Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Running to Stand Still


I went for a “run” this morning — which is to say I went for a walk with some bursts of running mixed in. The bursts of running were longer than I have done in the past, but I am definitely still in the mostly walking stage. I want to like running. I really really do, but I hate it from the very first step. My feet hurt, my calves hurt and the pain starts as soon as I start to run. What am I doing wrong? I have friends who run triathalons and a friend running the Boston marathon in a few days. Does every step hurt for all 26 miles? I can’t even get all the way down my street. Ugh.

I ran track in middle school and cross country for one season in high school. I don’t remember LOVING it, but I know I could run several miles without any problem. Yes, in the many intervening years between then and now I have done lots and lots of things to my body that are not conducive to running, but I am pretty healthy and reasonably strong—so why is this so hard? I am not a wimp and I am not afraid of physical effort—I had two babies with no painkillers and I feel like if I could do that, I should be able to do anything. But with every step, my legs scream NO NO NO NO NO.

I will try again tomorrow, and hopefully there will be a little less walking and a little more running. And hopefully, I will start to like it.

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