Originally Posted by Kahokkuri (Post 4340810)

I hope you find this useful/relevant:

I ran regularly in training for a 10k in March. I hated almost every minute of it. Dragging myself to the gym was a chore because I didn't like running. I would often cry after working out because I felt weak. Even as my speed and endurance improved, I still felt like crap. After finishing that 10k in just over an hour I gave up running. I haven't done it since. Instead, I've been speed walking; I still sweat plenty, get my heart rate up and work my legs but I feel strong. When I finish a workout I almost always feel jazzed. Sometimes I use the elliptical and set it to a medium resistance. I always lift some kind of weight or go to a class. I changed my entire routine and I couldn't be happier.

In a way, I'm sad to have given up running–I still think of runners as being strong and in shape–but I'm gladder to have found a workout routine that doesn't make me dread the gym!