How not to look like a tool? Don’t be the guy in ankle-length shorts, basketball shorts (or worse, untied skateboarding shoes), plodding along/walking. You know why That Guy looks like a tool? Because he’s too self-conscious about how he looks, he won’t dress or behave properly for what he’s doing. You don’t have to wear a speedo, but get some shorts you’re comfortable in, some decent shoes, old t-shirt you’re comfortable in, and go. I see an old guy in speedo, shirtless, gloves, in the middle of winter plodding along at 15-minute mile pace and I get inspired.
Also, find some other people to run with. Running can be a very solitary activity, and I like to run by myself a lot because it can be quite meditative, but running with other people is really good as well. It helps force you to run (NinjaChick said something very true, the hardest part is just getting out the door), you will run at a more consistent pace, and you can also have some very nice conversations while you hit the trail. There’s nothing stupid-looking about a group of people enjoying themselves.
Oh, phew, I’m glad you didn’t say that, because now I don’t have to say: Ha, yeah, going outside at a slow jog is totally “fake exercise” and essentially no different from sitting on the couch eating potato chips – if you are running slowly then you are just lazy and should give up even trying.
Glad I didn’t say that, though.
Walk, walk briskly but not a “powerwalk”. Better exercise, better for your knees and hips, etc.
Regular shorts, tennis shoes, t-shirt.
Cite? (Not snark - I’m genuinely interested.)
First of all, anything other then ‘sitting on a couch’ and being lazy is exercise to a ‘lazy’ person and a hell of a lot better then the alternative. This should be encouraged, not mocked because it’s not ‘real’ exercise compared to you. That’s like me saying if you don’t run as fast as me, you’re not a real runner, or if you don’t incorporate Crossfit and yoga into your routine, you’re don’t really have a well rounded workout schedule.
Secondly, it doesn’t matter how far/long they run, they’re running, imo. They participate in timed runs, they have a schedule that they stick to, they try to improve their times, they cross train to improve their technique and time. They’re runners.
PS: What do you mean ‘and getting paid in the process’? They don’t get paid for exercising.
Actually, here’s a cite in the opposite direction. Running may actually help your knees.
I run at 5 in the morning no one sees me I would suggest doing something similar and get away from people. This summer I was running around the track of a middle school that was out of section.
I run slow in the 10-15 min/mile pace so it looks awkward but once I get to the 7-8 min/mile pace I don’t look funny any more, I’m gone too fast and my stride looks right. Either running when there is no one there or looking right can help with your problem.
How is it “fooling themselves into exercising” when they’re actually out there, exercising? Getting started with running or jogging is really hard if you’ve never done it before or if it’s been a long time. It hurts your shins and makes you feel like your lungs have been mildly seared. And after a certain age, once you start working out, it may take longer to improve than if you were, say, 20. I wouldn’t speak for the OP, but this seems to be exactly the attitude that most people who haven’t exercised or want to try something new are concerned about.
As someone who is a naturally slow runner (think 12-minute miles on a good day, but maybe that makes me a jogger), I’ve run 3 marathons, but you’d never know I could run for five hours without stopping if you saw me shuffling down the street.
Like jjimm said, fuck 'em. Or more politely, don’t concern yourself with what some random stranger that you’ll never see again in your life thinks about your stride or the shirt you’re wearing. Go at whatever pace gives you a good workout, push yourself a little faster or farther every week and feel good about yourself.
For the folks who think that someone isn’t “really exercising” if they aren’t running X mph, worry about something else. There will always be plenty of people who can run faster and farther than you too, so what?
My last long run was with a couple of guys who chugged along at a “slow” pace (12 minute miles)…that’s their pace on 50 mile runs and they slow down on their 100 mile runs. I’m pretty sure that’s “real exercise”.
I run for a while, then powerwalk to cool down. I always feel like a douche when I’m walking, because I’m all red-faced and sweaty. I imagine people look at me and think I’m totally out of shape.
I find listening to good power metal can make you feel more like a warrior and less like a doofus.
[hardass hat on]
Well, as a human man of 30, perhaps you should look in the mirror and confront the fact that you need to get over how you appear to others when you are doing something so good for yourself.
Exercise involves gear and behaviors that can look silly and can involve you committing yourself physically, which can also look silly and certainly sweaty.
