Not built for running...

Reading all of these posts on running is very interesting. I've decided that I am just not "built" for it - though that is probably an excuse. I can't jog two laps at the gym without gasping for air at the end and my heart-rate is at 90-95%...yet I can take the most intense spin-cycle class we have (and it is intense) AND spin on my own at equal intensity for an hour before spinning class and it doesn't tax me near as much. Working hard, oh yes, but it isn't too much - and it seems to be paying off in the endurance department - not getting away from spinning entirely, but am down so I can cycle :)

At my age, the shape of my knees, and bad feet from surgeries and structural problems and my asthma I shouldn't be running. I know that. Which is probably why I am getting interested in it (wadda'ya mean I can't do it?)

So I am curious, is there any truth in the idea that certain body types "take" to running more than others? To me this seems apparent - but I am not a runner so what do I know?

I think we were all born to run but if we don't get started until we're in our 50's
bad posture, habit and wear and tear make it pretty tough to do.
Just compare our physiques to any of the other apes or primates. We were absolutely built to run. I'm a good example, it hurts me to run. Why start now? I like walking, cycling...
but when I was 20, i could run effortlessly. Not far, because I wasn't in shape...

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

I think we were all born to run but if we don't get started until we're in our 50's
bad posture, habit and wear and tear make it pretty tough to do.
Just compare our physiques to any of the other apes or primates. We were absolutely built to run. I'm a good example, it hurts me to run. Why start now? I like walking, cycling...
but when I was 20, i could run effortlessly. Not far, because I wasn't in shape...

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Good point - I do enjoy cycling and hiking, and both of those are strenuous enough :)

I'm definitely NOT built to run (at least not fast)...short, stubby, heavy legs, BIG boobs (I was a 34DDD prior to reduction surgery), asthma...but I ran 1800+ SLOW miles last year.

Sure, some people are built to run fast, but we are ALL built to run. Humans are about the most efficient creatures on earth. Our ability to wear down our prey on-foot is what kept us fed for millions of years. We have big gluteal muscles to support running on 2 legs.

Biking is awesome...and I definitely seem to be more of a natural on the bike than I am on-foot, but running is great when weather conditions aren't ideal for biking (pouring rain, snow). Running is a more efficient workout than biking, too. I have a much tougher time getting my heart-rate up on the bike and I have to spend a lot more time cycling to get the same workout I can while running. The two pursuits really complement one-another.

Perhaps the best thing about running is the lack of necessary gear.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

but we are ALL built to run

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I'm going to respectfully disagree... I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (the hypermobility type) and I literally can't run at all... I might be able to sprint a short distance if I absolutely had to (someone's life depended on it?), but the splitting pain through my pelvis (my pelvic joints are all loose), hips, knees, and ankles and the resulting swelling (and eventual joint damage) really isn't worth it for any kind of long-term running goals. It's just how it is, there really is no treatment and nothing I can do to change it.

I hated running as a kid because it hurt so much, and in a way that I wasn't really able to verbalize well, and I got accused of being lazy/whiny a lot by PE teachers... so I was forced to participate and it was torture. It wasn't until MUCH later that I knew I actually had a physical reason for it, and it wasn't just "in my head" as I had been told MANY times. I remember crying in 6th or 7th grade because we HAD to run a mile in PE as part of our grade, and I couldn't do it. That incident ended with a referral (only one I ever got in school) and a failing grade. I did play tennis and skated as a teen so it's not like I didn't tough it out through a lot because there were things I liked doing despite the problems.. but I realize as an adult that I should have focused more on lower-impact activities to maintain my fitness. I do have joint damage that almost certainly could have been prevented if I knew I had EDS sooner.

Cycling is literally the only thing I can do that doesn't hurt :p So yeah, I won't be taking up running or thinking about it much :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

but I ran 1800+ SLOW miles last year.

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Wow; that's fantastic.

Here's my own take on Catrin's question:

I don't know if I'd agree that certain "body types" aren't built for running. I do think, however, that any number of issues can make running difficult, painful, or unwise. Simply put, running can be hard on your body. I say this as a (mostly) former runner that had a lot of problems. In retrospect, I likely could have prevented some of those problems if I'd known more at the time or had been coached by somebody who knew more. Most of my injuries happened when I was a high school long distance runner. Sadly, all that pain really killed my desire to run.

That said, I decided to start running again a few years back at age 38 or so. I took it very, very slow and more or less followed the Couch to 5k training plan. I can't say that I ever grew to love it, but I didn't hurt myself either. It took some patience to build the necessary aerobic capacity, but when cycling started up again that spring, I was in really good shape for climbing. I loved that, and I liked how running made my legs look, too.

Still, running is, at best, "off season" activity for me to do during the winter. I had every plan to start back up this past winter, but I had some eye problems and was advised against running until they resolved themselves. By the time they did, it was January and, well, I just felt unmotivated.

