Do you find it entertaining that sometimes you dread the longer runs, and yet those longer runs (or harder runs) make you feel bada$$ — or like Wonder Woman?
I am joining the Friday Five 2.0 from Fairytales & Fitness and Rachel @ Running on Happy and thinking out loud about why I love to train — and don’t.
I enjoy running for fun
I will admit it — sometimes I enjoy running more when I’m in my off season. When it’s no biggie if I skip a run, or shorten a run, or lengthen a run — just do whatever I feel like doing.
Sometimes it’s nice to be a sloth
You know, when it’s cold pouring rain. Or below freezing. Or so hot and humid you’re a puddle before you barely step outside.
I could be better at the shorter distances
I’m never going to be fast — I mean, look at those former elite atheltes. Look at their bodies, even though they are many years away from their peak. I do not look like that. I am built like a Russian peasant woman, because that is exactly my ancestry; not exactly known for their running ability.
If I trained for shorter distances, I’m sure I could improve my shorter race times. And yet . . .
. . . I love the challenge
Seriously, doesn’t running 10 miles before most people are even stirring on the weekends make you feel accomplished? Like you could do anything? Dare I say it, BadA$$?
There’s something about going longer
If it were easy, everyone would do it. Yet I feel most people could do it — if they wanted to. Hard as it is sometimes, there’s just something about knowing you can run for miles if you had to that’s very satisfying.
Talk to me. Leave a comment or answer a question:
Are you happiest when you’re training for something?
Or are you happiest when you doing something you love just for the love of it?
Did you participate in Global Running Day this year (it was a rest day for me)?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
It’s complicared.
I always have a long race on my schedule. That motivates me to get out there in all conditions and seasons.
But I don’t have a plan or coach because I want the freedom to do as I like. As you said, run for fun. Skip a run. Skip all those painful drills.
So I know I could be faster. But at a cost.
Of course I ran on Global Running Day. A 5k for fun.
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I enjoy having an off season. It doesn’t mean I stop running, but life can be simpler when you run for fun. If I’m going to race, I’m usually going to train — not saying that’s not rewarding, too, but it can get tiring. We’re not all energizer bunnies.
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Only off seasons I have would be if I have an injury.
If I had your training schedule I would be exhausted. 400s. Ugh. I try not to run more than 3 miles during the week. I often skip long runs. So it doesn’t get tiring.
When you’re my age, you have to do the same. Lol.
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We all have different lives, different goals, there is no right or wrong.
I know if I had your job, I wouldn’t be racing so much — I do like to race, but I also find it tiring. Plus if I were traveling that much, I’d want to just chill at home. Again, we’re all different.
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I’m definitely happiest when I’m just running for the enjoyment of it! That’s what I have been doing lately. I’m so thankful!
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I’m kind of both ways. I do like working towards a goal, but it does also get tiring towards the end — and then it’s fun to run for fun.
Plus I have many states to go . . .
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Sometimes I’m happy to be training and sometimes I’m not. For me running has a flow to it. I don’t like to force it.
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There’s definitely a cycle to everything! As long as we pay attention to that, we’re good.
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I do like having something I am training for as it certainly motivates me. I know I would do better training for a 5K and really trying to improve my times but alas, never seems to happen.
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I didn’t end up really training for my 5ks either. That’s life. I’m still glad I did them!
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It’s funny how you mention ancestry. My sister and I come from the same family yet we are both so different at running. I suppose that could come from the amount of training she puts in compared to me. But I also wonder if it could be body type too. I wonder what my body is actually capable of??? But sometimes I’m too lazy to find out…haha -M
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Well, my sister & I are quite different, too. She’s the one with the athletic ability (although not so much into exercising these days). She also has a much, much better metabolism than me — maybe it’s those few extra inches on me she has!
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I like running just because when I am not training for anything. It makes me enjoy my runs and doesn’t make me feel like I have to do it or it’s a chore. Even when I w, not training for a race I still try to run a double digit once a week.
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Never run double digits if I’m not training for anything. That’s crazy talk. 🙂 But then I could enjoy a bit more food . . .
Sometimes when I training runs can become a chore, I won’t lie. And then you have some glorious ones and you feel so accomplished you remember why you love running!
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I don’t believe in the last six years that I’ve ever gone out for a run feeling that I’m going to nail it. I am always apprehensive, no matter how long or short the outing will be. BUT, sometimes, and it’s especially delicious when it’s unexpected, at the end of a run I feel strong, healthy, powerful.
That happened during my last run, on Wednesday (Global Running Day!), when I had three half miles intervals, the longest I’d run after a hiatus of nearly a year. I had three hours sleep the night before and was very tired but did not want to miss the chance to run on a beautiful afternoon, even after work. I thought I’d be dragging and was going to be okay with it if I had to walk a bit during the half milers. Nope! At the end of the third one I was beginning to tire a bit but felt good. I checked my Garmin and saw I had only 6/100 of a mile. I asked myself, if I had to, could I continue? Yes, I could. It felt great.
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I’m not sure I ever go out for a run feeling like i’m going to nail it (those are usually a gift) but neither am I usually apprehensive about them — although sometimes, trying for certain paces that are scary for me, or my first double digit run in many, many months coming up next week . . .
Much as I prefer cool temps to run in, there’s just such a freedom about running in a tank & skirt!
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I only run for the enjoyment of it. For me there is nothing better than the feeling after accomplishing a long early morning run.
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Would I run if I wasn’t training for something? Good question. Even when I’m not training, I know that there will be something I’ll train for & have to maintain my base for.
But I know I’m happier after a run, so the answer is, yes, most likely I would run even if I didn’t race. But probably not as much or as often!
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I love when I’m running, and it easier to love it in the off season. The weather is rarely perfect, and there are days after work where I’m exhausted. But I love having something to train for, and I make sure the training is fun too.
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I hear you! Training — it’s the thing we love to hate. 🙂
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I have a WW sticker on my laptop at work and I often joke to my little patients that I am WW–after all, have you ever seen me and WW together? LOL
You know I love to run fast and those are the runs that make me feel badA**. When I cross the finish line at a killer pace, I feel unstoppable. Long runs make me feel accomplished, but since I’m really struggling with endurance these days, I don’t feel bad A** running a long, slow distance.
Different strokes.
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Obviously speed has never really been my thing. Sure, I’d love to be speedy, but I’ll settle for being speed-ier. And someday, inevitably, we all do slow down.
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This is a great post! Yes, running is great and I always feel amazing after my run, regardless of the pace or distance! 🙂
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I usually feel great after a run. Occasionally there are soul-sucking runs though!
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I love running for fun too. I like the base building period, where the focus is on getting stronger and building up mileage.
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I do love running for fun, but I’m usually really into it when I start a training cycle . . . then really over it towards the end!
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Yes! Running DOES make me feel like Wonder Woman. Love it!
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Sometimes it makes me feel like Wonder Woman. And sometimes a wet dishrag!
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I am a little of both…I love the discipline and focus of being “in training.” I don’t have to plan out my runs because I have a plan to follow (which I have the liberty to modify if I wish LOL). But, I also LOVE not having a plan or a specific race on the horizon. It’s nice being able to run just for the sake of running without a care or worry about the distance or frequency. ((sigh))
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I’m a bit of both, too.
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