From Dread to Dedication: How I Finally Conquered My Fear of Running

I've always loved staying active. Growing up as a gymnast and spending the last decade in Abu Dhabi exploring various fitness classes, I thought I had tried everything.

But there was one glaring exception—running.

It wasn't that I avoided cardio entirely. I'd happily tackle HIIT sessions or spin through cycling classes, but something about running filled me with genuine dread.

So when my gym launched a weekend "social running club," I did my best to pretend it didn't exist.

That strategy worked until my nutritionist recommended adding more cardio to my routine.

Suddenly, I found myself out of excuses and facing my fears one Saturday morning, lacing up my running shoes and heading to the 1.2-kilometer indoor track at Abu Dhabi Summer Sports at Adnec.

The Intimidating Start

Walking onto that track felt overwhelming. Everyone else seemed genuinely enthusiastic about what we were about to do.

We began with group warm-ups before attempting our first lap together, after which we could split off at our own pace.

My lack of recent running experience became painfully obvious as I struggled to keep up during that initial lap.

Fortunately, the coach provided invaluable support, offering breathing techniques and form corrections to help me use my energy more efficiently.

Fellow runners also offered encouragement, even when we weren't running side by side.

After completing that first lap, I didn't want to slow anyone down, so I continued solo—which actually reduced the pressure considerably.

I alternated between jogging, walking, and running, eventually completing three laps around the track. Sweaty, sore, but victorious, I had survived my first group run.

Read More: Walking vs Running: Which Is Right for You?

What I Discovered About Fear

The experience taught me that our minds often make things scarier than they actually are.

Afterward, I felt genuinely proud of tackling something that had caused me anxiety for so long.

I had worried about embarrassing myself due to my lack of running ability, but it turned out I wasn't the only one who needed walking breaks.

On the track, I quickly realized that nobody was paying attention to what others were doing unless it directly affected them. The nervousness had been largely self-created.

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Would I Return?

Not only would I go back, but I actually did. I attended another session at a smaller indoor track with different participants.

The smaller group made me realize that running in social settings might not be so intimidating after all.

When Abu Dhabi's weather cools down, I'm even considering finding an outdoor route. While running still challenges me, the post-workout endorphins make the effort worthwhile.

Ready to Try? Here's What You Need to Know

No matter how inadequate you think you are at running, the only path to improvement is getting out there and trying.

Fitness trackers can help by recording your pace and time, making it easy to track progress in subsequent runs.

While running doesn't need to be competitive, it provides a useful way to measure personal fitness improvements.

From a practical standpoint, invest in good running shoes and prioritize proper stretching and cool-down routines.

If you're new to running, expect the first session to feel difficult and anticipate some soreness—both are completely normal.

After my inaugural run, I shared my Whoop strain score of 13.1 on social media.

When a friend congratulated me and I replied, "I'd like to believe it gets easier," he responded, "It doesn't. You just get faster."

I'm hoping he's right.

Source: thenationalnews

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.