In the year since I quit running, I’ve received a high number of emails and blog comments from readers wanting to know if I’ll ever go back to it in the future.
While I’d initially been one of those people no one believes because they insist they really do love running, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever want to run again after having burned out from logging eight or nine miles at least every other day without a single break in over five years. Upon quitting, the passion to run remained very much absent from July until spring of the following year.
(Especially in February, my sole desire was to burrow under a ginormous sea of blankets on the couch watching Netflix.)
Then, one cool afternoon in March, I felt it…
The desire to run.
I ran a grand total of ten minutes that day and felt no need to run again for another month afterward. And now I think I’ve found a good balance, running only when I want to do so, which usually translates to a few times a week, for about an hour each time. There aren’t plans to increase this amount, nor is there any guilt whatsoever if the desire goes away (as it sometimes does) and I don’t run at all for weeks at a time.
Thus, I’ve rediscovered my love of running.
It definitely helps when, instead of oppressive Texas heat and cookie-cutter suburban houses, my routes now take me past wildlife, waterfalls, and American history books come to life. All of the photos in this post were taken while running.
People have asked if I’m ever worried the obsession might come back.
But my answer is a confident and emphatic “no.” I remember what my life was like before; I remember the stress involved in planning every run and worrying how I could fit it in on vacation or during bouts of inclement weather. I remember my drawn appearance and the lack of energy and motivation I felt for any activities unrelated to running. And I know what my life is like now—so much richer and more vibrant than before.
There’s no desire to ever go back.
Lovely to hear you have found a balance with running. I’ve recently just started – not a lot, just half an hour 2/3 times a week. I find it’s a great way to switch off. Your blog is great, I’ve already tried out a couple of recipes! x
Thank you for sharing! I think it’s so important to find the balance of healthy exercise. I love that you’ve shared your journey towards that!
You are a brave soul to put up a picture of yourself and tell the story of your life. Thank you for being open and honest, especially when you don’t owe it to anyone. A life in balance is what we all hope & strive for, thank you for sharing your heart in all your recipes!
That is a true love of running right there- it’s all too easy to become obsessed. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to run for 2 months now and you don’t really know how much you love something until it’s gone!
Wonderful post Katie, you really are such a wonderful role model for girls like me everywhere! 😀
I love this, and read your post about quitting running. I’ve been a runner for 15 yrs and 2 yrs ago got really obsessed in a way where I was running 9 or 10 miles a day. I got extremely thin and it ran my life. Ha. Ran. Anyway, it was starting to control everything and I began to lose the joy in running. Although I never completely stopped,I cut back, relaxed and realized there is more to life. I’ve gained weight back but am so much more comfortable with my body and I don’t look at running as a chore anymore, but a joy! Thanks for being awesome fellow Katie!
“All of the photos in this post were taken while running.” You must have the most AWESOME camera! Not even a tiny bit blurry. 🙂
Thank you for the chocolate cake recipe! My birthday’s on Saturday, and I was trying to find a good recipe that would match the one on the side of the Swan Cake Flour box. (It’s SO chocolaty!) This sounds like it might fit the bill.
Haha oh no, I definitely stop for a few seconds to take the photos 😉
Hi Katie! I have a similar story to yours – I was OBSESSED with running and working out in HS and the beginning of college. I would have tons of anxiety if I thought I wasn’t going to be able to run and I would feel “fat” the next day if I had missed a workout. It wasn’t healthy at all, even though I really did enjoy some parts of running. I stopped running for a few years and started up again about a year ago. Instead of my super long 6-8 mile daily runs, I usually only run for 2-4 miles now and if I am tired and feel like walking for a minute or I want to take a picture of a pretty part of the trail, I don’t feel guilty or “bad” for stopping. I’m fine if I miss a day (or a week) and I am much healthier about it. I think a big part of it was maturity (I’m in my mid-twenties now) and also having much more self-confidence/self-love than when I was 16-18!
We can be our own worst enemies :). These oatmeal bars look delish!
I just stumbled upon your blog today from a recipe link and have been clicking around. Thank you so much for sharing your fitness stories! I’ve been in a fitness “rut” for a while as I haven’t had the motivation to do my normal work out routines. Along with this has come some guilt. I honestly think I’ve experienced a similar burnout from obsession. Sometimes I have to remind myself it’s okay not to exercise when you don’t want to! I’m re-training myself to be more intuitive. It seems that you’ve “gotten it” and I’m hoping these guilt waves will ebb as I learn to live without my “crutch”.
I love this post! I love that you got to the place where you could take a step back without the guilt. Exercise is meant to make us healthy, not control us. Thank you for sharing!