[simonbarker87]

I’ve always been a decent runner, won some school and county races, but I’ve never enjoyed it, it was something to get through.

I stopped running years ago when I took up weight training and I didn’t miss it at all.

Last year my wife wanted to do some Spartan races so started training, I joined her for a few training runs and due to the controlled, slower pace she was running at set by the training schedule/app I loved those runs.

Turns out I was running too fast and hating every minute. I now run once or twice a week at a slowish pace, it’s been great. Speaking to “proper runners” since starting back up this is apparently very common, most people who hate running are simply going faster than they should.

Anything that gets you outside, run/sit/ride/tennis club is a good thing so well done them for organising something.

[krzat]

Interesting. I like running, but need to force myself for any strength training. I wonder if I'm doing the "running too fast" version of calisthenics.

[mnky9800n]

Get a trainer. A good one will help you understand the progression and the different lifts and such. And will also keep you motivated when you are figuring it out. You don’t have to keep them forever but just to get started for a couple months can be great motivation in my experience.

[swat535]

In my experience, strength training is about gradually increasing the weight, start with something like 2.5 lbs, then move to 5 lbs as you go. But only add weight once you can do your sets and reps with proper form. Form really matters, bad form is how you get injured.

The other things that make a big difference: eating enough (you need more calories to lift more) and getting enough sleep as well as rest between workouts.

Like every other exercise, it's a question of building a habit.

[simonbarker87]

Could well be, the other thing could be that weight training is quite a bit more boring than running - I rely on music to get me into a lifting zone.

Weights becomes fun when you see the progress in your physique and in the weight you can lift going up and feel in that things that were hard are now easier.

As someone else suggested, a trainer can really help as can doing a a simple compound lift based programme like Strong Lifts 5x5 as it’s simple and you make good gains pretty quickly.

[iamacyborg]

The best encouragement I’ve had to hit the weights is the injuries that stopped me running. Gotta get strong to get back to running