Comment by KronisLV | Hacker News Reader

Comment by KronisLV | Hacker News Reader

I've been running about 3-4 km every day for approx. the last month and i do have a few thoughts:

  - the first 2 or 3 times when i started out were the hardest, especially because everything hurt afterwards
  - i haven't started liking it and probably won't in the near future, however it has gotten more and more tolerable as time has passed
  - keeping track of myself with something like a smart armband and Mi Fit app with GPS has been useful, as far as discipline is concerned (with obvious privacy pitfalls)
  - progress in regards to increasing the distance of my runs without feeling worn out has been very gradual, yet still there
  - it feels like pace matters a bit more than distance when it comes to how exhausting it is
  - i probably really should get better running shoes, though running on a gravel road and in private has made it more tolerable
  - the health benefits are probably worth it in the long run, which is also why i walk at least 8000 steps every day in total (including the running, which makes up close to half of that)

> -i probably really should get better running shoes, though running on a gravel road and in private has made it more tolerable

Good running shoes are very under-rated. When I started out a year ago, I didn't bother with shoes as much as I did on beating my previous run time. I noticed I couldn't sustain the routine (I had to take a rest day after 3 or 4 days of running), and very nearly gave up on the habit. Then I bought a pair of comfortable running shoes and it made all the difference in the world. I increased my mileage significantly, and I manage to run 6kms every day of the week without feeling too tired or longing for a rest day.

Hurting afterwards is a really bad sign. I think that keeps many people from getting over the hump to consistency.

Why is sports so bound with punishing yourself / self hate instead of enjoyment?

Well, it's a sign that i've gone a bit further than my body is comfortable with, which is fair. That approach works as long as there are no long term effects or injuries, of which there were none, given the otherwise simple activity.

I wouldn't say that pain necessarily implies punishing or self-hate, just pushing one's limits a bit further. In some types of martial arts that's not viewed as a bad thing either, for example, constant and somewhat strenuous exercise may lead to hypertrophy, which can be desireable for making one's body more resilient.

That said, there's nothing wrong with just doing sports more casually, for your own enjoyment as well. Consistency and technique are probably the most important aspects anyways.

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