Steve Radford

Running: A Healthy Hobby



Posted: Thursday, August 18, 2011

by Steve Radford

Running is my hobby.  It may be a subset of a fitness lifestyle but I tend to think of it as a stand-alone hobby.  If fitness was my hobby, I would probably eat healthier.  I actually started running so that I could eat with reckless abandon and not get fat.  But somewhere along the trail leading to the buffet line, I found that I enjoy running.

When my career was flowing and the pace was insane, running was a stress reliever.  When things weren’t going as well and I felt embattled or defeated, running was my escape.  Long runs became planning sessions when facing impossible situations.

It’s never been easy for me to sit quietly and pray.  When I close my eyes, I tend to fall asleep.  But I’ve had some deep spiritual encounters on pre-dawn runs.  On chilly mornings when I can see my breath and the only sounds are my footsteps and deep even breathing.  Or on hot, sticky evenings when the sweat is rolling.  It’s spiritual.

I’ve discovered that there are running and life parallels.  For instance, sometimes pushing through pain results in greater rewards than pain avoidance.  Easy choices aren’t always the best choices.  And there is a cumulative benefit for consistently doing the right thing.

Running has taught me about my limits and hardened my resolve to keep moving forward.  I’m very thankful that I have healthy knees and lungs that allow me to run at fifty three.  I hope I’m still able to do it for another thirty years.

People, who have never run, can’t understand this kind of hobby.  They are perplexed by the notion that someone would “run with no one chasing them”.  Or they’ll say “runners don’t look like they’re having fun.  I’ll start jogging when I see a jogger smiling during his run.”  To that I say; “I’ll stop running when I see someone smiling during their massive heart attack.”  Or “who let you off the couch?”

Most doctors don’t seem to appreciate running either.  Eighteen years ago, when I was recovering from a run related stress fracture, a doctor suggested that I stop.  He said walking would be better for me.  But he had a big gut and I’m pretty sure that if he owned a pair of running shoes, he only wore them to walk his Yorkie.

So the doctor had no credibility with me, I wrote myself a prescription for some better running shoes and treated my injury with ice, aspirin and rest.  And running remains my hobby.

If you think you might want to take up running, here are some tips that may improve your experience:

  1. Build up slowly.  If you try to do too much too soon, you’ll get discouraged and may even injure yourself. 
  2. Don’t run every day.  Depending on your age and fitness level, you may need to start with every other day.  Even if you can run every day, you may enjoy it more if you plan for rest days.
  3. Understand that the first few weeks are the toughest.  Once you build up to two or three miles, you’ll find it easier to keep going.  It’s those first two that are the toughest as your body adapts.
  4. Get decent running shoes.  They don’t have to be expensive but they need to be designed for your size and foot-strike pattern.
  5. Stay hydrated.  Drink water or sports drinks before, during and after a run.
  6. Stretch often.  Do dynamic stretching before and static stretching after a run.  Stretch on your off days too.
  7. Be consistent for at least sixty days.  After that, the results will keep you motivated.


Not everyone shares my love for running and some are not physically able to run safely.  But if you’re healthy enough to start, the rewards can be significant.

Steve Radford was born in Virginia and currently resides in North Texas.  He writes mostly about personal experiences that have shaped his view of the world.

Too Two To Me, Myself and I My Hobby
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Hilda Cang 272 days 11 hours ago.
60 fans.
Hi Steve, I know you enjoy the thrill of running and so do many others but I know that doctor is quite right about it. Jogging instead of running is never harmful. Running is not too good for women physically. However, it's ok with men. I hope.

I love walking, a bit of climbing if my stamina fits.
» left by Steve Radford 270 days 21 hours ago.
44 fans.
Thanks for commenting Hilda. I think the key is to find some activity that you like to do. It makes consistency so much easier. I know running is not for everyone. But for those that like it, women included, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
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