- There are signs that make you doubt your “healthy” passion for running, symptoms that may indicate that this “sweet obsession,” all things considered, is not a bad thing at all.
- From meticulously planning a runner’s outfit before each trip to compulsively analyzing others’ watches, let’s see what are the most recurring “quirks” of those who can’t help but run.
- But then run serenely: your “addiction” is actually a source of well-being and joy. Embrace this passion that drives you to push your limits, step by step.
Admit it: you’re lacing up for your run, and it hits you: “Have I become one of those people?” The mile-obsessed, elevator-shunning, more-shoes-than-socks kind.
Maybe it started like a rom-com makeover – a few jogs to offset the cake. Then, bam, it’s under your skin, like a Netflix binge that keeps you up till dawn.
The tell-tale signs
What are the red flags? First, your vocabulary’s gone sci-fi. “Fartlek,” “VO2 max,” “lactic acid” – you toss them around like the weather (too bad most folks look clueless). And if they ask what they mean? Pity, like they haven’t seen Severance.
Then, friend chats? Suddenly all about pace, hills, and new shoes. Try talking about anything else, and you get the grandma-asking-about-the-internet stare.
And travel? Forget sightseeing; it’s all about finding killer running routes. Packing? Used to be a clothes explosion; now it’s a Tetris of tech tees, socks, gels, and the star: your running shoes.
Don’t even get started on watches. Just knowing the time isn’t enough – you’re analyzing everyone’s wristwear, sizing them up as runners. Marathoner? Casual? Pro? Like a car nut spotting a Lambo, you instantly know if they just ran a 26.2 or just check their resting heart rate.
So, is it really that bad?
Bottom line: is this running thing a problem? Nope! Sure, your other half might roll their eyes at your hill-repeat stories, and friends might ditch Friday beers because all you talk about is running (and you don’t drink anyway). But hey, those aren’t real friends. The upside? Endorphins, stress relief, and feeling like a superhero.
The “real” runner problems… or not?
Okay, a tiny “downside.” Maybe more spent on shoes than bills (but it’s an investment!). Maybe impatient with delays (less running time!). Maybe vacation spots are now judged by trails (bye-bye lazy beaches).
More running shoes than dress shoes? Dawn wake-ups on weekends? Dreams of training plans? So what? You’re not hurting anyone. In a world of bad habits, yours is a gold medal winner.
Run on, don’t sweat it
So, fellow runner, if this sounds like you, don’t sweat it. You’re not a “junkie.” You’ve found a healthy passion that feels amazing.
Keep lacing up, chasing times, and finding new paths. And if someone asks why you’re so into it? Smile and say, “Beats me, that’s why I’m running to find out.”