Determining that level is a very personal decision, and I frankly think that terms like 'addiction' are not useful
I would argue that terms like addiction are very useful indeed…and I’d wonder if anyone, trying to deny the existence of exercise addiction, might already be in the throws of such. Addicts are often in denial.
When you're only tool is a hammer, every problem is a nail.
I would argue that terms like addiction are very useful indeed…and I’d wonder if anyone, trying to deny the existence of exercise addiction, might already be in the throws of such. Addicts are often in denial.
When you're only tool is a hammer, every problem is a nail.
Your. Before Total fitness corrects my typo. I know the difference.
At the expense of other areas of your life? Really?
I bring financial recompense into it, because such laser like focus might be understandable if the activity were your means of making an income…but as a hobby? Where 80 - 100 mile weeks take the place of family time etc? Really?
100 miles per week at 7 minutes per mile is 700 minutes per week. That’s only 100 minutes a day. Less than 2 hours. Still plenty of time for work and family. You’re making much ado about nothing.
100M per week? you kidding. I jog 10 miles per week on average and happy with this amount. The thought of more... Ehhhh... no...
I go to a really expensive gym, several exercise addicts there for sure. I'm one of them, I think. Love running, love it. I think I (we) will be just fine. Much worse things to be addicted to.
But exercise addiction is a thing. Maybe not as widely accepted, appreciated or understood by the mainstream as other addictions like drugs, gambling or alcohol perhaps, but it is clinically recognised.
Yeah, and I am saying it should not be. If you told a real addict that your addiction was running they would laugh you out of the building.
Then perhaps people such as yourself are the problem and the reason as to why, although recognised clinically, the issue isn’t taken as seriously as others.
Did you read the article? There were people with views such as yourself referenced in it and cited by the author as reasons why she had such a hard time being accepted as actually having a condition.
This is not an isolated case either. I’ve read quite a few other examples of similar. People only see exercise as a positive. In such cases even the sufferer has a hard time processing the fact that they are on a downward spiral.
At the expense of other areas of your life? Really?
I bring financial recompense into it, because such laser like focus might be understandable if the activity were your means of making an income…but as a hobby? Where 80 - 100 mile weeks take the place of family time etc? Really?
100 miles per week at 7 minutes per mile is 700 minutes per week. That’s only 100 minutes a day. Less than 2 hours. Still plenty of time for work and family. You’re making much ado about nothing.
Then add on all the other stuff that goes with it…
Extra training to make those 100 mile weeks possible. Strength training, flexibility work, foam rolling etc.
What about meal prep times? Reading about training? Scrolling through Letsrun? Or just being so exhausted from training itself that you have no energy to be productive in any other area of your life…so they go neglected.
But exercise addiction is a thing. Maybe not as widely accepted, appreciated or understood by the mainstream as other addictions like drugs, gambling or alcohol perhaps, but it is clinically recognised.
Yeah, and I am saying it should not be. If you told a real addict that your addiction was running they would laugh you out of the building.
Then you have no idea what “addiction” is.
Drugs, alcohol, gambling are just a form of addiction. They are merely things that an addict latches on to, or are the focus of the addicts attention. Exercise can be another form.
I would argue that terms like addiction are very useful indeed…and I’d wonder if anyone, trying to deny the existence of exercise addiction, might already be in the throws of such. Addicts are often in denial.
When you're only tool is a hammer, every problem is a nail.
I go to a really expensive gym, several exercise addicts there for sure. I'm one of them, I think. Love running, love it. I think I (we) will be just fine. Much worse things to be addicted to.
Have you ever stopped to ask those around you if they would prefer it if you did a bit less?
Maybe, if you did, their answer would surprise you…
If youre compelled to run through injury and illness or to the detriment of your family, then call it what you like but its unhealthy. Of course someone in this state will justify it. Their 15min 5k is important!
OP, you seem very committed to this assertion that runners commonly suffer from an obsession that rises to the level of an "addiction". And so it seems you are willing to argue with more than a few posters here to prove your point.
Perhaps you would have better luck if you approached it differently. And trust me, I see this kind of tactic used routinely, so it's nothing new.
Try this - start a thread with a title "The things I do to feed my Running Addiction" and then in the first post, site something like paying in excess of $250 several times a year to buy the latest super shoes while you could use that money for other things. Then you will find others are more than eager to chime in with examples of behaviors that above all else, rise to the level of an addictive behavior in this running thing.
When the thread is building steam, post under an alias the point you are trying to make all along - that running is not prone to be classified as an addiction, regardless of the mountain of evidence. That part about using an alias to make this point is important, btw.
OP, you seem very committed to this assertion that runners commonly suffer from an obsession that rises to the level of an "addiction". And so it seems you are willing to argue with more than a few posters here to prove your point.
Perhaps you would have better luck if you approached it differently. And trust me, I see this kind of tactic used routinely, so it's nothing new.
Try this - start a thread with a title "The things I do to feed my Running Addiction" and then in the first post, site something like paying in excess of $250 several times a year to buy the latest super shoes while you could use that money for other things. Then you will find others are more than eager to chime in with examples of behaviors that above all else, rise to the level of an addictive behavior in this running thing.
