Why You Should Still TO Run (Even If You Hate It)

Fitness 2EZ
Dec 13
3 min read

Let’s be honest — not everyone loves running.Some people find it boring. Some find it uncomfortable. Some just feel like they’re “bad at it.” And if you come from a strength or functional fitness background, running often feels like the weakest link you’d rather avoid.

But here’s the truth most athletes don’t want to hear:

You don’t need to love running. You need to respect what it does for your body and performance.

Whether your goal is HYROX, CrossFit, general fitness, or just becoming a more capable human, running still matters — even if it’s your least favourite part of training.

Running Builds the Engine Everything Else Depends On

You can have strong legs. You can have powerful lifts. You can even be good at high-intensity workouts.

But without a solid aerobic engine, everything falls apart under fatigue.

Running is one of the most efficient ways to develop your cardiovascular system. It improves how well your heart pumps blood, how efficiently your lungs exchange oxygen, and how your muscles use that oxygen over time.

That aerobic foundation affects:

how fast you recover between sets
how well you handle long workouts
how quickly your heart rate comes down
how steady you feel under fatigue

You don’t just run to be better at running — you run to make everything else feel easier.

Running Teaches Pacing, Discipline, and Mental Control

Running is uncomfortable in a different way compared to lifting or metcons. There’s no barbell to put down, no rep count to distract you, no one cheering you through every second.

It’s just you, your breath, and your pace.

That’s exactly why it’s powerful.

Running forces you to:

manage discomfort
control breathing under stress
stay calm when your body wants to stop
learn the difference between “tired” and “done”

These skills directly transfer into competitions like HYROX, long workouts, and even daily life. Mental endurance is built when you stay moving despite discomfort — and running does that better than almost anything.

If You Hate Running, It’s Probably Because You’re Running It Wrong

Most people hate running because they only experience it at the wrong intensity.

Too fast.Too hard. Too often trying to “prove fitness.”

Easy aerobic running should feel controlled, sustainable, and repeatable — not like a race every session.

When running is trained properly:

your breathing is under control
your pace feels manageable
your legs don’t burn immediately
recovery improves instead of getting worse

You don’t build love for running by suffering every time. You build tolerance, confidence, and eventually comfort by doing it smart.

Running Makes You More Durable, Not Just Fitter

Strength training builds muscle.Conditioning builds capacity.Running builds durability.

When progressed correctly, running strengthens:

tendons
ligaments
joints
bones
connective tissue

This durability helps you handle higher training loads across all areas — especially in hybrid sports where impact, volume, and fatigue stack up quickly.

Avoiding running doesn’t protect your body. Poorly programmed running does the damage — smart running makes you resilient.

You Don’t Need to Be Fast — You Need to Be Consistent

Here’s a mindset shift that changes everything:

You don’t run to be fast. You run to be capable.

Most athletes don’t fail because they’re slow — they fail because they can’t sustain effort. Running helps you stay steady, calm, and controlled when workouts get long.

Consistent, manageable runs teach your body to:

maintain rhythm under fatigue
recover faster between efforts
handle volume without panic
stay mentally composed

Speed comes later. Consistency comes first.

Running Completes You as an Athlete

If you only lift, your conditioning will limit you.If you only condition, your strength will limit you.If you never run, your endurance will limit everything.

Running doesn’t replace strength training. It supports it.

Running doesn’t kill gains.Poor recovery and bad planning do.

When trained correctly, running makes you: