I want to start running but I hate it. What can I do and buy to give me motivation?

[Homeiswherethedogsare]

Always hated running but I am realising it is one of the easiest way to incorporate some regular exercise into my busy life as a FT working mum as I can easily squeeze a 30 min jog on my lunch breaks when WFH. I do dance classes in the evenings sometimes so I guess that's my "fun" exercise, the running is mainly a chore I need to do to be in a better shape and improve longer term health.

I don't have any running gear, my trainers are 7 years old and possible not suited for running so as a start I am going to invest in a decent pair of shoes. What else do I need? I have normal gym clothes, nothing running specific, do I need to think about buying anything that will help me be more comfortable?

I cannot move without music so usually take my phone with me, a pair of headphones would be nice but don't feel ready to spend money on them yet as my motivation might not last.

Any tips you can share would be very helpful. Goal is not to run a marathon but to simply incorporate a 30-45 min jog into my daily life 2-3 times a week for many years to come. Is it realistic?

OP has asked about running, and how to make that more enjoyable, not the gazillion other options. Telling someone they won't stick at something because it is difficult at the start is so negative and putting that thought into people's heads is setting them up to fail before they even start. Where is the encouragement and support?

Arrange to meet up with a friend for a run, then it's harder to wimp out if you're not in the mood. I always enjoy my runs but I'm not always enthusiastic to start them. The chats keep me going, and failing that, podcasts seem to make the time go faster than music. Open ear wireless headphones are really useful.
When I first got into running, I found one of the best things was exploring alleyways, woods, paths that you'd never come across when driving. I liked that it gave me a much deeper knowledge of my local area, both town and country.

Yeah I’m not sure about that, I also think doing something you dislike intently is not going to see you stick at it, very very few people do something they hate consistently, so I feel that it may be optimal to find something she loves. It doesn’t mean she can’t run, but maybe when she doesn’t fancy it she does 30 mins of Pilates or something so she breaks it up.

I know I couldn’t stick to something I hate. And as a pp said, no matter how many bras trainers and airbuds you’ve got, none of us are going to be there egging her on to go out in tne rain.

I can't stand running and I've been doing it long enough to know I am never going to love it even though, as PP have said, some people do come to love it.

I do it because it supports a cake habit, its good for my cardiovascular system and bone density, it is free once you've bought a bit of basic kit, I don't have to drive anywhere to do it (although I do drive to the gym and run on a treadmill in bad weather), I can do it when it suits me, it gives me a sense of achievement, I sometimes run with friends which is a nice social thing to do and I get to listen to the birds tweeting and get some fresh air.

The most annoying thing is I do feel so much better mentally and physically after going for a run. 😡

I've always hated running too. I used to use the step machine to burn some calories, get some cardio in. I started running this year; my husband introduced me to the MIA app and I'm now obsessed with getting my AQ points, and the easiest way to get my AQ is by running.

Good running shoes a must, I tend to watch something on my phone so I'm somewhat distracted on the treadmill. 30-40mins can fly by quick enough and I would have done my 5km+ for the day. So, I look at it as an achievement and I do generally feel quite good afterwards. I haven't really tried running outside though so can't comment on that.. And your goal is definitely realistic.

Agree.

If the OP wants to do something she knows she hates then by all means support her if she want. I prefer to be realistic - when there are so many alternative forms of exercise that are more likely to be sustainable then why waste your money on running shoes.

People hate running because it's hard! But that means it makes you fitter pretty quickly. And it gets a bit less hard once you get used to it! Running feels like something human beings should naturally be able to do. So being able to do it makes you feel like a functioning human! It's also really good to get outside, especially if you have some nice countryside nearby. Quite a lot of people who are evangelical running bores fans hated it at first.

