Beginner Runner Survey Results

I thought I’d share this.  The sample set is too small and the methodology unscientific, so don’t go making investments or changing your life based on this information.  It is a useful collection of data points nonetheless.  Take a scan through and see what these folks think and what challenges they face.

Beginner Running Survey – Results…

1. As a beginner runner what concerns you most? Rate the following. 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 where 1 is not important and 4 is very important?
Bad Good Rating
Average
Response
Count
Q: How far, How long, how fast and how often? 2.6% (1) 10.3% (4) 38.5% (15) 48.7% (19) 3.33 39
Q: Should i breathe through my nose or mouth? How do I breathe? 48.7% (19) 30.8% (12) 15.4% (6) 5.1% (2) 1.77 39
Q: Why does everything hurt? 20.5% (8) 46.2% (18) 17.9% (7) 15.4% (6) 2.28 39
Q: I’ve been doing it for awhile and it still hurts, when does it start to be fun? 25.6% (10) 33.3% (13) 25.6% (10) 15.4% (6) 2.31 39
Q: How do i run? 25.6% (10) 28.2% (11) 33.3% (13) 12.8% (5) 2.33 39
Q: How can I get faster, run longer, not get tired? 2.6% (1) 10.3% (4) 38.5% (15) 48.7% (19) 3.33 39
Q: Why do my shins hurt all the time? 61.5% (24) 20.5% (8) 5.1% (2) 12.8% (5) 1.69 39
Q: Will I hurt my knees? 38.5% (15) 28.2% (11) 23.1% (9) 10.3% (4) 2.05 39
Q: Can I run with a cold? 30.8% (12) 48.7% (19) 12.8% (5) 7.7% (3) 1.97 39
Q: Where to run? 28.2% (11) 28.2% (11) 30.8% (12) 12.8% (5) 2.28 39
Q: Will my lungs freeze in the winter? 64.1% (25) 15.4% (6) 7.7% (3) 12.8% (5) 1.69 39
Q: How many calories do I burn per mile? 43.6% (17) 30.8% (12) 15.4% (6) 10.3% (4) 1.92 39
Q: How fast can I increase my distance? 10.3% (4) 25.6% (10) 28.2% (11) 35.9% (14) 2.90 39
Q: What to do when you start having side stitches? 31.6% (12) 36.8% (14) 5.3% (2) 26.3% (10) 2.26 38
Q: How to pace yourself? 13.2% (5) 15.8% (6) 39.5% (15) 31.6% (12) 2.89 38
Q: Why do runners use pace instead of speed? 35.9% (14) 25.6% (10) 28.2% (11) 10.3% (4) 2.13 39
Q: Is it important to stretch before & after your run? 20.5% (8) 33.3% (13) 20.5% (8) 25.6% (10) 2.51 39
Q: How far is this marathon? Is it ok to walk in a marathon? 64.1% (25) 10.3% (4) 15.4% (6) 10.3% (4) 1.72 39
Q: What shoes should I buy? 15.4% (6) 20.5% (8) 23.1% (9) 41.0% (16) 2.90 39
Q: What is the best place to buy running shoes – big box sporting goods or running store? 33.3% (13) 23.1% (9) 25.6% (10) 17.9% (7) 2.28 39
Q: What to wear? Why should I dress in layers? Why is cotton not good? 23.1% (9) 20.5% (8) 25.6% (10) 30.8% (12) 2.64 39
Q: What should I eat, should I pound Gatorade? 15.8% (6) 13.2% (5) 36.8% (14) 34.2% (13) 2.89 38
Q: Do I need special equipment? 35.9% (14) 38.5% (15) 17.9% (7) 7.7% (3) 1.97 39
Q: Do I need a special watch? 41.0% (16) 30.8% (12) 20.5% (8) 7.7% (3) 1.95 39
Q: Can I wear my iPod in the race? 48.7% (19) 17.9% (7) 12.8% (5) 20.5% (8) 2.05 39
2. Why did you or do you want to start exercising?
  1. Fitness for Soccer Refereeing
  2. Recently quit smoking – want to push myself aerobically
  3. To feel better about myself, to feel good, more energy
  4. I started because Jan 2009 I stopped smoking. I can’t run & smoke at the same time, so if I was running, I wasn’t smoking. And it’s worked – close to two years quit.
  5. It started out to lose weight, but now I just want to be healthy.
  6. Started running because I was sucking wind when sparring in Hapkido. It has stuck since then and I will be doing the goofy challenge in a few weeks… my first full marathon and will be my 3d 1/2.
  7. a woman challenged me to train with her and I got hooked
  8. Stress reduction and weight loss
  9. Too much grief and loss, I needed something positive.
  10. Health, recreation
  11. The doc put me on a statin drug for my cholesterol. I figured every little thing I can do to help is GOOD.
  12. I started exercising because my body felt it needed to move and I couldn’t stand not being active another minute longer.
  13. weight loss, improved fitness
  14. health, fitness, weight loss, fun
  15. Fitness, weight loss, mid life crisis!
  16. It was a good way to spend time with my daughter and it would help me maintain my weight, stay fit, and lower blood pressure.
  17. Been cycling, just really got into running. Many questions cross over, so that is why I have many less important.
  18. lose weight, get in shape, live longer
  19. Weight loss.
  20. So I could live a healthier life. So I can grow older and be fit in my later years. Also, to give my young children a good role model.
  21. To lose weight and stay in shape
  22. I had run a bit when I was younger and remembered enjoying it. I was getting burned out on gym workouts and wanted to try something new.
