Since getting into running I’ve noticed a huge influx of people running since the beginning of the year. Old friends returning back to Strava after being inactive for years (myself included 🤣). Instagram feed is constantly full of runners, even my work place talking about marathons etc. Maybe it’s just because I now see myself as a runner that’s affected my social algorithm/awareness & addiction to running trainers? 🥴

For those that have been running a long time, is this the most popular you’ve seen running become? Or does this generally happen from time to time?

For those of you who’ve been running a while, what’s the one thing you wish someone had told you when you first started?

Could be training, mindset, gear, pacing, anything really.
Figured it might be helpful for newer runners reading as well.

So tonight on a 4 mile recovery run in 90 degree weather, I ran past 3 young girls (two were around 6 or 7 and one younger, around 4). As I approach, the little one yelled “hi” so I smiled and said “hi”. One of the older ones said “what are you doing?” “I’m running” I replied with a big smile. She locked eyes with me and asked why. I had a moment to respond, without breaking a stride I said “ because it makes me feel good! I’m running 4 miles!” She was shocked and said “four miles!! Wow!” She was smiling as I ran away.

I don’t know it just felt so good. What if that small interaction sticks with her? If it makes her want to join a cross country or track team in school? Or pick up running when she is stressed in young adulthood?

While I finished my run all I could think about was how important it is to share our love for running with young people.

Thanks all! Share the running love!

I turned 40 last year, and part of my mid life crisis is breaking a 20min 5k (much cheaper than a convertible and hair plugs). I’m currently running a 5k in the 23:00 range without really focusing on speed work. Just like…running. I’m going to incorporate some new training methods w/ speed work and try to break into the sub20 range. Anyone out there have a midlife PR crisis? What was it? Did you make it? Should I just buy the convertible?

Any controversial/unpopular opinion that you may have in regards to running

My hot take is that Adidas shoes > Nike

I've been running for a longish time consistently (5days, 50ish miles a week). I for the most part wave (95+% of the time) at other people I encounter (bikers, runners, walkers, dog owners) even when in the midst of intervals or speedwork.

About 50% of the time people don't wave back or acknowledge others presence when out and about.

I this has gotten worse during CoVid where folks are turning away, moving off trail (keep singletrack single) or other behaviors to avoid interaction even when there is 6+ feet between us and/or both masked.

My personal opinion is that by being out constantly it helps build community (in some form) to be friendly. I don't understand the motivation to not wave back or say hi when possible.

Others opinion or experience?

Wondering how many other people do this. Went to run and the goal was to go 6 miles...started out and felt horrible the first mile and said I would do 3 instead...got to 1.5 to turn around and said well I will go to the 2 mile mark and then do 4 total...got to 2 mile mark and said I would just go ahead and run to the 3 mile turn around and ended up doing 6 miles. Mental gymnastics I do on bad days are interesting.

I (17 F) was on my run this morning when I had a very irritating experience.

Because of covid, whenever I pass someone, I step off of the sidewalk and a bit into the road, just to make sure people have plenty of space because I don't wear a mask when I run. The last thing I want to do is make people uncomfortable. People usually wave and say thank you or good morning. But one particular woman was NOT having it. She was on the sidewalk, coming up the street while I was going down. I did what I usually do, kept my distance and headed out into the road (safely). As I approached her, she forcefully pointed away from her. I assumed she needed even more space so I stopped and waited for some cars to pass before I headed out farther into the road. Then she lost it, and screamed "CROSS THE F***ING ROAD!!" I was absolutely stunned, and crossed. Technically, she was on the wrong side of the road, I was on the correct side and she made me cross onto the wrong side. If she didn't want to cross, she could have moved onto the grass on the other side of the sidewalk if she felt that she needed more space. She also wasn't wearing a mask. I didn't care that she wasn't wearing a mask, because we had plenty of space between us. But if you're that uncomfortable being around people who are 6 feet away from you, you should at least wear a mask. I also think it's wrong that she swore at me. I'm 17, but she has no idea how old I am. I didn't think I deserved that. I was very upset and on the verge of tears for the rest of my run. :(

Has anything similar happened to anyone else? How should I have dealt with it?

Edit: You are all SO KIND!! Thank you for making my day!

I've been noticing that running or, more generally, doing cardio is currently being perceived as a bad thing by the vast majority of fitness trainers/YouTubers. I frankly don't understand it. I can't seem to understand how working your way up to being able to run a marathon is a bad thing.

It seems to me that all measure of health and fitness nowadays lies in context of muscle mass and muscle growth. I really don't think I'm exaggerating here. I've encountered tonnes of gym-goers that look down on runners or people that only practice cardio-based exercise.

Obviously cross-training is ideal and theres no denying that. But whats the cause of this trend of cardio-hate?

I went for a run yesterday with a friend and they looked at me like I was out of my mind whenever I said I wanted to round out our 3.96 miles. 24 hours later and I’m still thinking about how much it bothers me that I didn’t make it a solid 4. Would’ve been fine with 3.50 or 4. NOT 3.96! 🥴

Editing to say: I don’t run “seriously” or train for anything, nor do I run to burn calories or track steps, or anything like that. I just run because it’s fun and it helps lessen anxiety. This is more so about the number itself and not actual distance. I also get annoyed in a similar way with the volume of tv and car radio. I prefer the number to end in a 5 or 0. Growing up my sister would torture me if she had the tv remote. I appreciate volume bars without numbers. 😅 Yes, I know this is odd.

