Runaholic

donothoponpop · 08-09-2010 10:40am #1

Someone sent me this today:D:

"Hello

My name is XXX and I'm a runaholic

I was doing really had been clean all year very healthy. I might have had a taste or two while on holiday but nothing to need a meeting.

I was getting on grand, doing a bit of cycling. That was until 10 days ago. It was peer pressure that got me, ended up on a major bender, 2 hours and more, muck, bog, mist and downhills, not fast but enough. I thought no problem just a slip up back on the bike I'll be fine.

Thing is I've used again, twice since. Usual hilly stuffs not so bad but this morning I was on the flat. Was nothing I told myself, just having a look at the new railway walk extension. Nothing wrong with that. Who am I fooling, who looks at such things before 7am in the morning..

Thing is I know I'm doing damage, hurting myself and my loved one. But it's got me again.

I've spent my whole life fighting the stuff, the best years of my life wasted looking into the eyes of other users, then proving my addiction, my love of the stuff was deeper then theirs.

what am I going to do."

Gringo78 · 08-09-2010 11:03am

That could have been anyone on here sending that. You'll often open a training log on here and read -

'went out for 3 miles easy this morning to test leg. Seems ok, just a slight niggle. Numb if anything. Anastethic probably not fully worn off yet from this mornings surgery. HM on tomorrow. Hopefully doctor will discharge me today. Will prob just run it at tempo pace rather than race it. Although if they remove the plaster cast today might be tempted to go out at race pace'

donothoponpop · 08-09-2010 11:13am

My name is donothoponpop and I'm a runaholic. It started a few years ago, when I
cut down on smoking- at the time I convinced myself this was for
health reasons, but now I know it was so I could take up jogging. Soon
I was running one, two, laps of a park without a cigarette, and before
I knew it I had stopped buying fags altogether. My late-night boozing
sessions, which had gone on till 7am at times, became curtailed, as I
tried to limit the damage Sunday morning hangovers caused to my jogs.

Before long I was running several times a week, but thought I could
handle it, thought that would be enough. Friends became concerned, as
I skipped the monster fry option, in favour of a salad. They tried an
intervention, but I showed no interest in the lap-dance, explaining
that she was putting undue pressure on my ITB, and that the white
powder she was forcing up my nose was on the IAAF list of banned
substances. Friends dropped off, to be replaced by gaunt-faced demons
who actively encouraged my addiction. "You gotta run a marathon, its
the ultimate buzz", they goaded. "Why not try one, I can always leave
it at that?", I thought, and that was the start of the end, I embraced
my addiction, throwing myself into schedules, running books, whatever.
You name it, I've done them all- uppers, downers, PMP's, LSR's, DOMS, even VO2max.

Now I spend my day rubbing oil into my legs, scouring over training
logs, checking my heart rate, waiting for the right time when I can
get my gear out for a fix. No embarresment is beneath me, no level of
depravity too low. I'm ashamed to say I will cover myself in bog****e,
flagellate my legs through thorns and heather, run half naked down
rocky mountains, all in the name of my "pasttime". I promise myself
that it will all stop in a few weeks, I just need one more hit, one
sub 3 marathon, and I can hang up my trainers, and be free of this
addictive curse, free to booze, snort, poke, inhale, once again, like
any normal Irishman. Just one more marathon, then I'll give it up, I
promise...

ecoli · 08-09-2010 11:16am

Gringo78 wrote: »

That could have been anyone on here sending that. You'll often open a training log on here and read -

'went out for 3 miles easy this morning to test leg. Seems ok, just a slight niggle. Numb if anything. Anastethic probably not fully worn off yet from this mornings surgery. HM on tomorrow. Hopefully doctor will discharge me today. Will prob just run it at tempo pace rather than race it. Although if they remove the plaster cast today might be tempted to go out at race pace'

I know we joke about it but really does hit bit to close to home for comfort:D do recall even in my own logs last year something like this

Still feeling bad so i went to the doctor on tues and he sending me to get a battery of blood tests in the morning and advised to maybe lay off training till i get the results back though given his lax opinion on it i may be able to start doin a few easy half hours from thurs just to keep some sort of fitness as it will be a few days till the results atleast

Krusty_Clown · 08-09-2010 11:20am

LOL. So true. I had pain in both achilles last week, so ran my 22 miler in Phoenix park on the grass. Got an appointment with the physio for Tuesday, so decided to do 5 miles on Monday (rest day) just in case I didn't get to do any running on Tuesday. Got up early on Tuesday and did my interval session.

