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Why do you run

For enjoyment and relaxation.

6 votes

For the health benefits.

7 votes

To burn calories and lose weight.

5 votes

To get away from the psycho chasing me.

3 votes

No way am I running; I'm going to kick the psycho's ass.

1 votes

Other reasons...please share.

2 votes

Rockin' Doc Oct 31 2013 08:17 PM

Why do you run? You may vote for up to 3 options.

themetfairy Oct 31 2013 09:13 PM Re: Why do you run

Primarily for my health and weight control (which are inextricably related to each other), and those things lead to a sense of well being. Plus there's the bling ;)

metsmarathon Oct 31 2013 09:32 PM Re: Why do you run

i run for the enjoyment & relaxation, and also for the health benefits, an extension of which is the weight control. but also i run because i'm competitive. and running allows me to tap into my base competitive urges, to challenge myself, and to pit myself against other runners in races, even if its only a small snippet of a race at a time, no matter if the other runners know it. when i don't run, i'm all out of sorts. much much moreso than when i don't do any of the other sports i like to play. if i don't play basketball, i'm cool with it. if i don't lift, i'm ok. without running, i'm in a funk.

Fman99 Nov 01 2013 04:35 AM Re: Why do you run

metsmarathon wrote: i run for the enjoyment & relaxation, and also for the health benefits, an extension of which is the weight control. but also i run because i'm competitive. and running allows me to tap into my base competitive urges, to challenge myself, and to pit myself against other runners in races, even if its only a small snippet of a race at a time, no matter if the other runners know it. These all apply to me as well. I was never a particularly athletic kid -- I ran track in high school but I only ever of average ability. As an adult I had been looking for an activity that would get me some exercise and allow me to compete with others. I tried golf for a few years, and enjoyed walking the course on a warm sunny day, and carrying my own bag for the exercise benefit, but I was just too terrible at the sport for it to be fun. When I started running races in 2010, and noticed that I could routinely beat 3/4 of the men in my age group, that gave me a nice little boost in confidence. It's fun to feel like your better than average at something competitive.

Fman99 Nov 01 2013 06:01 AM Re: Why do you run

I also run to enjoy the outdoors. We get some mighty nice outdoor running weather and it gives me a greater appreciation of all seasons (yes, even winter).

Ceetar Nov 01 2013 06:34 AM Re: Why do you run

The calorie/time ratio seems good for weight loss and it's something I can compromise with myself and do outside if I don't want to go the gym.

themetfairy Nov 01 2013 06:35 AM Re: Why do you run

It's funny - I'm not an outside person at all, except for running. I much prefer running outside to the treadmill.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 01 2013 07:02 AM Re: Why do you run

Um, because I had a whole lot of SuperPAC money lying around? Yeah, from shin splints to balky knees to just plain boredom, running's NEVER been a thing I could do for any sustained period of time-- I prefer swimming, or circuit training, or virtually any other sort of cardio training.

themetfairy Nov 01 2013 08:01 AM Re: Why do you run

It's all about preference. Do what you enjoy. After my marathon, friends told me that I should do a triathalon next. But I don't like swimming or biking; it didn't make sense for me to go through all that training just to do something that I don't really enjoy. But I get a sense of peace from running. As mm said, when I don't run I don't feel right.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 01 2013 08:26 AM Re: Why do you run

I run because I hate myself and deserve the punishment.

Ceetar Nov 01 2013 08:37 AM Re: Why do you run

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I run because I hate myself and deserve the punishment. then why do you watch the Mets?

MFS62 Nov 01 2013 08:40 AM Re: Why do you run

In one of the several other running threads, I once asked the same thing. I didn't make it a poll question, but left it open ended. I don't recall if anyone answered it directly. Some posters said they'd think about it and get back. Here's their chance. Thanks for reminding them. Later

Edgy MD Nov 01 2013 08:45 AM Re: Why do you run

Hate is seemingly an important element in every workout.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 01 2013 08:47 AM Re: Why do you run

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I run because I hate myself and deserve the punishment. then why do you watch the Mets? I often run while listening to the Mets to get in my self-abuse as efficiently as possible. Srsly, for all the reasons mentioned. definitely there's a competitive thing going on, also about keeping in shape, also about being alone for a few hours a week, also because I think I have a shot at being good at it eventually.

metsmarathon Nov 01 2013 09:55 AM Re: Why do you run

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: ... also because I think I have a shot at being good at it eventually. this. i really just need to keep plugging along at it until i hit my 60's. that'll dramatically increase my odds of returning from any given event with age-group hardware. unless of course all my peers have similar aspirations. then my plan falls apart.

themetfairy Nov 01 2013 10:13 AM Re: Why do you run

also about being alone for a few hours a week When I started a lot of it was about that. It was my only time when nobody would ask me for apple juice or a new diaper.

Fman99 Nov 01 2013 11:35 AM Re: Why do you run

I keep thinking of more reasons why I love to run. One is social, believe it or not. I run with a run club, on Saturday mornings most weeks and the occasional weeknight (though most weeknights I am running solo). I also see many of these folks at races and the like. We are a non-competitive group, with no membership fees. We are friends who run together - mostly folks in their 40s and 50s, though there are a few folks on either end of the spectrum as well -- running for health and enjoyment and companionship. We talk about running while we run, and every other thing we have going on. There are a wide range of occupations and interests -- a number of the women work as nurses or in health care, while the men are lawyers, engineers, and have various other professions. My best friend in this group actually runs and owns a vacuum repair store. We push each other on, commiserate when injured, and congratulate each others' successes. We also travel to races out of town together, sometimes -- I ran my marathon in Ottawa with a half dozen of my run club friends. What we have in common, ultimately, is that we all love to run. It's a great support structure, too -- when I changed jobs in 2011 it was nice to have a group of friends that didn't get uprooted, as my workplace friends tend to come and go as the jobs do. I don't always run with others, and I do run solo and enjoy it, but it's also nice to run with friends.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 01 2013 12:48 PM Re: Why do you run

There is a running club in my hood, they have really nice shirts. They and I run a similar route on Monday nights but it happens to be their fastest pace run of the week (they are mostly skinny hipsters in their 20s, they do sub-7 minute miles for 9 miles), so my interaction with them is usually holding them off as long as I can then giving them the nod as we cross paths the other direction. If I can stay healthy the plan is to join them at the beginning of that run and just hang as long as I can, mostly so I can get the shirt.

