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 |
|
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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? |
- Fitness for Soccer Refereeing
- Recently quit smoking – want to push myself aerobically
- To feel better about myself, to feel good, more energy
- 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.
- It started out to lose weight, but now I just want to be healthy.
- 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.
- a woman challenged me to train with her and I got hooked
- Stress reduction and weight loss
- Too much grief and loss, I needed something positive.
- Health, recreation
- The doc put me on a statin drug for my cholesterol. I figured every little thing I can do to help is GOOD.
- I started exercising because my body felt it needed to move and I couldn’t stand not being active another minute longer.
- weight loss, improved fitness
- health, fitness, weight loss, fun
- Fitness, weight loss, mid life crisis!
- 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.
- Been cycling, just really got into running. Many questions cross over, so that is why I have many less important.
- lose weight, get in shape, live longer
- Weight loss.
- 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.
- To lose weight and stay in shape
- 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.
- To stay in shape
- get fit and build muscle
- To lose some wt. and get healthy. I’m becoming addicted!
- Health.
- 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
- Weight management, health…
- To lose weight
- To lose weight.
- to become more fit and to prove to my high school gym coach that i could be a runner.
- 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.
- To lose weight and get in better shape to improve my overall health and longevity.
- To get healthy
- Need to Lose weight get fit
- To get in shape and lose weight
- To lose weight
- I love to eat and try new beers, and I need a lifestyle that will help me maintain my body.
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| 3. What is the one biggest barrier you have to starting a consistent exercise program? |
- Sleep
- 4 kids
- Weather and time
- Motivation and boredom.
- I hurt myself a lot. 🙂
- Time, family, job(can you give me a couple million dollars?)
- laziness
- None just convincing myself to do it
- Mid week runs and how to get them in.
- Time
- 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.
- Hearing the doctors telling me that if I use it I lose it
- time, motivation
- consistency, work days changing every week and hard to have consistency
- Time, motivation, family commitments
- Finding the time and the facilities.
- None
- time, motivation
- Time. Shin pain was a big deal when I first started.
- 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.
- Motivation
- 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!
- ITBS
- family and job obligations
- Time & energy. With a 4yr old home all day and working till 2am, I’m exhausted.
- None.
- time, i have an odd schedule at work, on my feet allot and work long hours
- finding a convenient time
- Shin splints
- I don’t have a barrier. But if I did it would be time. And motivation.
- scheduling
- Not becoming injured!
- Not enough time.
- time
- my weight making me very very slow
- 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.
- Children and sickness
- Time.
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| 4. Have you ever started running and, after awhile, quit? |
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Response
Percent |
Response
Count |
| Yes |
|
58.3% |
21 |
| No |
|
41.7% |
15 |
| 5. If you started and quit, why? |
- Soreness and then I became really sick. After I got better running wasn’t a priority for a while
- Not quit – but slacked off a lot. Went from 20 miles a week to 2-5 miles a week. Maybe burnt out?
- Plantars Facitis…wasn’t sure how to cope with it
- end of the season, but didn’t back into it the following spring
- Got very sick for three months
- Never really started until I met Jeff Galloway then he convinced me I could do it.
- Knee injury
- 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.
- Symptoms of post polio and cervical spine disease returned
- it’s hard, even when following a plan when you’re on your own and don’t have anyone to push you
- Too hard, didn’t research it, didn’t have the staying power
- life happens
- na
- Went too far too fast and felt too much pain
- ITBS
- I was discouraged and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing.
- Lost interest or time constraints
- I got horrendous shin splints. I’d like to point out I started again after a few months, and haven’t quite yet.
- life got in the way
- Injury. I have been getting knee pain on the inside of my right knee.
- Shins hurt to bad
- Didn’t enjoy it was doing it for someone else not for me
- I got tired.
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