  23. To stay in shape
  24. get fit and build muscle
  25. To lose some wt. and get healthy. I’m becoming addicted!
  26. Health.
  27. I’ve dealt with anxiety problems my whole life, physician suggested running, completely off my medication now and about to complete my first marathon in the spring
  28. Weight management, health…
  29. To lose weight
  30. To lose weight.
  31. to become more fit and to prove to my high school gym coach that i could be a runner.
  32. I want to get healthy…and prolong my life to torment my wife…forever. Seriously…I want to my son (5 yrs old) to grow up and be proud of me.
  33. To lose weight and get in better shape to improve my overall health and longevity.
  34. To get healthy
  35. Need to Lose weight get fit
  36. To get in shape and lose weight
  37. To lose weight
  38. I love to eat and try new beers, and I need a lifestyle that will help me maintain my body.
3. What is the one biggest barrier you have to starting a consistent exercise program?
  1. Sleep
  2. 4 kids
  3. Weather and time
  4. Motivation and boredom.
  5. I hurt myself a lot. 🙂
  6. Time, family, job(can you give me a couple million dollars?)
  7. laziness
  8. None just convincing myself to do it
  9. Mid week runs and how to get them in.
  10. Time
  11. Physical limitations… just had fusion surgery on my neck in June, I have PF in both feet (not from running), an ACL reconstruction on rt knee (also not from running), and doc wants to do more fusion on my spine.
  12. Hearing the doctors telling me that if I use it I lose it
  13. time, motivation
  14. consistency, work days changing every week and hard to have consistency
  15. Time, motivation, family commitments
  16. Finding the time and the facilities.
  17. None
  18. time, motivation
  19. Time. Shin pain was a big deal when I first started.
  20. Time. I work an hour away from home and have two small children and a wife who also wants to fit in exercising (bicycling). I either have to run early in the morning or late at night.
  21. Motivation
  22. Worrying about injury. I had an Achilles tendon strain after overtraining back in the summer. Now I am probably over cautious about re-injury or creating a new problem. I went from 6 days a week to 3 days running and cross training on off days. Being off for the whole month of July was terrible!
  23. ITBS
  24. family and job obligations
  25. Time & energy. With a 4yr old home all day and working till 2am, I’m exhausted.
  26. None.
  27. time, i have an odd schedule at work, on my feet allot and work long hours
  28. finding a convenient time
  29. Shin splints
  30. I don’t have a barrier. But if I did it would be time. And motivation.
  31. scheduling
  32. Not becoming injured!
  33. Not enough time.
  34. time
  35. my weight making me very very slow
  36. For me, find the time. We are very business with a small nonprofit we run and our regular 8-5 jobs. I’m going to start getting up early to run.
  37. Children and sickness
  38. Time.
4. Have you ever started running and, after awhile, quit?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes 58.3% 21
No 41.7% 15
5. If you started and quit, why?
  1. Soreness and then I became really sick. After I got better running wasn’t a priority for a while
  2. Not quit – but slacked off a lot. Went from 20 miles a week to 2-5 miles a week. Maybe burnt out?
  3. Plantars Facitis…wasn’t sure how to cope with it
  4. end of the season, but didn’t back into it the following spring
  5. Got very sick for three months
  6. Never really started until I met Jeff Galloway then he convinced me I could do it.
  7. Knee injury
  8. I only ran before on occasion for fun and to pass a physical agility test for the local sheriff’s office. I never set out to be a runner… and I never really “quit” exactly… Honestly, I never knew I could run this far. It just never occurred to me to try.
  9. Symptoms of post polio and cervical spine disease returned
  10. it’s hard, even when following a plan when you’re on your own and don’t have anyone to push you
  11. Too hard, didn’t research it, didn’t have the staying power
  12. life happens
  13. na
  14. Went too far too fast and felt too much pain
  15. ITBS
  16. I was discouraged and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing.
  17. Lost interest or time constraints
  18. I got horrendous shin splints. I’d like to point out I started again after a few months, and haven’t quite yet.
  19. life got in the way
  20. Injury. I have been getting knee pain on the inside of my right knee.
  21. Shins hurt to bad
  22. Didn’t enjoy it was doing it for someone else not for me
  23. I got tired.

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