Running helps me cope with the stress of having a running injury.

Oryx · 08-09-2010 11:35am

"Ran fifteen miles this morning, it was lashing rain, but dried up and the sun was coming up by the time I got back. Took ages to get the strapping off my knee, but the deep heat and voltarol worked a treat, I hardly felt any pain. Since the toenail finally came off my toe doesnt bother me either.

Then saw George doing his lsr on the bypass when I was on the way to work. He looked strong. Must get out this evening and do a few more miles."

ocnoc · 08-09-2010 12:29pm

Day after College Champs.
The plan - A rest day

The revised plan - an easy orienteering run

What happened-
"Well, i started off and I was sore... I then got into the flow of things...On the way to 18, going up the hill I attacked, caught him and ran past - we ran the last few controls together before I made a break for the finish with 1000m to go... Legs feeling much better... no wait.. oh ****... cramp"

RacoonQueen · 08-09-2010 12:49pm

I'm not getting involved, I have visions of certain people on here scouring my log to find all the stupid things I've done.

Aimman · 08-09-2010 2:00pm

Day 202 of training:

"Doctors told me to give up running after they found out that my joints are shot and are starting to click and pop as I move.

I found out that if I run fast enough, I sound like a drum machine on acid.":cool:

theboyblunder · 08-09-2010 2:58pm

hahahaha some good posts therem folks

I was just wondering if anyone, anywhere has lain on their death bed after a long life, surrounded by family thinking 'I should have found the time to do more 10 x 400s'?

ocnoc · 08-09-2010 4:02pm

theboyblunder wrote: »

10 x 400s'?

I assume thats a typo and you meant 20 x 400's

Oryx · 08-09-2010 5:36pm

ocnoc wrote: »

I assume thats a typo and you meant 20 x 400's

400s are for wimps. 800 is where its at.

Blueskye · 08-09-2010 6:23pm

Hmm, a little too close to my reality this week! Can't walk properly but sure I'll try a short run!

BeepBeep67 · 08-09-2010 7:42pm

Away on a work trip at the mo - just back from the office, everyone else is at the hotel bar - I'm checking the A/R/T forum while getting on my gear, eating a cereal bar, drinking some water and heading out for a run - catch ya'll later!

earlyevening · 08-09-2010 9:11pm

1 - Have you ever decided to stop running for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?

2 - Do you wish people would mind their own business about your running-- stop telling you what to do?

3 - Have you ever switched from one kind of run to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting wrecked?

4 - Have you had to have an eye-opener upon awakening during the past year?

5 - Do you envy people who can run without getting injured?

6 - Have you had problems connected with running during the past year?

7 - Has your running caused trouble at home?

8 - Do you ever try to get "extra" runs in because you do not get enough?

9 - Do you tell yourself you can stop running any time you want to, even though you keep going out for a run when you don't mean to?

10 - Have you missed days of work or school because of running?

11 - Do you ever pass out?

12 - Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not run?

Did you answer YES four or more times? If so, you are probably in trouble with running.

Seres · 08-09-2010 9:21pm

just got a link to this thread in my log ! hi my name is seres and im a runaholic

Slogger Jogger · 08-09-2010 9:43pm

This is scarily true. In the spirit of the earlier posts...

