I’ve been meaning to write this post about why I gave up running for a while…
Although it’s completely unrelated to healthy desserts or recipes, I wanted to publish in case it can help someone out there who might feel like I did a few months ago.
If you were to stumble upon my blog without knowing anything else about me, you might get a picture of this crazy-enthusiastic girl who is always happy, completely carefree, and whose life revolves around food and chocolate and dessert 24/7.
In reality, “blog Katie” is only a very small portion of who I am outside of the computer world.
You might be surprised by how much of my life is entirely unrelated to food and cooking, and I’m definitely not completely carefree.
Related: How I Started Blogging Full Time
Because I choose not to talk about my friends, relationships, or personal life on the blog, most people would’ve had no idea I was anything less than my usual upbeat self early this year…
Yet even as I continued with the cheery chocolate posts, I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted thanks to moving twice, going through a breakup, sorting out issues with the book, and worrying about the future.
In the past, I would have leaned on running to get me through.
It was in college that I first fell in love with the sport, waking up each day excited to get out in the fresh Pennsylvania air before classes. Running provided an outlet for the pent-up energy I was no longer expending on soccer and tennis (sports I’d played almost from birth all the way through high school), and I could think about everything while I ran: school, friends, guys, the past, the future… or sometimes nothing at all.
Running’s meaning in my life would change over the years; when I moved back to Texas it became a comforting source of stability in my crazy and uncertain post-high-school life. Four or five times a week, sun or rain or snow, I’d be out there running, 7 to 10 miles each time. I loved it.
But somehow this past summer, I lost energy and motivation for something that used to bring such joy and excitement. For the first time in eight years, I found myself dreading the idea of going out for a run.
I would drag myself through the miles and arrive home feeling completely drained. Running had never been something I wanted to force myself to do, so one day in early July when I was “supposed” to go out, I just didn’t.
That one day turned into a week.
The week turned into a month.
Then two months.
And I was surprised to find I didn’t miss it. I had much more energy throughout the day, felt happier and less stressed, and even my hair—no longer breaking off from much-too-tight ponytails—looked healthier.
As people have pointed out in a few of my recent posts, I’ve also gained weight, which I’d been trying to do for awhile (I always wanted curves). Not going to lie, I am pretty excited about this.
(To ease your worries if you want to give up running but do not wish to gain weight: I don’t think quitting running directly caused me to gain weight. My personality is such that I naturally tend to lose weight when I’m stressed and overwhelmed, so the change is a physical manifestation of feeling happier and more relaxed.)
Will I ever go back to running?
Maybe someday in the future, but much more recreationally.
If running works for you, that’s great. Keep doing it! But if you’re feeling burned out by running—or any exercise—it might be a good idea to take a step back for awhile. You can always pick it up again if the desire strikes.
That’s not to say I’m advocating giving up exercise completely: I still walk every morning to get out in the fresh air, and lately I’ve been going with a friend to the gym a few times a week (basically he lifts all the heavy weights and I stand there with my 10-lb dumbbells and exercise my mouth!).
When I first gave up running, I feared losing a part of my identity. But the truth is I now have so much more.
2014 Edit: Part Two: Why I Started Running Again
Recipe Of The Day:
Flourless Pancakes – 3 Ingredients, NO gluten, soy, eggs, or refined sugar
What an awesome post! I love this and I did notice is a recent picture that I thought you looked even prettier! I couldn’t tell what the change was. 🙂
Hi Katie,
What a brave and thoughtful post. It can’t have been easy to write but I hope that it has helped you to put it down on “paper”, and I’m sure it will strike a chord with others. In fact, I found it surprising that it made me start thinking along the same lines about my driving commute- ok not the same (for one, I’ve never enjoyed it) but maybe elements are-I know when I’ve had a break I have felt happier, calmer, had a lot more energy and looked better and less tired. I have been pondering giving it up for months now..Maybe it’s about time I bit the bullet and be brave enough to make the decision that I can longer continue doing it.
Thank you for posting this. I had a similar experience only I started out playing softball and running cross country (to keep me in shape for softball and help my speed). After running for what seemed like my whole life, I stopped enjoying it when I got to high school. I found other outlets for my energy that make me as happy as running did. When I quit, that was all people would talk to me about when my next race was or how training was going. I felt like maybe I should still run. I kind of had the mindset of once a runner, always a runner. Mindsets, like societal molds, are made to be broken. So I just let my foot off the gas until I simply stopped. I still do the occasional 5K with friends or for a good cause. Now running has become social to me and not an everyday need. Glad to know I’m not the only one! Thank you.
