I really want to run but I HATE running. Actually I hate how I feel when I am running but feel awesome when I am finished. I want to tackle it again in the new year but I am thinking of starting of small. I mean really, really small....like 3 miles per week .

I am currently quite active - I work out at least 5 hours per week. But when it comes to running, I just lose all drive and motivation.

So.....do you think I am shortselling myself by aiming for 3 miles per week?

I don't think you're selling yourself short. If you don't like to run, why run? I don't like running most of the time, but sometimes I do get into the mood for it and will run until I feel like stopping. I can run and run well, but I am not a runner like a 5k-er or a marathoner. Nothing like that.

Your workouts should be exercises you enjoy! If you don't enjoy running and you're doing other exercises, why fret about it?

I like running but I don't love it like I do other exercises so I don't do it often. I'm a pretty slow runner too since I just like to listen to my ipod and enjoy the outdoors....can't really do that now in the winter.

Agreed, you shouldn't do exercise you don't like. However, if it's really something you want to try to learn to love, or the feeling afterward is worth it, then 3 miles is great! Something is always better than nothing.

I totally identify. And I don't think you're selling yourself short in any way. If you want to add running 3 miles a week to your workout schedule there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just because you can push yourself harder, doesn't mean you should. Exercise is supposed to be recreational, not a job, you don't have to force yourself to suffer through it. If 3 miles seems bearable and something that you will actually do then I say go for it!

Personally, I did C25K and finished it in August last year and since then I've run off and on, mostly off though. The thing is, in all my health and fitness dreams, I'm a runner, even though I don't necessarily enjoy running in itself in real life (go figure dreams!) The feeling I get after my runs though is awesome though and I DO enjoy that a lot (much more than the runs)! I still run from time to time (about 5km each run) just because that C25K was darn hard and I don't want it to have been wasted. In the new year, I want to do a lot more of that, only because I feel a lot more disciplined when I'm on a running schedule.

I think you have a great plan. I don't mind running on the treadmill as part of my workout, but I don't have a natural runner's build, and sometimes a day after I run (even for 10 minutes) my knees hurt (although that's gotten much better since I've lost weight). Like the others, I love the feeling after a run, and of course, I love the calorie burn. However, I'm a big proponent of doing exercise that you like; otherwise, you probably won't stick to it anyway.

Just out of curiosity, how long have you been running?

I've been running a little on the treadmill starting last year and then running more starting in May of this year. I have hated it this whole time, but love the calories it burns and also like you said, the feeling afterwards.

I have noticed in the past 2 weeks, that I've actually started to enjoying running on it's own. In fact yesterday I ran 4.5 and it felt great the whole time! So you may want to start out small, but don't discount the fact that you could learn to love it.

Off and on - a little over a year

Thanks so much ladies....I don't feel so bad anymore.

No way!

I keep my mileage VERY low as well. Right now it's zero!

But seriously, I do keep it low. I was at 10/week and kept getting knee and ankle pain. I lowered it to one 6 mile run a week and that seemed to be fine.

I'm reading a lot of stuff right now about how cardio is overrated. I don't necessarily advocate giving up cardio but I do get the point that running more than a short distance isn't necessary for heart health. So, I think a few 1-mile runs, or one 3 mile run sounds just great for you.