I played sports in high school and college but running then was a punishment. In my mid forties I started running mainly as a way to get out of the house where no one could ask me to do anything. I increased my fitness slowly to running half marathons. No danger of my ever placing anything, but I got to the top 10% of my age group. My Achille’s really started killing me about a year ago and I just had to stop. Finally, about a month ago, I was able to run pain free. Am back to about 15 miles a week and hope I can climb to 30 or so. Don’t think half marathons are in my future but so glad to have running in my life again.
@4kids4us - both of my kids thought running was “stupid” when they were in HS, Now both are into fitness and run. D has run several races including a half and S is training for one now. There’s hope!
You beat everyone who didn’t show up! So glad to see all the CC runners here! And remember- Forward is a pace!
I have really loved reading all these stories - if you haven’t chimed in, please still do!
Everyone should feel comfortable where ever you are at - whether it’s a couple miles for general fitness or a real run plan with an end goal of a pace at a race. It’s truly ALL good!
I am a fan of the Galloway method too. It’s my good charm in my pocket on those days when I’m just not feeling as confident or when I want to go longer distances. I have never had any qualms about taking walking breaks when I need it. As I told myself from the start, “this is MY game to play”. So I have custom runs saved on the app I use to sometimes do a 3/1 or 4/1 run.
None of my three kids were runners. Son was involved in lots of sports but never track/CC. However he did laps upon laps as conditioning in soccer/tennis/basketball. Hated it. Now as a college grad and professional running is his exercise of choice. He has a lot of fun with it and it is a great release for him as well.
I HATE the gym. I like the simplicity of tying my running shoes and heading out the door. I like showering in my own home. I’m no fashionista and most of my running clothes are old and I don’t need much. Simple. Just me and my pounding heart and legs.
I am now inspired to celebrate National Running Day! If I can get up early enough, I think I’ll sign up for the Lard Butt 1K on Saturday. It claims it is: “Dedicated to the below-average athlete and weekend warrior in all of us, the Lard Butt 1K will replace timing chips with chocolate chips, water stations with donut stations and feature a well-stocked beer garden before and after, along with a Health and Fatness Expo.” Free beer for hydration, gotta do it for the T-shirt!
^^ Love that, busdriver!
You would get heckled for sure, MOWC! No serious runners will go unscathed, though some will surely be there. I pity the poor soul who finishes first.
Hey- we run for beer and donuts!
I played field hockey in high school because I enjoyed the school spirit and being on a team. But I hated the running! Did nothing for exercise other than walking and hiking until I hit my 50s. Tried going to a gym and hated that. Found the Galloway run/walk book and had a revelation–it’s ok to take walk breaks! I run every other day now and really enjoy it. I take my running shoes and a great bra whenever we travel and I run anywhere I can.
A good sports bra was the final piece of the puzzle for me–why didn’t it occur to any of us to sew one in Home Ec. class back in 1978??
I read Dean Karnazes’ book “Ultra Marathon-Man” in 2005 and was immediately inspired to start running. I was in my early 30s and was well past the “glory days” of my HS/college athletic career. Not too long after, I ran 4 marathons (3 actually, but NY 2x) and participated in multiple 200 mile/24 hour relays (so much fun). I haven’t done either of those in about 6-8 years, but I still run for physical as well as mental health. In fact, I put in 6 miles this AM before work.
OMG so true on the support accessories @FrancescaBennett !!!
I decided to join the track team as a freshman in HS. About 30 minutes into practice my first day (maybe it was only 15), I threw up.
I was about ready to quit at the end of practice when the coach yelled “hey 1Dreamer, I think you’re going to be great!” I remember thinking . . . . . is he nuts? I’m terrible at this! But this little voice in the back of my head that said . . . . if he thinks I’m going to be good, maybe I should stick it out. Still thought he was nuts, though. 
