{Two Things Tuesday Vol. #6}
I have a confession. I’ve been running. Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my mind. I haven’t been running much…and definitely not far.
The 5K I ran this past weekend was a PR for distance these days. And I started feeling it yesterday afternoon AFTER I already decided to lift. Today should be interesting.
My days of running for an hour every single day are long gone. My true love these days is lifting heavy things, especially overhead. As Mike and I joke, I’m doing the muscle thing lately. {Someone said that to me recently and it cracked me up.}
Enjoy today’s TWO THINGS TUESDAY with two reasons you should run… why you definitely should NOT run. Don’t forget, if you’ve been reading something you think I’d love and should share here, please let me know!
Two Reasons To Run
1. Run because you love it. There are some people who just love running. It’s hard to believe now, but this was me for many years. I loved the alone time, the opportunity to explore new places, especially when I went to college in a new city, and I especially loved the way I felt after sweating like a pig every morning. There are still certain places and times I love to run, they are just much fewer and further between now.
2. Run because you want to be able to run. Running is a skill, but most people don’t treat it that way. This is basically my reason for running right now. Besides the random day (and we’re talking like once every 8 weeks) that I really feel in the mood to go for a run, I run simply so I can.
I run so I can…
…Go out to support a friend or loved one in a 5K and hold my own.
…Run if someone is chasing me.
…Keep up with my kids who run…a lot.
And a Few Reasons NOT to Run
1. Don’t run solely to lose weight or burn calories. A quick google search for gaining weight during marathon training shows you tons of articles about people who gain weight when they train for a marathon…or any race, really.
If you’re running solely to lose weight, my prediction is you’ll be disappointed. Look, running burns calories, but likely not as many as you think. And there’s a very good chance you’re going to be so hungry it’s going to be nearly impossible to be in a calorie deficit if you’re running a lot. Pay attention to your hunger levels when you do different types of exercise. Nutrition is number 1 when it comes to fat loss so if you’re exercising to lose weight yet the exercise you’re doing is making you excessively hungry that’s not going work well, is it?
2. Don’t run if you hate it. There are plenty of other ways to exercise. If you hate something, whether it’s the type of exercise you’re doing or some crazy diet plan you’re following you will not stick with it. Forcing yourself to exercise in a way that doesn’t feel good and makes you miserable is not the ticket to long-lasting habit change.
My suggestion… learn to lift weights. Then, walk a lot. Like a real lot. Park far away, take extra trips up and down the stairs, have walking meetings, run around with your kids. Just move. A LOT. Like Danny says,”Move a lot”. Move a ton and keep moving. Find reasons to move and don’t stop.
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So, what’s the best training option for you? Should you run?
Maybe, maybe not. Find a form of exercise you love and that makes you feel good. Get consistent. Keep track of how you feel and if your training program is helping you reach your goals. If it’s not, be honest with yourself and give something else a try.
Also, if you do love running, you should be strength training too, but that’s another topic for another day. 😉
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