If you think you hate running, try this

The app that changed the way I run

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with running for as long as I can remember.

It was always something I had to do, never something I wanted to do.

As an athlete, running felt like punishment. (Wild, but true: I didn’t even enjoy exercise until years after I retired.)

The only times I’ve ever liked running in recent years were when I was already super fit—so it wasn’t hard—or when I was running with someone else and could ignore the pace.

Because the truth is, I’m way too competitive with myself. Coming from an elite sports background, we were conditioned to go all in, all the time. No such thing as “just for fun.”

So, without even realising it, I had this internal pressure that every run had to be fast. I thought if I wasn’t puffing, I wasn’t trying hard enough. And if I didn’t beat my previous time, it meant I was getting unfit. (Spoiler: this is not a healthy mindset.)

If you’re anything like me, you dread going for a run—even though you know it’s good for you. Even though you know the runner’s high will kick in afterwards. Even if you tell yourself to “just go slow.” The fear of feeling breathless or like your legs might give out is enough to not even try at all.

I’ve always been like this… until recently.