As a girl that grew up in a family of runners, I would like to consider myself well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of running. I am now a collegiate track and cross-country athlete and can say that I have endured (and of course, enjoyed) over ten years of mile repeats, intermittent shin splints, killer hill sets, plenty of tendonitis to go around, and time spent in the dreaded Boot. Whenever a stranger asks me why I run, I think about both the hardships and rewards running brings into my life. Here is a list that focuses only on the hardships of running:
1. Pre-Race Stomach Trouble (Nausea, Cramps, Nervous Butterflies, etc.)
This type of pain is normal for runners. It usually comes the day before a race, and lasts until the final step across the finish line. The side effects can vary: some runners become so anxious they throw up before their race, others make frequent bathroom stops during the warm-up, and some (in an attempt to delay stomach pain) do not eat anything the day of their race.
2. Starting Line Jabs
In almost every race I have run, I have had one or two (or five) elbows flung in my direction. This happens the most at the start of a race, when everyone is desperate to get ahead of the person next to them. Sometimes the elbow-flinger can be a teammate, a competitor, or even you. It is not pleasant to start off a race with a bruised rib or sore arm. However, comparatively, this is one of the least painful parts of running.
3. The Stampede (and Sometimes Trample)
The start of a race is a stampede. Getting trampled by a stampede is NOT fun. Especially when your competitors are wearing spikes. I know from personal experience...
4. The Running Part of The Race
In middle school, everyone complained about the mile in P.E. I want you to remember the pain and suffering you felt in that P.E. mile. Now imagine how it would feel to run just more than 3 of those, consecutively, except at 6-minute mile pace. Fun right?!
5. Weather
Running a race when it's pouring, snowing, or scorching is something every high school or collegiate runner has had to endure. At one race last year, I witnessed three girls collapse and drop out due to dehydration and heat exhaustion. At a race in Seattle, the course we ran turned into a slip-n-slide, and the rain felt like icicles poking your face and skin. Running is already difficult enough without the windstorms, heat waves, or hail pelting you.
6. Buns
Imagine running in a bikini bottom or Speedo. With buns on, you get a whole lot of chafing and a whole lot of stares. In addition, by the time you cross the finish line, your rear is almost 100% exposed to the world (because those things RIDE UP).
7. Racing Shoes
Running in racing flats is one of the least comfortable sensations as a runner. If your shoes do not fit correctly, you can walk away from a race with blood-soaked racing flats, and massive blisters. On top of that, running in spikes will kill your calves. Try running fast on your toes for 20 minutes; you will then know the pain.
8. Injuries
Every runner hopefully knows it is terrible to race on an injury. However, I have done it before, and I'm sure many others have as well. This takes the cake on pain experienced in a race. Whether it's shin splints, a stress fracture, an ankle sprain, or plantar fasciitis, all injuries hurt when racing. And guaranteed, all injuries (if major) will get worse if you race on them.
Though the length of this list and veracity of my descriptions may appear cynical, I still find many enjoyable moments in racing. Running is hard, and hopefully this list reminds you that it takes an immense amount of strength to cross any finish line.