My sophomore year, I was placed on the varsity team (almost unheard of at my school which had an unwritten rule that only juniors and seniors were place on varsity), I broke a school record, and my name went up on the big board for record holders in the gym. I had a late birthday and didn’t turn 16 until the beginning of junior year, so all this was at age 15. It gave me a lot of confidence and no doubt changed my HS experience for the better, and all because of that one comment by the coach that first day that kept me from quitting.
There were a couple of lessons there. (1) The little things we say to someone that we might think are insignificant at the time can have a large and lasting impact, and (2) if you stick with something and give it a fair shot no matter how terrible you think you are at it initially, you might be surprised and learn a few things about yourself in the process.
I ran only for exercise in college and after, but I always had weak ankles that didn’t do well on uneven surfaces off the track and kept twisting them, and after wrenching my knee one too many times skiing, I decided to give it up and joined a gym.
I also bought a bike and started riding for exercise early last year, so I alternate between the gym and riding now. I’m not going to call is “cycling” because I’m not that serious about it. No cycling shorts for me. 
I just wear my regular gym gear and really enjoy being out in the sun and fresh air, and according to my cycling app, I’ve done 3,500 miles in 15 months, so I’m surprising myself yet again. Go me.
I am as far from athletically skilled as you can get. Actually failed PE once in high school. Took a class in college that combined lab (running) and lecture (physiology, nutrition) that changed my life. Became a slow runner who ran races just for fun. Once my body said ‘no mas’ to the running in my 40’s, I switched to power walking (about 12 min. pace). I’ve power walked 3 full marathons and 65 half; working toward my goal of a half in all 50 states, I’m at 29 as of now. Can’t imagine life without it.
Where’s @sabaray ? She’s one of the CC resident runners!
OMG, @oneofthosemoms why run when you can powerwalk at 12/min/mile!!! How do you do that! I’ve done 14/min/mile but at that point I feel like I’m better off running because I feel like my walking stance gets too stiff trying to go so fast - so I’m better off bending my knees and getting my feet off the ground.
That’s amazing all those races you have power walked! I bow to you!
@abasket, it does take some adjustment; the hip flexors in particular absorb a different stress level from the fast walking pace. Barre classes and myofascial release help to loosen what power walking tightens up. But it’s sooo much easier on my hips, back and knees. I should also say that 12:xx is my race pace; when training I’m in the 13:xx range.
For many years I was an occasional runner, doing a few 5k and 10k runs, a couple half marathons, and one marathon, for which I was painfully underprepared.
I suffered a stroke in 2008, which left me walking with a limp and totally unable to run.
A couple years later I enrolled in a two week long, eight hour per day, intensive stroke rehab program. As part of my therapy they put me on a treadmill while wearing a harness that supported much of my weight, and had me try to run while a therapist took hold of my shoe and knee and guided me through the motion of running.
By the end of the two weeks I was able to propel myself forward at a pace faster than a walk, but which hardly resembled running.
But I persevered. At the time I frequented a gym that had an indoor track, where one lap was 1/9 of a mile. I started out doing one lap, and gradually worked up to three laps, or a third of a mile. I made a point of going to the gym when it was least crowded and only tried running when there was nobody else on the track. Not only was my running awkward; it was also loud, with my left foot consistently dragging and thumping.
After plateauing at 1/3 mile for a while I resolved to work it up to a mile. This led to a breakthrough. About the time I reached my mile goal I realized that the foot drag sound was gone and that my gait had normalized.
I WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING AGAIN!
So I just kept going, working up to 5k, then 5 miles, then 10k, then 10 miles. If you saw me today, whether I was running, or not, you’d never guess I’m a stroke survivor.
My ultimate victory was meeting a challenge given to me by a runner friend, who introduced me to the concept of “running a 10k in your age”, that is, running 6.2 miles in 40 minutes if you’re 40, or 50 minutes if you’re 50, etc.
I first tried it at age 58 and was successful, and have made a point to do it at least once a year ever since.
Sherpa- What a terrific and inspiring story!
I’ve just gotten into running and ran my very first race last month. Unfortunately, I am now injured and waiting for my poor middle-aged body to heal.