I too am a runaholic. My habit started innocuously, a short jog of less than 15 mins. The habit reached deep though and started to invade my life. The runs became almost daily and the initial 10k target turned into a marathon target later that year. Never again says I, sated that the big one had been met. ‘Ha’, said my habit, and it quickly blanked out the never again feeling and had me running again for a half marathon within 6 months and another marathon 6 months on again. The habit had become a fixation. Weight was shed big-time. Useless oversized clothes were shipped off to the charity shops and skinny boy clothes bought to fit my hungry looking frame. The pair of runners and few bits of gear followed me wherever I went. Whether it was away for a weekend or a holiday with the family. I hadn’t realised but it had quietly and relentlessly taken over my life to a certain extent. ‘Certain’ was replaced by full soon after as I ‘found’ myself doing 5 marathons in a year. And 5 marathons the next year. You know you are a runaholic when a prime consideration around your Christmas holidays is where you’ll be on 27th December so as to get to Arnotts to load up with new asics. There’s a time when you laugh at the guy ahead of you bulk buying boxes of running shoes. Then one year you find.. you are that guy. F**k.

Then, the habit worsened. You discovered the hills. They reeled you in and made you run almost like you were never running before. Running in the hills gave a new freedom but it was like finding a new drug and god it was a cheap drug. How can you give up on a cheap drug! Running became daily, twice daily some times. The family were getting worried. Work colleagues would ask about your weight and worry as to whether you were okay. More marathons came and went. Double figures, more. You started to acquire an interest in running faster. Up to now it was just about the running. S**t, now time was starting to come into it.

The scars started to show. Downtime from running was spent on running fora and the like on the Internet. That’s where I am now. Help!

earnyourturns · 08-09-2010 10:15pm

Have you ever lied to others about the amount of running you do because you know owning up to the full amount would cause them to worry?

ocnoc · 08-09-2010 10:19pm

earnyourturns wrote: »

Have you ever lied to others about the amount of running you do because you know owning up to the full amount would cause them to worry?

I get judged by friends and family alike

RacoonQueen · 08-09-2010 10:25pm

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

The scars started to show. Downtime from running was spent on running fora and the like on the Internet. That’s where I am now. Help!

Depressing isn't it?

earnyourturns wrote: »

Have you ever lied to others about the amount of running you do because you know owning up to the full amount would cause them to worry?

Two people in work were talking about me about two weeks ago. One was talking about how she couldn't run for 25 minutes without getting bored and couldn't understand how I did it etc etc the other just said "yeah but she is hooked on it"

Needless to say I got VERY defensive...

asimonov · 08-09-2010 10:28pm

earnyourturns wrote: »

Have you ever lied to others about the amount of running you do because you know owning up to the full amount would cause them to worry?

Thats so true, you need to choose your audience carefully before revealing how much running you do. Seriously though, how fu(ked up is it that doing about an hours exercise a day is seen as being obsessive, or even worse, bad for you.

Slogger Jogger · 08-09-2010 10:56pm

Frankly I'm not defensive about it and don't see the need to be. The upside is so much better. I probably wrote this on a training log last year, but here goes again. My mother has chronic alzheimers. That makes her forget. Running helps me forget. The worries, the hassles of life. I'm happy to be that runaholic.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi · 09-09-2010 12:15am

Boo urns at all you people with your addictions:p. I only started out this year and will give it up after DCM, i can control my running addiction.....i know i can:rolleyes:

GoHardOrGoHome · 09-09-2010 12:18am

Do you find yourself hiding some running gear in the boot of your car even when you have no intention of running?

Do you hide some running gear under your desk in case you need to get a lunch time run in?

Do you hide running gear in a significant other's house in case you need to go for a run?

Do you bring multiple pairs of runners on holiday taking up valuable luggage space because you're not quite sure what terrain you're going to come across?

The first step to rehabilitation is knowing you have a problem.

GoHardOrGoHome · 09-09-2010 12:19am

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Frankly I'm not defensive about it and don't see the need to be. The upside is so much better. I probably wrote this on a training log last year, but here goes again. My mother has chronic alzheimers. That makes her forget. Running helps me forget. The worries, the hassles of life. I'm happy to be that runaholic.