I do think cyclists should strive to do some weight bearing exercise for bone density. Cycling doesn't provide that. All things considered, however, I would rather do resistance work, hiking, or speed walk than run.

All human body types are born to run. Some will be better at sprints, some will be better at middle distances, and some will be better at ultramarathons. Not everyone can be world-record fast at any distance. Individuals can have medical or congenital conditions that make running difficult or impossible.

The structural issues and status post foot surgery are what would concern me the most if I were you. Do you trust the podiatrist who did your surgery, or do you know another sports podiatrist, and/or do they work with a PT who knows something about running and can advise you?

For myself, I'm still searching for an unbiased qualified professional, although I've come to the place from impersonal information and exercise that I believe my foot issues are biomechanical and not primarily structural. I'm correcting literally 45 years' worth of bad advice and bad practices, so it's not going to happen overnight, but little by little.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

All human body types are born to run. Some will be better at sprints, some will be better at middle distances, and some will be better at ultramarathons. Not everyone can be world-record fast at any distance. Individuals can have medical or congenital conditions that make running difficult or impossible.

The structural issues and status post foot surgery are what would concern me the most if I were you. Do you trust the podiatrist who did your surgery, or do you know another sports podiatrist, and/or do they work with a PT who knows something about running and can advise you?

For myself, I'm still searching for an unbiased qualified professional, although I've come to the place from impersonal information and exercise that I believe my foot issues are biomechanical and not primarily structural. I'm correcting literally 45 years' worth of bad advice and bad practices, so it's not going to happen overnight, but little by little.

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So, Oakleaf basically said exactly what I was thinking. All of it including the idea of working to correct (in my case) 42 years of bad advice.

For the record, I came to the conclusion the other day that I have a sprinters body type (muscular, strong, short) but the cardiovascular system of an endurance athlete. I have to be careful to find the right balance in the activities that I do that will allow for injury free progression. And yes, the first time I started running after only cycling for 5 years, my HR sky-rocketed. That's normal. Same thing happened when I got into the pool for the first time, too. Your body is not used to that activity and it's 'harder'. It doesn't mean that you aren't cut out for it...it's just that you haven't adapted to it.

Catrin, do you want to run because your heart wants to, or is it another "should" thing to (that many others are doing) run for weight-bearing or cross-training, etc.?

We live at the foot of several marked bike routes plus walking paths where daily we see many joggers (and cyclists) in our area. There has been the odd time where I wondered if I could get into jogging as I cycle by them.

But knowing myself, it wouldn't be for great long distances. Jogging would become a chore. Whereas cycling I can go for many hours and still love it way more even if there are hills, rain, wind and crap. I don't consider cycling a chore, it's just sometimes the crappy weather, etc. gets in the way of my love.

Yes, most of us are born to run, each person at different pacing, bearable distances. But each of us are also born with natural loves for certain execises.

I remind myself, what exercise can I continue to love and do regularily for DECADES until I can no longer do it: cycling. Been at it regularily since I returned to it almost 18 yrs. ago. I returned to cycling at 32 yrs.

I am not convinced jogging much for myself is pyschologically the best thing to get me exercising regularily for decades. Cycling is easier for me psychologically --no matter how crappy I feel.

I have a brother-in-law (early 50's) who has problems with his knees (even after surgery). He ran a marathon a decade ago, was a regular jogger for several years: that's how he met my sister/now his wife..by jogging at fitness centre. 20 yrs. later she still jogs. They both cycle for relief, particularily for him because of his knee problems.

I add on simple yoga and pilates for balance, stretching, etc. When I get back into it (after bouts of laziness) I also enjoy doing this stuff too.

NB. I did try jogging regularily on my own as a late teen for a summer and didn't enjoy it much vs. the bike.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Catrin, do you want to run because your heart wants to, or is it another "should" thing to (that many others are doing) run for weight-bearing or cross-training, etc.?

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I am unsure where it comes from, but in the end I don't think it a really good idea for me. I do a lot of strength and resistance training to go along with biking and hiking (and spinning), so I am probably doing enough as far as a range of activities.

As I've put it from time to time in the past, my mom got the instructions wrong when it came to my feet/ankles. They work fine, but have had reconstructive surgery and a heel osteotomy on one foot five years ago and the other could probably use it (but it isn't THAT bad and no-way am I going through THAT again) - between that and my asthma I have several reasons to not really pursue it. A couple of jogging laps at the gym from time to time might fill a little of that "wanting to run" without being overly hard on my feet.

