Could I ever enjoy running?!

I have never been a runner; I hate getting out of breath ad sweaty, and I am also knock kneed, pigeon toed AND have a low arch (which I have orthotics for but I can barely walk in them, let alone run!). So I was always a swimmer. However, after dying my hair blonde and then having an unfortunate mishap with either the chlorine or the sauna which caused it to go bright orange, I thought I'd give running a go.

And I still hate it! However, I never managed to complete the 'mile challenge' at school and so at 25, that is something I would like to achieve.

I downloaded the c25k app today and did day one... man oh man, running is a very different type of fitness compared to swimming! I was knackered! But I shall soldier on; I'd love to be one of those show offs who posts their Nike+ runs on Facebook

So are there any runners out there who started out hating it but came to love it, or at least hate it a little bit less? 

I got into running after a mountain bike accident, after about a month of not being able to ride I thought I'd start running to maintain my fitness. Despite thinking I was fit due to years of cycling, I really suffered and it took me several weeks of really struggling before I managed to run a 2.5mile route without stopping.  I didn't intend to keep running - I just wanted to see if I could run a 5 mile loop without stopping, then a 10k race, then a half-marathon, then I spent a while improving my times for 10ks etc ... etc ...

In the last two years, I don't think I've ridden my mountain bike and have very rarely used my road bike.  

There is a good chance you will get that "eureka" moment where suddenly it all starts to fall into place and you feel that you are running gracefully rather than fighting to move forward (although, in my case, any onlookers may just see a red-faced, sweaty bloke who looked like he was continually stumbling over an imaginary sheep!).  Then it gets very hard not to spend a lot of your free time planning your runs, and next events etc. 

Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)

 
You wouldn't wear an MP3 while making love would you? 

/Makes note for next time.

Ian M wrote (see)

Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)

 
You wouldn't wear an MP3 while making love would you? 

/Makes note for next time.

Running = fundamentally solo activity even if running with others therefore headphones appropriate in certain circumstances

Making love = not fundamentally solo activity therefore headphones inappropriate.

Mind you following from Sussex Runner logic if you hate making love then you could wear headphones to transmit this message to your partner to save an awkaward conversation! I can see this solution in the problem pages already.

Crimson wrote (see)

Ian M wrote (see)

Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)

 
You wouldn't wear an MP3 while making love would you? 

/Makes note for next time.

Mind you following from Sussex Runner logic if you hate making love then you could wear headphones to transmit this message to your partner to save an awkaward conversation! I can see this solution in the problem pages already.

LOL

Not very good at quoting on this, lol

I am the kind of person who kind of likes to work out alone as I find it great for clearing my head.

That said, I have just discovered the Zombies, Run! 5k Training app which I think could really help me to enjoy it!

So which of the major city marathons have you entered now you have started running? You've downloaded the app, you have your music, but what about your gait analysis and gels, a drink belt a must, and of course if you pronate, a biomechanical illness.

I don't know why we're talking about life and death, it's running. You're not going to have to make that choice. lol, Just try things that can be fun, you said you're a swimmer, have you ever thought about a triathlon? You've already got swimming, you just need to improve on running and cycling.