I tried it, stuck at it, realised my initial hatred of it was justified! Now I go for long walks with my dog instead - bliss

I tried it, hated it, but wanted to be better at it so stuck at it. As I got better at it I started to enjoy it. Then I started entering races and realised I’m pretty quick for a 40 year old relative novice. So now I have a hobby that I love, Keeps me fit, provides lots of social opportunities and I’m actually fairly ok at. I was 9th female out of 400 in our towns recent half marathon. So there’s a sense of achievement too.

people are all different and not everyone will grow to love it, but never discount it because someone else doesn’t like it.

Find a friendly running cloud doing c25k. I have tried the app and never managed to complete it but with the motivation of others in the club it was much easier

That great you grew to like it and well done on your half marathon- that's a great achievement! I still believe that you're more likely to stick at something that you enjoy (or don't mind) from the outset though.

Do you have a dog?!? If so I firmly recommend trying Canicross, it’s brilliant fun. And trail running is the way forward- you cannot run through a muddy wood and puddles without smiling!

Oh and enter lots of races!!
not much I won’t do for a medal!!!

I have to enter races to keep me motivated. Will be doing my second HM later this year after swearing to never do one again.

The Sheffield Round Run is a good one - lots of short runs which add up to nearly a half marathon.

I've completed C25K twice, started a new job, completely got out of the habit... went for W1R1 today and my goodness do I ache

@Shouldertocryon1 I did my last C25K with a local running club and they were brilliant, really supportive. If I'd been able to continue running with them it would have been really helpful!

I love a race too @OrlandointheWilderness although I usually have my DC with me and hence we get very dirty and are very slow... but that's fine

Humans aren’t built for running. We’re built for walking long distances and for sprinting for very short distances. Not running.

I think there's an expectation that you can go out and just run on day 1 and that determines whether it's the hobby for you or not. People wouldn't say that about learning the piano or playing tennis or whatever - it takes a certain amount of practice and the same goes for running.

Running really helps with my mental health but I only really get that "running zen" once I can really find my rhythm and can get into a physical and mental flow state. But that doesn't happen overnight, it takes practice to have a base level of running fitness where it all clicks. And even when you're a decent runner the first mile is like the first pancake in a batch, always rubbish.

A misconception that has been touted recently by a social media influencer. There’s a lot of evidence that humans are very much built for endurance running.

If the OP is still around, here is mg twopenith.

I do it for fitness. I went from not enjoying it to being very pleasantly surprised that I do.

• I have goal: A half marathon that I've paid for.
• I only run twice a week.
• I do body-weight and gym-machine exercises for my bum, legs and hips.
• never run on an empty stomach
• always with music or podcast
• I run in nice places: in the nature (I live in a nordic country where the council provide all-weather nature trails) or the city centre on a weekend morning.
• with the dog. He loves it and also needs the exercise (tubby)!
• I expect that the last 1/4 of the run will not be as enjoyable. I frame it as "making progress", which does help.

But my top tip is to walk. I used to think that I should only walk for the first couple of weeks, then I should be "ready" to run all the time. God no! I actually do a faster time if I include walking than if I run all the time. It is a complete gamer changer. At the moment i run for 5 minutes and walk for 1.

Good luck!

Walking as strategy not failure is a game changer!

I mean, I am pretty sure you can say the same about most sports then?

Thank you!

The theory is that in the days of hunter-gatherers, humans would need the stamina to chase their prey to exhaustion at which point it's then safe to finish it off with simple tools.
Trying to kill a large mammal while it's still fresh and energetic to fight back would be too dangerous.

Humans needed stamina and enough speed to keep the target in sight and keep it moving, but didn't need to constantly catch up.

Seems like good justification to run/ walk (Jeffing) to me

I’m 62, a bit overweight & took up running 5 years ago. It’s the only exercise I have ever stuck at for any time.

I belong to a club & follow the rule that I go to every weekly session unless it’s pouring with rain or over 25 degrees.

That way I don’t have to ‘decide’ and then cop out.

Hope it’s going well for you OP.