Last December, we had a really fascinating discussion about the best piece of running advice you’ve ever heard, which elicited so many great comments from each of you (that I learned a tremendous amount from too).
So I’d like to turn the tables a little today and ask, what’s the worst piece of running advice you’ve ever heard? Or, a piece of advice you got and tried out, and then figured out you actually needed to do completely differently to make it work for you?
The worst advice I ever received was from my HS track coach... "Work through the pain... it'll make you stronger... Ya Right! Like that's going to heal a pulled muscle ....
Worst advice I ever got was to wear running shorts. Ugh. I have big thighs, even when I’m at my skinniest. My thighs chafe. No amount of Vaseline or runner’s balm helps. I switched to bicycle type shorts to run in (it was 1999 & I couldn’t find running tights or shorter capris or thigh length tights back then) & never looked back. People gave me some weird looks at first, but my comfort came first. Now people run in all kinds of stuff!
Love reading all the comments! I've also heard people be kind of negative (to say the least) about running. I'm so glad I've been able to keep it up all my life through good times and bad times.
I've been told by a few part time runners that running killed their knees and to stop running now. I know the facts about runners knees and luckily so far, knock on wood, not one of those people that are predisposed to these problems.
You've gotta reach with your heel! Stupid advice! Only if you want Knee Pain and Shin Splints among other ailments.
I'm a Chi Runner. It's all about posture, lean and a mid-foot strike. Once I learned technique & form, which didn't take long. . . it's an ongoing practice, I feel like I can run for miles--literally--and have! I'm only 73 years old and keep on going.
Being told that if you don't run a competitive and fast pace, you shouldn't bother entering and running races. Give me a break...if I had listened to that bad advice years ago, I would have never run marathons, started trail running and generally given up running.
When I started running, I followed the mantra "no pain, no gain", and pushed far beyond my limits. I ignored painful warning signs and eventually became injured.
To stop running by my Rheumatologist. I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2020. I asked "When can I run again?" She replied, "Maybe you just shouldn't run any longer".. I broke up with that doctor.
One foot doctor I visited told me the best thing to run in was the cheapest shoe I could find…and gave me a tax-exemption prescription for purchasing them at any sporting goods store. I never did…nor did I ever go back to that doctor. (I know Hollie would freak out reading this one!)
"Lengthen your stride," which was the go-to school gym coach advice for gaining speed that resulted in knee pain as I started running more earnestly in my 30s. An excellent physical therapist and a ChiRunning trainer fixed my overstride and completely remedied the knee pain, even on formerly problematic downhill stretches.
"I don't think you should listen to your sports medicine doctor; I think you should do what you want." (I had a BROKEN HIP and someone was trying to get me to register for a marathon that was a month away and that I hadn't trained for because I still had a broken hip and was in a wheelchair, for goodness sake...)
"You've gained too much weight to start running. You're too heavy." (From a personal trainer.) And while that was true--that I had gained weight--I was not obese, nor would some even say heavy.
The worst advice I ever received was from my HS track coach... "Work through the pain... it'll make you stronger... Ya Right! Like that's going to heal a pulled muscle ....
Worst advice I ever got was to wear running shorts. Ugh. I have big thighs, even when I’m at my skinniest. My thighs chafe. No amount of Vaseline or runner’s balm helps. I switched to bicycle type shorts to run in (it was 1999 & I couldn’t find running tights or shorter capris or thigh length tights back then) & never looked back. People gave me some weird looks at first, but my comfort came first. Now people run in all kinds of stuff!
Love reading all the comments! I've also heard people be kind of negative (to say the least) about running. I'm so glad I've been able to keep it up all my life through good times and bad times.
I've been told by a few part time runners that running killed their knees and to stop running now. I know the facts about runners knees and luckily so far, knock on wood, not one of those people that are predisposed to these problems.
You've gotta reach with your heel! Stupid advice! Only if you want Knee Pain and Shin Splints among other ailments.
I'm a Chi Runner. It's all about posture, lean and a mid-foot strike. Once I learned technique & form, which didn't take long. . . it's an ongoing practice, I feel like I can run for miles--literally--and have! I'm only 73 years old and keep on going.
Being told that if you don't run a competitive and fast pace, you shouldn't bother entering and running races. Give me a break...if I had listened to that bad advice years ago, I would have never run marathons, started trail running and generally given up running.
...being told to tie my shoes having a rare pair of Saucony 'velcro' trail shoes.
When I started running, I followed the mantra "no pain, no gain", and pushed far beyond my limits. I ignored painful warning signs and eventually became injured.
from spectators: you are almost there (advice offered miles from the finish)
To stop running by my Rheumatologist. I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2020. I asked "When can I run again?" She replied, "Maybe you just shouldn't run any longer".. I broke up with that doctor.
One foot doctor I visited told me the best thing to run in was the cheapest shoe I could find…and gave me a tax-exemption prescription for purchasing them at any sporting goods store. I never did…nor did I ever go back to that doctor. (I know Hollie would freak out reading this one!)
I am 79 years old.I went for my annual physical-everything was fine. The doctor said to me
"Gee your 79--Don't you think you are too old to be running???????? I replied "NO Doctor-I would be OLD if I didn't run. HA
"Lengthen your stride," which was the go-to school gym coach advice for gaining speed that resulted in knee pain as I started running more earnestly in my 30s. An excellent physical therapist and a ChiRunning trainer fixed my overstride and completely remedied the knee pain, even on formerly problematic downhill stretches.
"I don't think you should listen to your sports medicine doctor; I think you should do what you want." (I had a BROKEN HIP and someone was trying to get me to register for a marathon that was a month away and that I hadn't trained for because I still had a broken hip and was in a wheelchair, for goodness sake...)
"You've gained too much weight to start running. You're too heavy." (From a personal trainer.) And while that was true--that I had gained weight--I was not obese, nor would some even say heavy.