How to not hate running so much

5 tips to bring some joy to your running

Hello, and welcome!

I am writing this to you as a freshly minted ultramarathoner, which feels crazy to say because I used to hate running.

Only several years ago, I would have thought myself insane for completing an entire marathon and then saying, “but more, though.”

Although I had a rocky start, I have managed to fall in love with this sport. Running has given me a sense of inner peace, confidence, joy, and community. And I hope you can find that for yourself too! I hope the tips and stories in this inaugural post will leave you with something that makes you smile and feel inspired to find the joy of running for yourself too.

Me at the start of my first ultramarathon, the Taco Bell 50k. Maybe a little insane.

A little about me and how much I hated running

When I was a kid, I hated running to the point where I would get out of P.E. class just to avoid the mile track run.

When I couldn’t worm my way out of class, I would run 3 out of 4 laps, get lapped by everyone including the walkers, and then drag myself to finish that third lap. My P.E. teacher was none-the-wiser. Or maybe she just didn’t want to wait yet another 20 minutes for me to complete the final lap after the bell rang.

When I finally decided to start running as an adult, it was to participate in a weekly 5k series with my friends. I hated every step of the way. I felt miserable, I wanted to hurl the whole time, and I thought anyone who smiled while running was lying to me. It felt like the physical embodiment of toxic positivity.

It took me years to fall in love with running but I stubbornly pushed through because I am a masochist and I didn’t know how to love it yet.

At this point in my running journey, it’s harder for me to not run than it is to run. If I go even several days without running, it’s reflected in my mood and the way I carry myself. Small things start to feel big. I get restless. Anxious. I start to spiral about the state of the world itself, my place in it, the future of everything. I slip into depression. Everything starts to feel hopeless. And then, I run, and magically the world doesn’t feel so shitty anymore.

Maybe, like my past self, you think runners are insane too and that you could never be one. Or maybe you’re an avid long distance runner who wishes there was another category beyond ultramarathons to further distinguish runners who complete 100 milers, the 3100 mile transcendental race, and whatever French rapper Rilès did this year when he ran on a treadmill for 24 hours without stopping and then immediately performed an entire music video.

I may not have run for 24 hours without stopping, but I do find myself finishing many runs with the exuberance and gratification on Rilès’s face when he finished his run. Runner’s high is a real thing, and no matter where you are in your running journey, I hope I can help you experience it too!

Okay, now for some things I wish I knew years ago that would have helped me come to love the sport sooner!

How to not hate your runs

You might even.. enjoy your next run?! Crazy.

1. START EVERY RUN EASY.

Every run! Easy means the same thing to everyone no matter what their pace is. Easy isn’t a time! It’s an effort.

When I was in P.E. class getting lapped, I started every single mile run guns ablaze, first in line, beating out all the other kids. And then, guess what? I’d end up completely spent within 100 meters and I’d inchworm my way to that third and final lap where I’d collapse in front of my P.E. coach, completely worn down and defeated.

Now, I start every run easy. The pace that “easy” has meant for me has become much faster over the years but it has remained “easy” each time. Starting easy has allowed me to push myself further later in my runs and naturally pick up the pace over the course of each run.

2. Throw away the first 10-15 minutes. They are a lie!

The beginning of a run can sometimes be the worst part of a run. Sometimes I start a run and I think, damn, why am I so slow? I’m staring at my watch, I’m annoyed at how slow I’m going and how much of an effort it feels like, and I’m ready to quit. When that happens, I tell myself, just five more minutes, see how it goes. If it still feels this bad, I’ll pump the brakes. I’ll walk home. And guess what? That’s only happened a small handful of times – most of the time, I go and I finish the run I’ve set out for.

Our bodies don’t use oxygen as efficiently as they should when we’re first starting out our runs. That changes as we get warmed up, and running starts to feel good! But not if we’re not kind to ourselves and if we don’t take the beginning of a run easy.

3. Find an auditory experience that works for you

I used to throw on whatever playlist had the highest BPM and set off as fast as I could to try and match the intensity of my playlist. That was actually sabotaging me and I’d get tired and angry when it didn’t work for me.

I have found several things to work for me when I need to get into a pleasant groove in my runs:

• Guided runs (for example, Nike Run Club puts out free excellent guided runs and training plans)

• A curated running-specific playlist (such as the ones Nike Run Club puts out, available on Apple Music and Spotify)

• Podcasts and Audiobooks

  • I especially love podcasts about running. Ali on the Run is a favorite of mine!

• Joining a run club and having conversations with people in the same pace group

  • It took me years before I felt comfortable enough to join a running club - and now I’m not sure why I waited so long! Go easy on yourself and try one out some time when you feel ready. My run club has people who walk the routes too!

• Hip hop and rap music (they usually have steady beats for getting into a flow and feature a perfect blend of music and motivational storytelling)

4. Get proper shoes (and socks!)

I think part of why I hated running for so long is I didn’t have proper running shoes. I had some generic lifestyle shoes and thought that was good enough. Yikes!

Go to a running store – they’ll analyze your correct size and tell you what to get for your needs. They’ll ask questions like if you’re training for anything, how many miles you plan to run a week, if you have any pain anywhere when you currently run. When I went to a running store, I found out I was wearing an entire size too small! Now I buy a size up almost every time I buy running shoes, and it has made all the difference.

Something I also noticed is if I run more than 4 miles, the socks I’m wearing really matter and can make or break a run for me. I bought running-specific socks that keep friction down and help me run any distance I’ve thrown at them without blisters.

Something that scared me off from long distance running for a while was the promise of broken and lost nails or gnarly blisters. That’s not an inevitability! Get properly fitted shoes, wear running socks, and take care of your feet and you’ll be fine!

5. Make it a habit

Jogging Baboon in Bojack gets it

Consistency! So important! When I was first getting started running, I would run 10 minutes a few times a week. That’s it! 5 minutes out, 5 minutes back. I did this for weeks, occasionally introducing 15 or even 20 minutes at a time, and I built up my endurance. Now I can run for hours without stopping, and still feel good! (Note, when I run for hours at a time during practice, I do stop at red lights and to take pictures of squirrels).

It’ll take some time, but with consistency and practice, it will steadily get easier. You’ll surprise yourself with how much better you get over time and how you learn to enjoy it the more you do it!

If you’re not able to ru

Now get out and run! 🐿️

I hope these tips have inspired you to consider a run today! I’m going to hit “post” and head out for my run now. Wishing you the best! If you end up running today or have any tips for how you like to enjoy your runs, please share your experience!