Is running intimidating?
Exercise. Somehow, quite a dividing topic. The human body requires regular exercise. The human body is adapted to exercise. Our toes are short which is more efficient for running than longer toed animals. We cool ourselves by sweating, not panting, which means we can stay cool at distances and speeds that would overheat other animals. Our bottom, the gluteus maximus, is our largest muscle that engages more during running compared to walking.
Yet, the evolution of the modern lifestyle has deemed exercise as non-essential. We spend an ever-increasing number of hours sitting. Be it at a desk, in front of the TV or in a car. In turn, motivation to exercise and move our bodies has been lost.
Personally, I love exercising. Specifically running. It gives my life routine, improves my mood and sleep, and is generally a positive aspect of my life. If you ever have a conversation with me, it won’t take long until I am telling you about my current training plan. However, I have learnt in these conversations that my love for running is not shared by everyone.
There are two responses that interest me the most. First is from those that do not exercise at all. These individuals give the impression that my ability to run is a superpower and that I was born with a gift because they themselves could never run a kilometre.
Second is from those that love a different form of exercise – specifically an anaerobic exercise. To my surprise, they can give the same response as the first group of individuals. My example here is from a boulderer. Bouldering is a strength-based sport. It requires upper body and core strength. It does not require endurance from the cardiovascular or respiratory system like running does. A boulderer and a runner can both be defined as physically fit; they just have different strengths.
Gaining the same response towards running from individuals that do not exercise and individuals that enjoy other forms of exercise has taught me that running is intimidating. I understand. If I don’t run for a couple of weeks, I dread the idea of beginning Sunday long runs again. But breaking that mental block is the ultimate runners high – and I am addicted to that high.