I’m a longtime reader and wanted to say thank you for this post! I actually went through the same thing – after years of running 6-10 miles everyday, I had to quit because of plantar fasciitis in my feet. This was at the same time as graduating college (and freaking out about the future), a breakup, and moving back in with my parents – horrible timing. Running always helped me with anxiety so having to stop because of an injury was hard. I worried that not running would cause me to gain weight, and I did gain a few pounds at first from stress-eating (about not being able to run!) but soon I went back to normal, and overall I do feel better now even without running. And now almost two years later my feet are finally better (for the most part) and I am slowly starting to run again, and it’s something I look forward to! I think hurting my feet was my body’s way of telling me I was burnt out, and although it was stressful at the time, I think it made me realize I’m not “just” a runner. I wouldn’t wish plantar fasciitis (or a breakup, or any other stressful events) on anyone but sometimes it works out for the best in the long run. Anyways thank you for sharing!
you are so courageous for sharing so much of yourself! I think that our lives and our routines go through different phases and it’s really important to listen to what our body is telling us. good job listening !
That is so awesome. After being a competitive runner in cross country in college and playing sports my whole life, I twisted my ankle and wore out the disc’s in my back. I can relate to your post and hope that one day I can run like I have in the past.
Thank you for sharing such a personal story. You are a wonderful example to so many young women and what a fantastic message to share about the importance of listening to your body!
I think it’s great that you weren’t afraid to give up something that you thought was apart of your identity. Well said & well done:-)
Hey Katie,
I just want to say I am also very proud of you. I know how hard it must have been to listen to your body and let go. I know you must have felt out of control and scared, but I am certain it was the right thing to do. You needed to gain weight and your body will be so much better off. Exercise is always a fine balance between not over or under doing it. I hope you never beat yourself up for not working out. I hope you continue to eat and not over-exercise and let your body go to where it wants to be. As long as you eat a balanced diet and just go for a walk every day, your body will stay in a healthy range. I hope you continue to trust your body and get to a healthy weight that will make you feel so much stronger. I know you can do it. And as others have said, try not to worry too much about the future. I am in the same boat as you, but I try to remember to just take it a day at a time. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. Just go where your heart leads you. I have no doubt that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to! Trust your body, trust yourself, and trust the process of your life! Sending encouragement and support!
Thanks, Emily :).
Just to clarify so no one reads this and gets the wrong idea, I wanted—not needed—to gain weight. I was healthy before (despite what the mostly-untrue internet rumors say about me), but am much happier now!
Ah, I love this post…I recently had to stop running due to a stress fracture, and a big part of my fear was “who was I going to be when I couldn’t run?” As my friend best put it “you are so much more than just a runner” and it’s taken me three weeks to fully embrace that.
And just doing weights/the bike/elliptical means that I’m way stronger and have noticed, ahem, improvements in the chest area now I’m not running. This is totally a bonus 🙂
Hello fellow stress fracture injured lady!
I had my stress fracture two summers ago. I am basically healed physically, but mentally I just don’t want to do those long runs anymore. I am getting into boot camp and HIIT fit classes and they kick my butt every time. Running is easy compared to those classes!
I had a pretty bad calf tear that I had to rest. That was such a hard time. I also had to love myself as I rested and not beat myself up. I’ve since been walking and watching my calorie intake. I also took your blog as a metaphor cause sometimes I need to hang up my “shoes” and stop trying to do everything and be ok with it. I love your blog, girl!
wow love this post! Thank you for your honesty! While I still love running it isn’t for everyone and each person needs to find what makes them happy. This is what my husband constantly tells me! I am injured so have had to take a break from running, but I can’t wait to get back out there. Each person is different and I think that is what is important to remember – you have to do what is best for you!
I’m so glad you’re getting the rest you need. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Katie, I’m so PROUD of you!:) I know what it’s like to gain weight after overdoing exercise for years. You just FEEL better! And gosh, do you look gorgeous!!!! I’ve learned to stop my obsession with overdoing it running too. The beauty of it is, I never do it, and mostly just enjoy daily walks and some strength training, but when a burst of energy hits me, I’ll go for a 20 minute run and feel incredible. Then I won’t do it again for weeks or months:) I’ve decided to taking running just for that- as it’s needed and inspired, not when it’s forced.
We don’t care about only hearing about your yummy recipes and as a freelance writer and health blogger, I completely understand what it’s like to fear the future, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything. You’re amazing at what you do. Don’t have fear, just keep working with passion and forget the rest. You’re a gem who most of us have loved since day one of your blog, and that won’t ever change! STAY REAL and stay lovely as always!!!! ):):):):):)
Katie, thank you so much for posting this. I have gone back and forth having this issue my whole life.
Sometimes running is the BEST stress reliever for me… so a few weeks at a time, but then I go back to just honestly feeling best with a brisk walk or yoga each day. It’s nothing super long or intense, but it keeps me feeling great and not pressured to kill myself at the gym each day. And I actually end up being MORE happy with my body and how it looks when I’m doing exercise I enjoy.
You’re the best, Katie! 🙂
Thank you for your wonderful blog! And thank you for your post on running. It is encouraging. You are great and you look wonderful!
It sounds like you definitely got burnt out with running. I know that I have to mix up my running routine quite a lot in order not to get bored or burn out — incorporating speedwork, varying distances, and training for races keeps me motivated. That said, I’ve burned out in a sport before (volleyball) and know that with real burnout, nothing you do to shake things up helps. Sometimes you just need time away to gain perspective. Good for you for making that decision, and keep exercising in other fun ways!