hiking is basically running but better

I'll admit running is difficult at first because it requires your active thoughts to keep going. Depending on fitness level (mainly regarding weight, not musculature or cardiovascular), after a month or so of a 3xWk plan, you can start to get into a point where it starts getting more sexond nature and you get more of your mind to yourself and the distraction from running becomes more related to your ability to regularly distract yourself with just your thoughts and/or audio (music, books, podcasts, etc).

But yeah, the beginning is really hard. I used to run, got pretty good at it (would go on 8mi runs with a sub-9 minute pace on the weekend) but then stopped for like... 7 years. Just started again a month or two ago. I can only run for about 25 minutes at like a 12 minute pace. I'm also overweight and over 40 which isn't helping anything. But when I started (or restarted as it were) I couldn't run for 5 minutes straight. I do get shin splints, I was getting sore muscles all over, but slowly I'm getting better at it. At even just the 20ish minute mark though, I need something to distract me. Right now it's music, but I've been considering podcasts as I feel they generally get me more distracted.

try roller skates. saves your knees and not boring.

Same for swimming. I don't actually dislike the activity itself, but I'm not at ease in the sea and I despise the swimming pool.

Do you like audioboks or podcasts? Listening to something while running really helped me to find more interest in running/walking more. You do need a good pair of headphones so that they don't fall out of your ears, though.

@eyy @MisterHavoc as someone who might be mistaken as being active, I loathe running and wish I didn't. Every other exercise (most of which I love) is just less convenient. Biking, swimming, hiking, sports - all require extra steps (equipment or environment or other people). If I liked running even a little more it would be so practical to just throw on shoes and go whenever.

But the moment my legs are pumping and my lungs are aching there's nothing to distract me from feeling like I'm DYING.

Try low intensity while listening to a podcast. 80% of runs are best done at a pace where you can easily hold a conversation and breath through your nose (5/10 effort).

I'm listening to history podcasts now and it feels incredibly relaxing and makes my whole day better. Now I don't even like rest days anymore. 🙃

It’s all about the activity. My younger kid is extremely athletic: he did a 5k on a whim and kept up with the runners club without preparation. However he hates running, and gives similar reasons. His activity is soccer. Soccer gives a point to running. That kid will run the entire game if he’s playing soccer, but even he can’t stand running