Weekly Running Chat- Why We Don't Run

Sunday, November 06, 2011 · Mike Davis

What keeps you from running?

For me, it’s many things from a sore hip, long hours at work, tired body, clock change and so on and so on… While some of my reasons are legit, some are just covers for motivational shortage. Really, Mike Davis, not motivated, the guy that wants everyone out in the middle of a snow storm pushing through a 6 mile run! Yup, more times than I care to admit I looked at my clock, the darkness and considered my options. Always thinking I could run later in the day or tomorrow when it would be less dark at the same time. Hmm… At the end of a work day, I would feel the weight of the day’s work on my back like a carrying a Smart car. Tired and ready to be at home relaxing, I would convince myself that I should just go home. Specially this time a year, it’s cold, dark, windy and not many races to train for, so missing a few runs won’t hurt me. Can I get an amen!

I could stop right here and some of you might even say; “Mike you are so right and glad you finally see it my way!” I hope that’s not the case, but there are days when I struggle with being a runner. Is it okay to not be a runner? Yeah, but there’s always consequences, with not being a runner. As with in life, each time we succumb to the choice of not being a runner, we make it easier to continue down that road (not in running shoes). Think about where you’re at and what you have accomplished as far as runners. Yes you can start back up once the snow is gone, when the days are longer or when you feel like it. Have you lost anything? As a matter of fact, you have lost conditioning that is not so simple to recover. Studies show conditioning we lose from November through February, takes on average one month more each year to regain. The weight we add on during that same time is also a greater challenge to rid ourselves of as well. With each passing year it gets more difficult to shed those extra pounds we put on during those down times.

So is it as simple as start running and just keep running? Ideally yes, that would be great and we might not lose that momentum that we build up when everything is going right with our motivation. Many have used training groups to help with that motivation and the success has been enormous. What happens after that is when we are assaulted with all the challenges life can throw at us along with motivation struggles. Resourceful individuals find running partners that help keep us accountable and motivated. I’m fortunate in that a simple thing like seeing a person out on the road running, motivates me to get on the road. Just the thought of seeing others out doing something that I know means so much to me, gets me in my Asics. I understand this does not work for everyone and many times legitimate reasons make running a challenge. What you have to ask yourself is; do my legitimate excuses keep me from running or do I combine them with some no so legit excuses and together they keep me out of those shoes? Be honest and overcome the not so legit excuses and you will find time for running. Life may keep me from running as often as I might like, but I keep myself from not running at all.

I go through the typical ups and downs with running, but in the end I know the only answer is: Just run! The alternative is not only a physical affect, but also a mental one as well. For me, overcoming excuses not to do things in life that will make me better help me to be better. Putting off something for another day does not improve me at all. I know it’s not always easy, I go through those moments and yes I give in a time or two. More times than not, I’m honest with myself which leads to what I know to be true. I am a runner!