Ah SJ - you're in the denial phase!

Corkie100 · 09-09-2010 7:25am

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Depressing isn't it?

Two people in work were talking about me about two weeks ago. One was talking about how she couldn't run for 25 minutes without getting bored and couldn't understand how I did it etc etc the other just said "yeah but she is hooked on it"

Needless to say I got VERY defensive...

I hear ya. A new colleague started work with me the other day. i always felt I kept my running talk to an absolute minimum at work, but when she casually said 'oh you like to run, do you?', one of my colleagues snorted and said 'like? Bloody obsessed, more like'. :mad:
Yes i run in the mornings.
Yes I run alone.
Yes it interferes with my social life
But we all just need to take it one mile at a time:pac:

ecoli · 09-09-2010 8:44am

My names ecoli and i am definitely a runaholic
I was just a young boy when i started with just a simple "oh hey there trials for community games in the local field you should try it". Kept getting the peer pressure and the old saying "everybodies doing it" next thing you know it was four years on and i came out of my daze and had a chance to be free - no hurdles between u12 and u14. I could have walked away as i had only been light then they suggested i hit some new stuff - distance. This was a whole new buzz. 8 years later and i was in a bad way.Tried rehab last year (shin splints) and was going well for 4 months but then went back and got to a stage where 5-6 days a week just wasnt enough then i thought i would step it up last year - a half, so many people where doing it these days i thought I could handle it. Singles turned to doubles, 70 min LSR turned to 2 hours.

Ive got to the stage now where i have accepted my addiction and i dont want to change. Even ashamed to say this but i am trying to get the younger ones from my extended family into it so i dont have to mix my fix around the holidays without taking the brunt of the shame:( I dont think the GF knows how bad it is because i have managed to hide it fairly well (running before or after i meet up with her on that day so she dont have to know) though im at the stage where i wont even hide it and she is even coming to races now!!

Oryx · 09-09-2010 9:54am

I have a stinking headcold, a sore throat, and I feel like sh!t.

...and I brought my run kit with me to work in case I get a chance to run this evening. I really have a problem.

Seres · 09-09-2010 10:09am

Oryx wrote: »

I have a stinking headcold, a sore throat, and I feel like sh!t.

...and I brought my run kit with me to work in case I get a chance to run this evening. I really have a problem.

your ok till it goes to your chest

, failing to notice that , collapsing on the road will determine if you should continue or not (make sure to stop your garmin before this happens ), bear in mind if you do come to try to remember to finish the session

ecoli · 09-09-2010 10:11am

Seres wrote: »

your ok till it goes to your chest , failing to notice that , collapsing on the road will determine if you should continue or not (make sure to stop your garmin before this happens ), bear in mind if you do come to try to remember to finish the session

Laps around the hospital grounds that way you can go as hard as you want and there will always be someone close by to revive you:D

StaggerLee · 09-09-2010 10:35am

I thought I had my addiction under control. I had all of the symptoms described above:

Walking out of Arnotts on 27th with 4 pairs of the same runners, chuffed.
Figuring that a good brisk tempo run on a freezing January morning would clear up that chest infection.
Explaining to my friends that I couldn't go out on the stag night because I have to run the next morning

What happened was I had kids. I lost interest in going for long runs at the weekends, I even started to get bored with them. I started socialising again. I kept my mid-week running to lunchtimes at work. The batteries went in my heart rate monitor, I didn't care. I went into to Arnotts this year on the 4th of January, everything was gone, pfft the shoes I have will do me for another few months.

But now I find myself staring wistfully out of the car window at the weekend at runners, guessing that they're out for their long training runs for the marathon, they are carrying drinks, must be about a 15 miler.

I was invited to a 15k up in Glendalough in October, might go out on Sunday morning, try an old 10k route, just to see where I'm at. I'll get a battery for the watch, just to see what kind of time I'm doing. Pushing on the sole of my year old Nimbus here, I think they've lost thier spring, might pop into town to pick up a new pair....

Doomed.

Runaholic

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