Why You Should Still Run (Even If You Hate It)

I HATE RUNNING, but I still choose to run.

I HATE running.

There. I said it.

I also do not believe I am alone. I believe that the majority of people who work out in a setting with access to every other C2 machine/cardio machine would more than likely choose any of them over running.

I don’t like pounding the pavement. I don’t like the monotony. I don’t like how it feels like my lungs are plotting against me after just five minutes.

But here’s the kicker-I still run.

Why? Because as much as I hate it, I know what it does for me, and I know the physical/mental results it provides IMMEDIATELY. If you’re someone who dreads tying up your laces and logging miles, I want you to know this—you’re not alone. And also...you might need it more than you think.

1. Running sucks (but it's incredibly effective)

No matter how much I want to pretend otherwise, running checks a ton of boxes when it comes to fitness:

• It builds aerobic capacity unlike anything else.
• It strengthens your heart, lungs, and legs.
• It burns calories efficiently.
• It effectively strengthens your overall fitness level and is an excellent indicator of your overall fitness level.
• It helps build mental grit. It undoubtedly builds mental toughness (the ability not to be complacent with your speed and CHOOSE to run faster when called for).

If I had to describe running in gym terms, I’d say it’s the overachiever who SHOWS UP early, stays late, and manages to find a way to achieve whatever challenge they face. These people see results because they are disciplined to see the desired results.

2. The after-feeling is the reward

I NEVER want to run. But I’ve never regretted it once it’s over. That post-run high, clearer headspace, that feeling of “I didn’t quit even when I wanted to”, that’s the money maker. It’s not the act of running that’s addictive—it’s what it gives you after. It is also the results you see and feel once done consistently. That is what becomes addictive.

3. It makes everything else easier

I train for overall fitness and personal strength, but I would be lying if I said, “I am not a fan of chasing the pump”. When I am not training for a specific sport or competition, I am training to feel good and be proud of how I look.

When my cardio engine is garbage, everything else typically feels harder—from recovery between sets to how long I can go in a workout without feeling smoked. I have been doing this for a long time and can wholeheartedly say that I am my “fittest” when I am in the fittest running shape I can be, while maintaining relative strength.

Running has a way of rounding out your fitness in a way that nothing else, in my opinion, does.

Even short interval runs or a couple of weekly miles sprinkled in make a difference in how I perform everywhere else. It doesn't have to be, and quite frankly, should not be done every day, unless that is the only thing you are training to perform in. But without it being performed consistently, we are doing ourselves a disservice and not living up to our fullest potential with our body’s overall fitness.

4. Running doesn’t have to mean marathons

You don’t need to train for a 10K, wear split shorts, or run seven days a week. Running can be:

• A 1-mile warm-up jog before lifting
• Sprint intervals on a track, treadmill, or air runner
• A weekend trail run for the views and feels
• Jog/walk intervals around your block
• Set your watch for 30:00 and run until your watch says 15:00, and turn around
• Grabbing a friend and taking a Zone 2 jog, to be able to talk and vent

You’re allowed to hate running and still include it in a way that works for you and your lifestyle. In fact, if you prioritize your fitness and exercise, you SHOULD be sprinkling in all forms/time domains/intensities of running.

5. The mental game is the real workout

Let’s be real: the physical part of running is only half the battle. The other half is mental. Every time I go out for a run, I’m reminded that I can do hard things even when I don’t feel like it. It gives me the opportunity to think, reset in areas of my life and self-reflect on areas of my life…both good and bad.

That mental resilience? It bleeds into every other part of life—training, work, relationships, you name it. It’s hard to replicate that kind of toughness and running hands it to you on a sweat-soaked platter.

I often remind my clients and gym members of this when they have a workout in front of them that ends with a 250-400m run:

“Sprint that last run. Empty the tank. This is where you will get stronger in more areas than one and begin to see the results quicker. IT IS A CHOICE TO RUN FASTER. CHOOSE TO RUN FASTER AND BE A MORE RESILIENT PERSON. It is far easier to row, ski or bike and overpower the machine with more dominant muscles and what feels more comfortable. It is a choice to run. CHOOSE TO RUN FASTER. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Final thoughts

I hate running. But I’ve made peace with it. Because while it might never be my favorite form of movement, I respect what it does for my body, brain, and performance.

You don’t have to love it—you just have to SHOW UP, do it your way, and remember why you’re doing it in the first place. Who knows, with time, you may begin to love it and turn into a real crazy person who starts tracking your times and splits.