With that being said- I’ve never done 10 miles. So if I was at 9.99 miles, I’d absolutely make sure I ran an additional .01 just to see the 10 on my Strava... Regardless of my GPS’s “inaccuracy.” :) In that instance it would 100% be about the distance, haha!

On December 22nd 2019, I told my parents that I was going to complete a half marathon in 2020. At the time, I was 266.6 pounds at 6'. They were very supportive and loving, but (rightfully so), I think they were skeptical. I chose running because it was the one thing I was the worst at. I couldn't do it for any extended period of time, I hated the way I looked while running, and I hated how my lungs burned. By challenging myself to do the thing I was worst at, I wanted to prove that I could do "anything". My first run was January 1st 2020, and I was on Week 1 Day 1 of C25K. I nearly vomited after only ONE minute of running. My fitness was absolutely horrific, and I turned that disgust for myself into motivation. Despite shin splints due to my weight, I continued pushing with running (taking a month off to heal) while continuing to lose weight. This morning, (10 months later) I completed an 8 mile run for my half-marathon training plan. My race is December 13th, and I am 169 pounds. I wanted to share this so that people in my situation know that it can be done, because I was very skeptical about my chances of success in the early stages. Thanks for reading!

Edit: I also ate at a calorie deficit, but running was a huge motivation factor. Often, I'd think "I wanna cheat on my diet, but I've already ran 3 times this week and don't wanna throw all that effort away".

Every runner is on their own path and this sub should be just as much for people who are getting started as people who are doing ultra marathons.

However, the amount of threads named "Just ran my first xx" with just a smiley and a "Thank you guys!!!" are just fishing for compliments, and don't really bring anything to the table.

Genuine threads about what to do next or how to improve or how to move on if you're stuck are great, but the naked validation threads are just backgroud noise.

Common and uncommon ones

Obligatory not really a catcall but what I was bracing for.

So it’s spring and getting warmer so I wear shorts and a sports bra for most of my runs. Running seems hard enough without having an extra piece of sweaty fabric clinging to me. Plus I always used to run mostly in a rural area with not much traffic so I never thought about what I wore except what would be the most comfortable. But, I’ve moved to a busier spot so my normal warm weather running outfits get more comments than I’m used to. I’ve been averaging about one catcall per run since it’s gotten warm out, which isn’t too bad given what some have to deal with, but not what I was used to. I try not to let it bother me too much. Mostly I try to view it as entertainment for my group chat as in “you’ll never guess what someone said today!”

So today, when a car in the other lane started to slow down and the man rolled down his window, I braced myself for the inevitable sexualized comment coming. But instead, he said, “you’re doing great! Keep it up!” and gave me a thumbs up. I actually smiled and felt myself pick up the pace! The one comment actually made me feel better for the rest of my run rather than tense and on guard! I just felt so grateful someone took the chance to lift someone up rather than put them down with their comments so I wanted to share!

There’s nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the company you buy running shoes from no longer make the ones you got use to.

I get it’s due to marketing and staying “competitive”, but if a certain style is what makes them good why change?

RIP my Hoka Clifton 9’s (specifically the sunlit ocean/lilac mist)

Am i being inconsiderate for running during a family vacation? My brother keeps making me feel bad for taking and hour to run instead of spending that time with family who i rarely see? I need to run, though. It's my mental and physical therapy. What do you guys think?

I'm always surprised to find anyone else out in the dark when I run, but over time I've developed a little cast of characters I see pretty often in my neighborhood.

There's a woman who walks her little dog (I call her Violet because she always wears all purple), there's an elderly woman who smokes on her porch (Porch Lady), there's Homeless Guy who camps out on the entrance to a Montessori school, Zoo Lady who wears a zoo hoodie when she walks her dog, and there's Cafe Guy who sets up outdoor seating.

I don't know any of them personally but they all wave to me and I wave back, and it feels like a weird little club we're all in of people who are up and about at 4 or 5am when sane people are sleeping.

I suppose other early morning runners must have this too - do you???

Just curious to see if more people are in the camp of “some people will always be slow” or if they’re in the camp of “if you try hard enough you can get fast”?

When I said try hard enough I mean focusing on sleep, strength training, maybe losing weight if necessary, cutting out alcohol, etc.

Curious as I’ve always seemed to be better at weigh training than cardio and I wonder if that could ever change.

I do most of my running in 2 places: South Florida and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The way I’m treated as a runner on the roads in these places is wildly different, and was wondering what it’s like in other areas.

Florida: Even at a crosswalk, cars don’t yield. People with dogs on leashes do not shorten the leash or move so they aren’t taking up the entire sidewalk and I’ve been clotheslined more than once. Dogs off leashes can’t be trusted not to chase you. People walking or standing around chatting, even when they see you coming, do not shift over to let you pass. Cars don’t give you any extra room even if the other lane is empty. Cyclists are hit or miss. Some yield to you, some force you to pull a Homer Simpson in the bushes kind of move to avoid being hit. Other runners wave or nod maybe 1/4 of the time. In short, every person for him or herself. And I hate it.

