question from a "Recovering" Long distance runner

[Tiedemies]

I was not offended. I was annoyed enough to try and set the record straight yes, but not offended. People get offended too easily IMO.

[risepmj]

We fuck with Kregna here, because he's a goofball. But we're not worried about him

He does offer a chance to grow up to most troll like me.But someone still can't

[David Lee]

Obviously no one in this thread actually knows what an addiction is

Most of them do know what punctuation is.

[Mark Rippetoe]

He does offer a chance to grow up to most troll like me.But someone still can't

You were never troll.

[jyp]

...
And yes, running is addictive. It is an addiction. No, it is not like heroin addiction, but it is an addiction. You feel you *must* go running. You are ready to do it even when there is great cost. You run more than you planned to (like, you go for a 5K round and end up running it twice). You do it even when you know it hurts some other thing you hold dear, like, you are supposed to follow a lifting program, and you lie to yourself that it won't hurt your lifts if you go running. When you are supposed to spend time with the kids, you let the kids play video games for an extra hour so you can go running....

This resonates with me. As someone new to the Starting Strength program (I just completed my 8th workout after a quick trip to WFAC where Nick showed us the basics), the thing I have the hardest time doing is NOT running or biking. It is a huge change in mindset to simply focus on eating and sleeping on the days between workouts.

That being said, I love the results I am getting (+70lbs to deadlift & squat) and the fact that it is much easier carrying things.

Many thanks to Rip and his team - this is great stuff!

[John Hanley]

the thing I have the hardest time doing is NOT running

Curious.

On the spectrum of shit I want to do, running ranks with self-immolation & listening to rap.

[Elephant]

...And yes, running is addictive. It is an addiction. No, it is not like heroin addiction, but it is an addiction. You feel you *must* go running. You are ready to do it even when there is great cost. You run more than you planned to (like, you go for a 5K round and end up running it twice). You do it even when you know it hurts some other thing you hold dear, like, you are supposed to follow a lifting program, and you lie to yourself that it won't hurt your lifts if you go running. When you are supposed to spend time with the kids, you let the kids play video games for an extra hour so you can go running. If you don't do it, you get depressed, anxious, and jittery. You feel sick. ...

Is weight training an addiction?

[Tiedemies]

On the spectrum of shit I want to do, running ranks with self-immolation & listening to rap.

You do know that self-immolation is highly addictive as well?

The thing about runners high is, it really is as great as it is said to be. Better, even. I'd definitely run a lot more if it didn't hurt my lifts. And even the one mid-distance I allow myself per week (4.5K on Sundays) I can feel. I struggled with 300lbs squats yesterday, after having run my Sunday leg a bit too aggressively. Deadlifts luckily aren't that much affected.

I gave up running for six months almost completely, to finish my LP earlier this year and man, it was hard. It's hard to find a balance with it. In a way, I envy those who never develop the addiction.

[Cody Annino]

just for clarification my original comment on running being an "addiction" was not meant to offend anyone who has struggled with an actual addiction (alcohol, smoking, drugs, gambling etc.). I meant it more as a figure of speech.

[Mark Rippetoe]

On this board, anybody who took it that way will be banned.