I also bounce. A lot. It gets mighty uncomfortable, regardless of the kind of sports bra I have on :o

Add me to the "not built to run" camp. I'm a "thick" person...stocky build, plenty of muscle with a nice layer of fat over them. :D I have asthma, but it rarely flares up during exercise. My biggest limiter with running, is my lower back. I have a vertebral slippage at my L5/S1...have had it most of my life. However, it didn't become symptomatic until my late-30's...which coincidentally, is around the time when I started to run and also do heavy weightlifting. There isn't a doubt in my mind, that the tremendous load of the heavy squatting and bone-jarring impact of running, is what got me to this point. For what it's worth, I no longer do loaded squats (only with a ball against the wall)...but I DO still run, if you can call it that. I run on the treadmill at the gym, 3x a week, slowly (5.5 - 6.0mph) for 30-40 minutes max. In all honesty, I don't really enjoy it much at all...because it hurts a fair amount. But I do it, because it's the only cardio activity that helps me keep my weight stable. Yeah, it's probably not the smartest thing for me to do...and I argue that point with myself on a daily basis. I'm sure my running days are "numbered", but until then...I'll keep slogging along and do what I can until I can't tolerate the pain any longer.

I struggled with this for the past year and 3 months and ultimately, stopped the running. I was slow, but not as slow as I thought I would be. I liked running more than I thought I would, even though it was much, much harder for me than cycling ever was.
But in the end, I had too many chronic injury issues to continue. I don't want to spend my whole life at PT and dealing with all of this stuff. At 56, I should know better.
I still get cravings to run, but I have been walking 2x a week and doing core work, too, along with riding. It has to stay this way. MY hip/back is slowly healing, but when it started affecting my riding, I knew it was the end. I also found that running just wore me out so much, that I had to take a recovery day in between a running day and cycling. Again, I made the choice of what was more important.

[QUOTE=Catrin;503560]Reading all of these posts on running is very interesting. I've decided that I am just not "built" for it - though that is probably an excuse. I can't jog two laps at the gym without gasping for air at the end and my heart-rate is at 90-95%...yet I can take the most intense spin-cycle class we have (and it is intense) AND spin on my own at equal intensity for an hour before spinning class and it doesn't tax me near as much. Working hard, oh yes, but it isn't too much - and it seems to be paying off in the endurance department - not getting away from spinning entirely, but am down so I can cycle :)
[QUOTE]

Catrin - ditto! I would love to be able to run, but very quickly get my hr up to near max and can't breathe. But I can do a standing sprint on the spin bike for a long time and not feel half as bad as I do running. I'm thinking it's the impact of running??

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Originally Posted by tctrek

I'm thinking it's the impact of running??

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Part of it is conditioning - trying to feed blood and air to muscles that aren't used to working.

Part of it is form - if you haven't run all your life, and if you're wearing running shoes - you may be an inefficient runner, whereas you've worked to become an efficient cyclist, and also inefficient runners have to run faster than their cardio fitness may support just because any slower is too jarring on their joints and muscles (BTDT).

And part of it is just that it's weight-bearing, so your heart has to circulate blood under load throughout your whole body. Your max HR for running will always be 5-10 bpm higher than your max for cycling.

I think some body types might take to running more naturally, but that's probably true of any sport. Some of us are born with it, some of us have to learn it, and some of us aren't physically capable for one reason or another. Generally, most of us are capable of doing it, it's a matter of natural skill combined with education, will, (in)sanity, and time.

I don't think my body type was built to take to running as well as other body types, but I had to stop using that as an excuse and come to terms with the fact that it's just harder for me to become a (faster) runner (have trouble calling myself "a runner"). It's going to be hard, and in the end that may just make it more rewarding. Some people find other kinds of challenges more rewarding. When you factor in body type, personality, and other environmental factors, running really probably isn't for everyone, whether they are capable of it or not.

And it takes all types to make this find world of ours turn. :)

I thought the same thing Catrin did when I first started running. For my hips to hurt that bad I assumed something about my body wasn't meant to run. It doesn't happen over night it took me a couple of years to work up to being able to run more comfortably. I work really hard on running form and maintaining good alignment and that helps tremendously. I found out my extreme hip pain I originally suffered from was from what I now call "pendulum syndrome". Its when you see someone running and their whole body starting at their feet sort of swings back and forth with every running step. That's really bad form but it's very correctable. Honestly I didn't have too much trouble with the cardio part of running but I can tell now I can sprint easier and longer on the bike. I think that is due to my running since I don't get winded as easily as I used to. I don't think I have the ideal running build but work with what God gave you. :)

It takes a lot of practice. I just got back to trying to run. I can bike well and swim but running has always been difficult. I've had a broken back and broken hip which might come into play, but even when I was a kid it was hard. I think it takes more time to build up to. I have seen a difference in my strength from when I first started and biking in between helps. I'm not fast but going for longer periods of time is encouraging. Form is definitely important. I watched an ironman recently and one girl set a new course record for the run. When you watched her, she took really short, marching type steps. My husband introduced me to this and it helps.