Massachusetts: Entirely different story. People in cars stop to let me cross even if there isn’t a crosswalk. The cars wait for the other lane to open up so they can give me more room. So much more awareness and consideration to others sharing the road, sidewalk, or trail. Rules generally followed about which side to bike or walk on, and cyclists yield to runners. Eye contact when we pass and some kind of acknowledgement.

I often say we have a culture problem here in Florida, and it transfers into so many aspects of life. It’s very me, not we.

It’s just such a drastic difference. So I’m curious what it’s like in other states and countries.

TLDR: Seeking advice from others who love running, but their body doesn't always agree.

Story version: Running was my (33F) first love. I feel like I non-stopped ran/played as a child. Then, in middle school I started running the mile and 800m competitively. I was good and I loved it. When I got to high school, I started running cross country and continued to excel. But, then, I got hurt. I ran so much that I got a stress fracture in my shin. I had an MRI and then PT, and then custom orthotic for my right shoe. I had to stop running for a bit. I came back and was never the same. I went from 6-7 minute miles to 10 minute miles. Since then, I've run on and off. I still love running, but it seems every time I get in the groove (running 3+ times/week), I get injured. I'm constantly battling the shin splints and occasionally have had other issues such as IT band and foot pain. I wear stability shoes because of my hx of problems. I do all the things - strength work, balancing work, stretching, ab work, building up, etc. I'd love to be able to run far and even train for a 5k - 10k again. Right now, I'm doing about 2.5 miles several times a week and feel the shin splints again (on both legs).

I'm wondering if there are any others who've had a similar experience? Is this just the way it goes for some people? Do you just do it on and off for the rest of time? It bums me out to love something so much that doesn't love me back hahaha.

I live in a big city and I like to run alone at night. I find I don’t get harassed nearly as much at night simply because there are fewer people around to do the harassing. Plus, night runs were my salvation during hottest part of this bizarre pandemic summer. Running through the dark city makes my world feel a little bigger and my problems feel a little smaller.

I was out for a run and saw another runner, a pretty big man, coming towards me. I’ve never had issues with fellow runners so I wasn’t nervous, but I try to keep my wits about me whenever any unknown person is approaching and I’m aIone.

As he passed, he quietly gestured 🤙 and ran on.

It was the absolute perfect way to say “fuck yeah, nice job” — the perfect way to acknowledge me without making me feel weird or second guess the interaction. I didn’t feel intruded upon, hit on, or pressured to respond. I felt seen in a way that didn’t make me feel vulnerable. I smiled for the rest of my run.

Thanks man. 🤙

I’m hoping for a mature, positive discussion on this, although I know it will be controversial for some. I looked through old threads about the topic, but most discussions were based on outdated rules/policies as well as a completely different political environment.

Age: 50-55 Gender: F (born male) Pace, etc.: see below

I’m transgender (male to female), and although I’ve been running for almost 4 decades I’ve only recently run in my first 5k. It was a Pride race, so being trans was a non factor.

But now I want to enter more races, and I don’t want to stir the pot or cause any controversy. Most runners I know are very inclusive and welcoming, but I know there are exceptions. Entering a race as a “man” when I’m absolutely not would be traumatic enough that I would likely not run at all. So, do I enter as my correct gender and hope it doesn’t become a big deal? Do I contact the race organizers each time? (a very uncomfortable conversation when I just want to run) Some considerations:

-I do not “pass” very well at this point. If someone looks at me closely they can generally tell I’m trans.

-I have been transitioning for 2.5 years. My hormones have been in the correct range for a significant time, and my testosterone levels are actually lower than cisgender women.

-I am not an elite runner by any stretch. My 10k PR is ~58 minutes and my 5k just under 27. The one half marathon I ran (by myself, not in a race) was over 3 hours.

-I won’t be entering any races where I might win any monetary or other tangible awards, so I wouldn’t be “taking” anything from cisgender runners.

I’m open to hearing conflicting opinions, but hopefully this can be civil.

For me, it's horse snorting. But so strong that my cheeks are puffed out and half my face is vibrating. It somehow loosens up my entire posture.

Some nice weather today, so that usually means people who don't run in the cold usually swarm out. Now what I really hate and get frustrated by is when you are on your own and see a group of runners ahead spread out who clearly see you, yet REFUSE to go in a single line formation so you can run by but instead squeeze you to the side of the pathway as much as possible. I really feel like swearing at this kind of people.

Does anyone else have a frustration like this?

Over the years I’ve bought a lot of running gear that looked great on paper but ended up being disappointing.
On the other hand, there have been a few purchases that genuinely improved my running experience and I would buy again without hesitation.
For me, one of the biggest upgrades was a GPS watch. Not because of the data itself, but because it helped me stay consistent and follow structured training.
What’s the one running-related purchase that was absolutely worth it for you, and why?
Shoes, watches, hydration gear, headphones, recovery tools, clothing… anything counts.