:42 GMT -5 breezy8407 said:

I was that way in high school and the first few years of college. I cried when I had pnuemonia and my doctor said I couldn't run for a week.

I think what changed me for good was an injury in college. I broke my foot and wasn't able to run for 2 months. It was really hard, but I think once I realized that I wouldn't gain 100 pounds, and the speed I would lose would come back, I accepted it.

I guess I don't have any good advice. I am in a way different place now, mostly because of my life situation now. I still get really down on myself if I miss a planned run. I used to be afraid of gaining weight if I didn't run. Is it something you are afraid of happening if you don't?

Yes ive struggled with ED in the past and def do find myself thinking negatively (omg im going to gain weight if i dont run, or i feel fat if i dont run, this is something I am working on with my therapist, i am aware of it and that it is unhealthy and trying to make some positive changes)

[Deleted]

Rest days are really important. I used to feel guilty on rest days and used to be all about running. I think with some various injuries and therapy, I've come to a more healthier place with running. I still do it - 4 to 5 times a week, but I mainly just go out and run until I feel like stopping and that's good enough for me. I don't beat myself up if I miss a run and I try to enjoy them. I also make time for other activities that are good for me too so I don't spend a ton of time just running.

When I would obsess over it, I found I didn't enjoy running very much. It started to feel like a chore. One thing that helped was joining a gym that offered a lot of different classes for me to take/explore.

[shorty20]

I think I have a healthy relationship with it.

I enjoy running, and try to get out 3-4 days a week, but if I don't feel like it, I don't run.  Now, I do usually feel a little guilty about skipping it, but not to the point where I beat myself up about it.  It's supposed to be fun, so when it's not fun, that's when I take a break. 

I must say though that I did really miss it though last summer when I was injured and couldn't run for over 6 weeks.  I try to think of that when I want to park my lazy ass on the couch instead.

Your body definitely needs rest, ask all of us former and (current) injured runners!

[gumi]

I've been like this in the past, before kids. But I understand now that missing a run = no big deal. You don't get fat, you don't lose speed...there are NO negative consequences for missing a run. None!!

BUT...if you push it, that is when you get injured. That is when you get burnt out. That is when running stops being fun and becomes an obligation. It is not worth it.

Also, I remind myself that recovery is when fitness grows. You are LESS fit after a workout - you need to recover from it in order to benefit. Recovery doesn't mean do nothing...I still go for easy jogs, do yoga, swimming, etc. But, understanding how my body works helps me make healthy decisions.

I try to keep running as fun as possible - I run with my friends. I do a lot of trail running. I run with my kids. And, I only run when I want to run. For me, this is most of the time, but even I do need a break (physically and mentally) and when that happens, I take a break. Because like I said above, I have everything to gain from skipping a run and NOTHING to lose.

Do you do yoga? I have found that yoga is such a great alternative for a traditional workout. I do hot yoga so I still sweat, but it keeps me flexible and loose and elevates my mood.

ETA:  One good to question to ask yourself before a run is, what is the purpose of this workout?  Is it a scheduled speed workout?  A tempo run?  A long run?  You are meeting friends?  Sometimes if we are training for something, we have to suck it up and do it.  But, is the run just a recovery run?  A run just because you think you should run?  "Junk miles?"  These are runs that we should be okay with, and really need to be okay with, skipping.

[cinco]

I can be a bit obsessive about running. It isn't because I'm worried about gaining weight, or thinking I will lose fitness. It is more of a control and coping mechanism. When things in my personal life get a bit nutty or stressful, I like to have a constant I can focus on. This past summer, when I had 3 kids home with me all day, including a baby that didn't sleep at all, getting those miles and miles in, just felt comforting (? I'm not sure if that word is the one I want, it's hard to explain). Like, "my life is insane, but I ran 8 miles before the kids woke up". In the long ago past, I've done this with food restriction, so I can see how (for me), it is about control not running/racing. Right now, I'm going through lots of stress, but also coming back from an injury. I have enough sense to not risk it with going overboard on the running. I'm trying to focus on getting through my stressors, and doing lots of positive self talk.