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2013 01:22 PM Re: Why do you run

When dad first started running in the early '70s, it was a time when a solitary man running around for no apparent reason would, at minimum, draw strange looks from people if not the occasional tire splash from a passing motorist. That he was given to doing his workouts in electric orange sweatshirts or tights with lime green stripes probably didn't help matters much, but the 'running boom' was still a few years away and, I'm sure to a few of the other neighborhood fathers in suits on their way to the local train station in the morning, he was just the crazy artist down the street. But as a few years went by, jogging/running became more acceptable, and some of the 40-something neighbors were now 50-somethings whose wives and doctors were telling them to put down the cigarettes, cut back on the beer, and maybe drop two or three dozen pounds. Suddenly the nutty dude in the day-glo colors wasn't so nutty after all and many of them wound up joining him in a loosely affiliated running club of sorts complete with matching shirts and all. There were weekly races on L.I. during the summer months (often with club organized picnics afterward) and enough organized runs at other times of the year as well that it became a social event for all involved, something which I'm sure made it easier and more fun for everyone, especially those who were less eager to begin initially.

metsmarathon Nov 01 2013 01:25 PM Re: Why do you run

i should one day join a running club. i know id get a lot out of it. but i really do like being in charge of myself. also, i frequently tend to hate people, so theres that.

Vic Sage Nov 01 2013 01:31 PM Re: Why do you run

my nose runs, my mouth runs, my motor runs, my cup runneth over, i get the runs after a bad burrito, my wife's stockings will get a run now and then, i can go on a run at the blackjack table, i've run for office (when i was in school), i've run a tab, I've had paint run, my mom used to make me run stuff over to my grandma's house.. yes, there have been a lot of runs in my life. But never for recreational purposes. never ever. and for the life of me i can't understand the attraction. but to each his own.

Rockin' Doc Nov 01 2013 04:02 PM Re: Why do you run

I started running a few years ago (a few months before my 50th birthday) because I wanted to get back in shape. I've never been slim, as a 21 year old playing baseball in college I was 5"6" and weighed 170 pounds. Of course, back then I had a 29" waist. Over the years, my lifestyle became more sedentary and my eating habits became worse. In almost 30 year of intermittent dieting I managed to gain 40-45 pounds. I decided to start working out at the gym near my house. In less than a year, I managed to drop 20-22 pounds and I have successfully kept it off for the past 3 years. I would really like to lose another 7-8 pounds, but I'm not stressing over it. I actually don't enjoy running, but I enjoy the health benefits and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I am an extremely competitive person and I have thus far been content to compete against myself as I constantly push run further and faster. I prefer running on the treadmill, because I find running in the air conditioning while watching TV far less objectionable than running on local highways in 90 degree heat. Besides, the gym is where the weights are so I get everything I need for my workouts in one place.

Fman99 Nov 01 2013 08:29 PM Re: Why do you run

Rockin' Doc wrote: I prefer running on the treadmill, because I find running in the air conditioning while watching TV far less objectionable than running on local highways in 90 degree heat. Besides, the gym is where the weights are so I get everything I need for my workouts in one place. I can admit that when I used to run at the gym, on treadmills, that I was more likely to crosstrain than I am now. But I cannot go back to running on a treadmill. Too dull. And I don't ever feel the A/C, I sweat profusely. Aren't there any local parks or shady places where you could run outdoors? Obviously my muggy season in Syracuse is shorter than yours, but I rarely run on roads where the cars are doing more than 30 MPH, except maybe to get from one residential neighborhood to another. Not to say that you should ignore your own preferences, just that maybe there are local options to run outside that might be more pleasant.

bmfc1 Nov 04 2013 08:12 AM Re: Why do you run

To challenge myself. I will be running my 4th half on 11/16 and will be in a higher age bracket than last year. I didn't do this in my 40s.

themetfairy Nov 04 2013 08:34 AM Re: Why do you run

There's something really great about feeling better in one's 50's than in one's early 40's.

Fman99 Nov 04 2013 09:43 AM Re: Why do you run

themetfairy wrote: There's something really great about feeling better in one's 50's than in one's early 40's. For me, it's feeling better at 40 than I ever did at 25 or 30. I turned 40 in February and set personal best times at every race distance since my birthday.

Centerfield Nov 05 2013 07:19 AM Re: Why do you run

I don't run a lot, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis...wait, wrong thread. I just started running. Not much, 15 minutes or so twice a week. I've been training with weights for a little while now, and can't seem to get rid of the softness around my middle. We'll see if supplementing a little bit of running helps.

themetfairy Nov 05 2013 07:36 AM Re: Why do you run

Welcome abordick CF! Check out Jack Rabbit Sports - they'll be able to help you find the right shoes, socks, etc. to get you going.

Vic Sage Nov 06 2013 03:50 PM Re: Why do you run

Fman99 wrote: themetfairy wrote: There's something really great about feeling better in one's 50's than in one's early 40's. For me, it's feeling better at 40 than I ever did at 25 or 30. I turned 40 in February and set personal best times at every race distance since my birthday. you're only as young as the woman you feel. or something.