Stop talking yourself out of it and JUST DO IT!

[Sandy]

      Starting anything new can be very intimidating, particularly when you feel your performance is being watched, noted and potentially graded.  Learning to run can be especially terrifying, a feeling which is amplified when contemplating joining a group.  This fear is demonstrated in the many reasons heard from wannabes in defense of not making that step.  
     In an old issue of Runner's World published the results of a month long, world wide internet study of runners' habits, thoughts, and opinions.  Check it out, you may not be so different from those you see running the roads of Quinte, and maybe, just maybe you'll choose to take the leap.
     "I'm too old to start running."  While it's true that 28% of runners began running between the ages of 25-35, 18% started between 35-44 and as many as 1% started between the ages of 55-64.  While 1% may not convince you, out of the estimated 12 million runners, that's 120,000 individuals that didn't start running until they were over 55.  Fauja Singh has run a marathon at the age of 100.
     "I don't have enough time."  There are a number of runners who run at least six times a week or every day, but this is not the norm.  21% of all runners polled run only three times a week, with 27% running between 16 and 30 kilometers a week.  This would work out to as little as three 5K's and as many as three 10k's each week.
     "I'm not fast and I'm not fanatical about running."  13% of runners will run 7:50/k or 8:00/k on an easy training day.  39% say their favorite thing to do after running is eating, 32% run to improve their health, 43% run with an MP3 player, 35% prefer to run with a friend and 59% would rather have sex then go for a run.
     "I'll never be able to run a marathon."  While 93% of runners' race, as many as 25% race the 5k distance.  There were 8.1 million race finishers in the US in 2005.  432,000 finished a marathon, 536,000 finished a half marathon and 3.1 million finished a 5k.  Average finishing times for each distance are: 5k 32:26(w) 26:33(m), 10k 1:00:59(w) 53:05(m), 21k 2:17(w) 1:58(m), 42k 4:51(w) 4:20(m).  
     "I'm not good enough to race."  There are some very serious runners and racers, however with the second running boom an attitude of "completing" is far out weighing "competing."  75% of those polled are in favour of walkers in marathons and 46% are for strollers in races.  83% have sex the night before racing and 25% of marathon finishers use their race as an excuse to eat dessert for 28 days.
     So no more excuses.  Grab your shoes, join a group or find a running friend to mentor you.  See you at the races!


      A good race to start at is the New Years Day Resolution Run 5k and Kids 1k held New Years Day at Tri & Run Sports Trenton.  Race time is 10am with registration beginning at 9am.

[Jane]

Sandy, I think at the Res Run on New Years Day, you should do your own survey and see if 83% of the participants had sex the night before.    

Or if 59% of the participants would rather be having sex instead of climbing 2nd Dug Hill....   

It could make for an interesting start to the new year.

Sorry -- just couldn't resist.  We all need some laughs lately. 

[QATS3]

It's not so much a problem talking myself out of things as it is other people talking me into things!!!!!!

[NancyR]

     and 59% would rather have sex then go for a run.

Jane I was thinking along the same lines... actually wondering if it was to say "than or then" made me giggle either way!

Nancy

[Newt]

I'd rather have sex than have dessert, (maybe considered one and the same), but having sex then having dessert is even better, Just saying....

Peace
Peter

[tire guy]

It's not so much a problem talking myself out of things as it is other people talking me into things!!!!!!

Come on Bryan sign up for Lake Placid with us it will be fun!  .........sucker 

[Jeff]

Too funny Bryan!

[Jane]

     and 59% would rather have sex then go for a run.

Jane I was thinking along the same lines... actually wondering if it was to say "than or then" made me giggle either way!

Nancy

I didn't notice that Nancy!  Yes, that is funny.  Rather have sex than run, or have sex and then go for a run....  Some people are just ambitious!  LOL 

[Janet]

Yeah Bryan, all the cool kids are doing it! 

[David]