Maybe I’m the only one who does this, but sometimes I try to talk myself out of running and come up with alllll of these reasons why I shouldn’t go for a run or allll of the things I could be doing instead. Here’s my top 10 excuses and what I’m telling myself to do to overcome them and run anyway!
1. Logan and I sometimes talk each other into eating out/eating dessert/eating unhealthily and then I don’t want to work out.
Anyone else get in the rut where if you’re eating unhealthily, you can’t see any point in working out? And if you’re not working out, you crave unhealthy foods? Unfortunately this sometimes happens to me, and then the next thing I know, Logan suggests eating somewhere, and then we’re driving to Chick-fil-a, and why would anyone be working out if they could be eating waffle fries with Chick-fil-a sauce?
To overcome this: I planned out meals for the week and bought lots of fresh fruits and veggies! We will eat here and eat healthy.
2. My puppy wants me to hang out with her.
She looks at me with this sad face and her little puppy eyes beg me to play with her. How can I resist!? All I want to do is pet her all of the time because she is adorable. Also her fur is the softest fur you have ever felt on a dog, and yes, she is on the shelf under the coffee table again.
To overcome this: I’ll take her on a cool down walk and we can hang when I get back. (Someday she’ll get to run with us but our vet doesn’t recommend introducing this until she’s skeletally mature.)
3. My foot/ankle/shin/hip hurts.
This is one of the only legitimate excuses, and when something isn’t quite right I try to listen to my body and rest when necessary. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of stretching out achy muscles, doing an adequate warm-up, and running as usual. But sometimes it’s staying home and not running, or heading to the gym to do a lower-impact activity. I’ve gotten a lot better at this ever since I hurt my hip.
To overcome this: I will rest today, take ibuprofen, and run tomorrow if I’m feeling better.
4. I’m not well hydrated enough.
For me this argument goes one of two ways. 1) It’s simply an excuse to not run even if I am adequately hydrated. 2) I actually haven’t had enough water to safely run without getting dehydrated.
I’ll tell myself, “Well first of all, it’s not that hot outside. Second of all, drink some water, go for a run, and drink more afterwards.”
5. It’s too cold/too hot/too windy/too humid.
Okay, yes, sometimes the windchill is -5, and yes, sometimes the heat index is 115. And it’s always windy and almost always humid, but for the vast majority of the year, it’s possible to run outside at some time of day in tolerable weather conditions. Ideal weather conditions? No. But tolerable? Yes.
To overcome this: I just need to get over it. I live in Oklahoma and need to have realistic expectations.
6. My favorite leggings aren’t clean.
Yeah, I know, you can technically run in pretty much anything, but I have one pair of leggings that all my best runs happen in. I have some leggings that are just okay for running in, and some that are spectacular, and if the spectacular ones aren’t clean I somehow convince myself that running isn’t worth it. Which isn’t true at all.
To overcome this: Another pair will suffice…and I’ll wash my favorites for next time.
7. I’m tired.
I’m a nurse. I’m always tired. This will probably never change. I will feel better if I go anyway. Also, I will take advantage of weekend runs when I am more well-rested than usual.
8. I need new shoes.
I ordered some new ones on Amazon so this will be irrelevant soon.
9. I don’t have time.
Even though this is further down on the list, this one comes up the most often for me. I always have other things I could be doing, whether it’s running errands, cooking, cleaning, going to an appointment, paying bills, doing laundry, walking the dog, or working, and these things are always going to be there.
To overcome this: I’ll remind myself that life is short and I will always have time to run a few times a week if I make running a priority.
10. I don’t want to.
Sometimes I just am not in a running mood. For whatever reason, I’m just not feeling it and don’t have any particular reason why.
To overcome this: I’ll tell myself, “Remember that time you broke your hip and all you wanted to do was run, but you couldn’t because you were on crutches?! Well now you can, SO GO RUN!”
Am I crazy?
Maybe. I love running, but sometimes I can come up with so many reasons NOT to go and I just need to focus on reasons TO go. I’m so grateful to have this body and legs that can run, and sometimes I need to remember the blessing that it is to be able to go out and do what I love, even if I have to push myself out the door. Anyone else have this problem?