health
Nipple tape, pickle juice and dinosaurs: how I learned to love running, the unorthodox way
The usual advice was getting me nowhere. If I really wanted to embrace running, I’d need to go off-piste. It was a journey that took me to some very strange places …
TL;DR
- The author initially hated running due to pain, lack of enjoyment, and tedium.
- An old football injury necessitated starting running, pushing the author to seek unorthodox advice.
- Week 1 involved acquiring proper gear, using anti-chafe balm and nipple tape, and drinking pickle juice for hydration.
- Week 2 focused on finding awe-inspiring locations like Crystal Palace Park's dinosaur statues and adopting a 'sexy pace' to reduce boredom.
- Week 3 tackled existential dread by memorizing Shakespearean soliloquies during runs.
- Week 4 addressed motivation struggles by preparing everything the night before and finding personal rewards, like quiet reading time.
- Week 5 incorporated 'unhinged' tips from Reddit, including shouting 'Fuck!' when it got hard and having a mid-run breakfast.
- By Week 6, the author had run consistently for over a month and was learning to define his running personality for long-term success.
- Unconventional methods like nipple tape, pickle juice, dinosaurs, and memorizing Hamlet were key to the author's newfound running habit.