Question for runners: Are some people just not capable of running?

[JTri's]

Here's an idea for "everything hurting" after a run that I recently started and really works for me: an ice bath.

I fill the tub with cool water so that it will cover me to past my hips, then throw in all the ice we have and stir. Ease myself in and sit for 5 min. The first 30 seconds is the worst. It sounds horrible, I know, but wow, what a difference 5 minutes can make.

I used to just ice my knees, but dunking my entire lower body into ice water really takes care of tiny little aches and pains. My feet, my ankles, my everything feels better even later in the day, which took me by surprise.

[Starfish]

Here's an idea for "everything hurting" after a run that I recently started and really works for me: an ice bath.

I couldn't agree more! I've never used it for running before, but it works great for post-long-rides. I even put on a couple sweatshirts and get the bathroom as hot as possible so I can stay in longer. REALLY helps.

[VeloVT]

Wow! You guys are brave ! I've never had the courage to actually try this.

[Kimmyt]

Wow! You guys are brave ! I've never had the courage to actually try this.

I've never done the ice bath (never did a run long enough to really cause me to ache), but after my last century did take a prolonged dip in very cold ocean water, and noticed that my legs felt WAY better!

As for running, I am one of the unfortunate unnatural runners. In fact, a year ago, the thought of running anywhere would have made me giggle uncontrollably. Hah. Me. Run.

However, as others have noted about themselves, I am incredibly stubborn, and if I decide i'm going to do it, goddangit I'm gonna do it.

So I started running for this tri thing, well really I started running for a lark and then shortly thereafter signed up for a tri. It sucked. It was horrible, and I was horrible. But I did it. It was something to do in the winter when I wasn't skiing or climbing. It was something to pass the time and fuel my increasingly physical lifestyle. There's something about running in the winter that is just incredibly nice, too.

And that's when it hit me. All of a sudden, it was nice. Yeah, it still sucked. And it still hurt like hell, and I was only running 3 miles at a slow pace and old men with 1/4-keg beer-bellies were passing me on the trail, but when I was finished (note, when I was finished) I was smiling. And then I ran a 5K and my goal was just to finish, and okay maybe it was to finish under 30 m intues, and then I blew away my own expectations (although I wasn't anywhere NEAR competitive). I have friends who don't run, have 'bad knees' and can run off the couch an 8-minute mile. I don't think I ever will reach that speed, and I'm okay with it, because I still enjoy my 10-minute miles.

I think there's always hope, you know? Sometimes you really have to push through some crap to get anywhere near where you're aiming, and sometimes you just have to resign yourself to never being as good as you'd hope, but if you focus on YOUR OWN goals, whether they be to run a 12-minute mile, or even just run an entire mile without stopping, running can be fun. Because theres no rule that says you have to be the best out there at something in order to enjoy it.

So keep running, if you like the challenge, even if it hurts. If you don't like it, then stop. No one will blame you either way. Rock on!