When the thread is building steam, post under an alias the point you are trying to make all along - that running is not prone to be classified as an addiction, regardless of the mountain of evidence. That part about using an alias to make this point is important, btw.
To be honest…I’m a live and let live kinda guy. If people want to spend their precious time on this planet pounding the pavement, then let them at it.
I just present facts and viewpoints for consideration. Take them or leave them. Yes my approach may be a little “devil’s advocate”…but that’s just me. I appreciate your advice, it seems well meant, but I’d rather be up front and honest, I could never hide behind a false alias. If I fall via my point of view, so be it. But if I have made at least one person stop and think with regards to this, or any other topic I introduce, then that is for me, a win.
I merely take a bit of umbrage at the fact that some on here deny the fact that exercise addiction is a thing. Actually, isn’t denial one of the stages of any addiction? Some addicts, when confronted with their addiction will deny strenuously, angrily and in some cases violently.
100 miles per week at 7 minutes per mile is 700 minutes per week. That’s only 100 minutes a day. Less than 2 hours. Still plenty of time for work and family. You’re making much ado about nothing.
Then add on all the other stuff that goes with it…
Extra training to make those 100 mile weeks possible. Strength training, flexibility work, foam rolling etc.
What about meal prep times? Reading about training? Scrolling through Letsrun? Or just being so exhausted from training itself that you have no energy to be productive in any other area of your life…so they go neglected.
I see what’s going on here. You gave serious training a try, but you had poor time management skills which created friction between you and your wife. She probably gave you an ultimatum, and you decided to give up on your running goals. Now you’re feeling bitter about it, and you’re ruminating about the time goals you never met.
You probably did a 4th of July race (Peachtree?), ran a lot slower than you’ve done before, and finished more than 5 minutes behind guys in your age group. The experience made you miserable, so now you’re trying to get other people to join you in your misery. Accurate?
Yeah, and I am saying it should not be. If you told a real addict that your addiction was running they would laugh you out of the building.
Then you have no idea what “addiction” is.
Drugs, alcohol, gambling are just a form of addiction. They are merely things that an addict latches on to, or are the focus of the addicts attention. Exercise can be another form.
Yeah, we're in a feedback loop here.. I already stated that I do not think these things are "addictions" but more of a "compulsion." If you are doing this to the detriment of your friends and family, probably just an excuse to be an @$$ to everyone else in your life.
Running is one of those things where consistency is paramount, and the process of getting back into shape is really uncomfortable and disheartening. That's why runners freak out when faced with taking 2-3 weeks off. They know how difficult it will be to just get back in shape. If I could get away with only doing 2-3 days I would, but this sport is not that sport.
I think "addiction" is really a word that is only properly used when it's something negative. Have you ever seen someone "addicted" to reading? They are picking up a book at every moment they can and reading for hours and hours (more than we run). What about TV "addicts"?
I've put in 140 mile weeks when I was in top Marathon training and yes I HAD to get it done. Running every day was a must, I ran every day for 2.5 years once. I ran to the point of injury sometimes and many times to exhaustion. I never once thought I was an addict because I had people around me that were actually addicts to real problems.
I think "addiction" is really a word that is only properly used when it's something negative. Have you ever seen someone "addicted" to reading? They are picking up a book at every moment they can and reading for hours and hours (more than we run). What about TV "addicts"?
I've put in 140 mile weeks when I was in top Marathon training and yes I HAD to get it done. Running every day was a must, I ran every day for 2.5 years once. I ran to the point of injury sometimes and many times to exhaustion. I never once thought I was an addict because I had people around me that were actually addicts to real problems.
Most everyone here is trying to justify their "addiction" to running and exercise. Maybe the term addiction is not correct to you, but whatever you want to call it - it's unhealthy.
I think it's detrimental when you start planning your whole life around exercise, affects your relationships with others, and has negative effects on your body. Maybe it's worth if it's your job and you're going to the Olympics.
Being a running website, I don't expect anyone to understand. But yes, there is running and exercise addiction. It doesn't make it better because you think it's less detrimental than food, drug, TV addiction.
You and the OP are basing your argument on the false premise that serious training cannot be harmonious with relationships and friendships. Yes, if your hobbies, interests, values, and goals don’t match those of your significant other and friends, that could be an issue. But have you ever considered the possibility that people can marry and befriend others who share their hobbies, interests, values, and goals? What a concept!
I think "addiction" is really a word that is only properly used when it's something negative. Have you ever seen someone "addicted" to reading? They are picking up a book at every moment they can and reading for hours and hours (more than we run). What about TV "addicts"?
I've put in 140 mile weeks when I was in top Marathon training and yes I HAD to get it done. Running every day was a must, I ran every day for 2.5 years once. I ran to the point of injury sometimes and many times to exhaustion. I never once thought I was an addict because I had people around me that were actually addicts to real problems.
This guy gets the distinction. People that have dealt with actual addiction (like myself unfortunately) know the chasm between doing what's necessary to be extremely successful at a given activity, and complete loss of self control due to a chemical and emotional imbalance from substance abuse.
Now, that's not to say the actions of someone that is exercising to their own detriment don't mirror that of an addict. And I'll leave it to someone that keeps a copy of the DSM on their bookshelf to know the exact line where it can crossover to true addiction. But let's not blur that line too easily without some real thought as to what an "addiction" really is.