Avoid obvious faux pas (e.g., too much spandex, outrageous color schemes, etc. - all things in moderation, right?) and get out there and do it.
[/hardass hat off]
Hope this helps,
Wordman - who sweats like I’ve been dipped in hot chicken soup and occasionally collapses in front of attractive women (and guys) when I do Bikram Yoga weekly…
I jog in a pretty private area…back in a park where I MIGHT run into my neighbors, or on a treadmill in the basement. I don’t run down the street (for one thing the asphalt is harder than the trail or the treadmill. I too feel “silly” having people watch me run.
However, when I do run into people on my trail runs, they all have approving looks on their faces (and generally make room for me to run past them, which is very kind of them), so its really my issue. None of them have the look of “what a loser!”
Gee, thanks guys. Started the c25k thing today and it’s all your fault!
Hear hear. I went surfing this weekend, which involved me and my mini-beer-gut crammed into a wetsuit that was too long for me, walking right through the centre of town struggling with a surfboard, looking like the dudiest dude at the dude surf ranch. And I thought, if any of the body-beautiful youngsters wandering around were to cast aspersions at my ungainly waddling, “fuck 'em, never going to see any of them again, and even if I did, fuck 'em anyway”.
Whooo! One of us! One of us!
No seriously, I know I tend to get all preachy about running these days, but since I started C25K I’ve lost 25 pounds and gone from getting out of breath walking up the stairs in my house, to being able to run 5 miles at a stretch. This is like the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I too started c25k this week (not Lobsang’s fault - I started on Sunday ;))
I’m doing it at 8:00 in the evening. That tends to cut down on people who could see me and think I look silly. Possibly not such a great option in the UK heading into winter though…
Even if one assumes “plodding along at 3 miles” is “not doing any good”, the above is something that needs to be considered too. Yes, you need to work hard to get the real cardio burn happening, but you also sure as hell have to start out at a slow plod until your legs, knees, hips, feet, ass etc. get used to it.
Fast is also the fastest way to injury when you’re starting out. Until your body gets used to the mechanics, slow is good.
Also, I wouldn’t worry about looking goofy. As your body gets used to it, your stride will probably improve because your body will get into a more efficient rhythm. The only truly goofy runner I’ve ever seen is a buddy of mine who runs with his arms up by his chest and all limp-wristed, so he kind of looks like he’s trying to run and do the Chicken Dance at the same time.
Years ago when I was going to school I would run at midnight during the (Texas) summer months. A lot cooler than during the daytime, had free reign of the streets, and the silence was wonderful. It’s def. nice running at times or locations when the area around you is less, say, distracting.
Your description here reminded me of a guy I used to sneer at when I was younger and much, much faster (and therefore more competitive). There was this guy who used to run like a combination of Sylvester Stallone and a windmill on the treadmill in front of me, only his feet couldn’t have been doing more than 4.5 or 5 miles an hour (about a 12-14 mph pace). The one day it occurred to me: this guy is 70 if he’s a day and he’s here every single time I am, for just as long. If I get to that age, whatever I look like when I run, if I’m still going even a third that fast, I’ll be damned proud of myself.
Sure, doing anything is better than sitting on the couch.
But it’s just an endemic disease in America, that the people who are being paid to motivate and push slack off and don’t do their jobs, because that might hurt business. You go into a gym, and the personal trainers just chat up their clients. You go to school, and the teachers don’t demand that you do anything. (Or perhaps EmAnJ isn’t being paid. Yet he is still in that position to lead, motivate, and push, yet s/he embraces making “people feel good about themselves” over maximizing their potential.)
I see this everywhere. It holds America back, and will be a large factor in its eventual decline. I’m dead serious.
(Btw, a lot of people are chiming in with “I’m so slow, I do 12-minute miles.” 3mph is a 20 minute mile. And then a bunch of others said, “well I run slowly for 5 hours,” or “My last long run was with a couple of guys who chugged along at a “slow” pace (12 minute miles)…that’s their pace on 50 mile runs and they slow down on their 100 mile runs. I’m pretty sure that’s “real exercise”.” Jesus Christ. That’s exaclty what I pointed out in my post. I said, “I was going to say that 3mph is way too slow, but then realized I should ask how long you run for, because if it’s a long time then it’s still an excellent amount of exertion.” It was the entire thesis of the only sentence I wrote. Don’t people read?)