I'm addicted to exercise- AMA

[sub20min5km]

I train to high/high intensity minimum 6 days a week, across 9 sessions. I've done many extreme events. Will move meetings at work/social events to train. AMA ?

Do you ever take a week off?
I exercise a lot, but have decided to take a week off

And is the 'utter hell' the reason why you enjoyed it? Are you secretly simply a masochist?

No I just loved that it pushed me hard to trust my strength. Face my fears. And get shit done. Have done it twice. Once with a team of strangers and once me and DH in a team of strangers from the prior year who are now mates.

Do you get a 'win' out of everyone seeing you exercise? (Like do you post endlessly on SM about it) Be honest.

Nope. Will post the big wins. Like TM. PB.
But not the daily selfie

Have you ever surprised yourself at the pain you can put yourself through? Have you ever found you simply didn't have the mental reserves on the day and just given up?

Also: are you as disciplined in other areas of your life or are there areas where you procrastinate, etc?

How did you get started?

Have you always exercised or is this a new thing? I have a friend who trains A LOT but she's only recently got into it
Could a couch potato who used to run get into exercise and become trim or would I need to be totally obsessed at age 44 to trim down?

When I was like this (though preDC) it was because I was actually masking an eating disorder.
Would you say that this might apply to you?

Parkrun kids come - regardless of tears

Do you make them do the run? How old are they??

I have never had a DNF.
At one point in my life I was suicidal, ran the great north run and a local half marathon for MIND on a weekend. Made it easier to tell family I was unwell and needed help.
Had IVF after round 3 failed, I got drunk took opiates ate takeaway and still dragged my arse round parkrun in the morning at 7am. Crying. Every. Step

DC are young teens, and yes I have made them run. We have had tears. As many parents of kids from 2-teen do at parkrun. It's common to see a 7year old crying being carried by mum at the pain point of 1.5km to go

I assumed you were posting here to ask for help.

I'm rather appalled that you force your kids to go on Parkrun and you think you're setting a good example.

Doesn't sound super fun for your kids, that's for sure

You over train by the way. I can state that as a fact despite not being an expert.

People do Parkrun dragging aroundsobbing 7 year olds?! I thought it was supposed to be fun?!

@PierreBezukov 5km is not a huge distance. Young teens should be able to complete that comfortably with a light jog. If you can't run/walk that you have a fitness problem

What extreme event haven't you done that you would you most like to do?

What’s the longest run you’ve done? Eg do you do ultra marathons

Have you ever had a few days/weeks off the exercise and struggled to get back into it?

Addiction is an illness...

Will train through holidays, but fun stuff like short gym sessions, surf etc.
post IVF was desperate to get back, literally itching to get sweaty
Aiming for an ultra.
Completed the Oxfam trail - 100km
Marathons
Tri/iron man series

Honestly it sounds like you have a problem. Even a healthy addiction is still an addiction. You need to get help for your families sake.

Why for my family ?
How does it impact on them?

Tbh OP I envy you. I got back to the gym last week and then ended up with a viral infection so I’ve just been feeling sorry for myself. Aim to get into it next week. It’s brilliant what your doing exercise is so so important. I wish I had the willpower and mental strength.

still dragged my arse round parkrun in the morning at 7am.

How come your parkrun is at 7am?? That's a bit fresh, I thought most were at 9!

How do you feel if you don't get to do a workout one day? Or if you don't see any progress?