Thursday, September 26, 2013

Running--The Sport That's Truly Addicting

Most people have a love-hate relationship with running. They dread, yet crave their morning or evening runs.  People do crazy things when it comes to running. Whether it’s waking up hours before sunrise, braving the snow and ice, enduring the downpour, or toughing out the heat, runners are truly addicted to running. But hey, if you’re going to be addicted to something, might as well be something that’s good for you! Right?

Running addicts run almost every day, sometimes twice a day. They don’t feel like themselves on off days. It is definitely something runners rely on.  Running is a great addiction to have; just don’t get hurt because running withdrawal is the absolute worst.

Many would vouch for this, being as running is a sport that is pretty hard on your joints and muscles, a lot of us have been hurt at least once or twice in our running careers. There are numerous injuries that can be caused by pounding the pavement every day. From knee pain, to back pain, or shin splints to plantar fasciitis, all of these injuries can keep a person from doing the only thing that keeps them sane.

Symptoms of running withdrawal include: grumpiness, anger, decreased appetite, increased eating, lack of energy, restlessness...you get the idea.

Now if you’re fortunate enough, some of the above symptoms can be reduced with cross training. Ellipticals, bikes, and pools are great for distracting you from the lack of running; however, these things can’t distract you for long. One can only climb and bike in place for so many days. Swimming is fine for a while, but it’s not like you can talk to anyone or listen to music while you’re in the water. Nothing compares to the feel of the pavement under your feet, fresh air on your face, and music (or conversation) in your ears.

So if you’re currently out of commission, know that we all feel for you. It sucks, but you’ll make it through and will be back to feeding your addiction in no time!

Ways to avoid running withdrawals:
  •  Stretch
  •   Strengthen your core
  •  Wear proper shoes
  •   Don’t overdo it
  •  Take a rest day (one is better than 30)
  •  Make smart decisions

Happy Running (or swimming, biking, etc.)!

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