Running Wild

I saw a strange thing yesterday. I saw two joggers. That wasn't so strange in it's own right, but the fact that both of them had opted in the slightly chilly conditions to run along with their hands in their pockets made the whole experience a lot stranger. They looked like two penguins making a dash for the bus.

This confirms my long held belief that jogging is simply not an enjoyable form of exercise. Presumably they had their hands in their pockets because they were cold, in which case the jogging doesn't seem to have achieved it's major function. Certainly it did nothing to improve their jogging performance. I'm yet to see anyone in a marathon take up this particular pose to assist with aerodynamicity, speed or athletic function in any way.

I guess the appeal of jogging lies in it's simplicity. Anyone can do it without needing specialist kit, equipment or a venue, other participants or money. You can literally decide to start jogging and within a matter of seconds have achieved your aim. Unlike, say, football, where you ideally need other people, a ball, somewhere to kick it and possibly specialist shoes to do so with. To that end I get it. But where's the fun? Its not that social, it's unbearably monotonous, and I can never silence the tiny voices in my head telling me that my ankle is sore, my breathing irregular, and I should, under no circumstance, continue jogging. At least I can understand the appeal of being able to do it in some fantastic outdoor locations. I can't think of anything worse than doing it on a treadmill at the gym where I have to pay £28.50 a month for the privilege.

Perhaps I've just never been any good at jogging. Maybe, despite it's apparent ease, I'm actually rubbish at it. I've done a couple of half marathons and posted a respectable time, but I mostly did it for charity and as a personal challenge. It certainly wasn't enjoyable in the same way as a win at hockey is. I had no enthusiasm for training and I know I couldn't go as far as the marathon without some serious effort.

I have a sort of unhealthy respect for joggers like the two I saw. I applaud their determination in the face of complete idiocy. I admire the people dedicated enough to put themselves through hell on a cold wet evening just because they need to do some exercise. And I even recognise that some of us enjoy team sports, where instinct takes over, while others prefer a strategy or plan and the opportunity to escape into your own mental solitude. But if you're really not enjoying it at all, I would suggest stopping and looking up other alternative ways to keep fit. Don't 'just do it' for the sake of it.