Who/What are the enemies of running?

[spikers]

Who or what do you see as the enemies of running? Here is my list. Add to it. Or maybe there is one here you don’t agree with.

The couch
Television
A busted alarm clock
Oprah. (come on, did she really RUN the NYC marathon?)
Run/walk programs
Medals for just showing up.
MP3 Players? (I enjoy hearing my surroundings)
Treadmills
Moderation
Ice cream (My personal demon)
Red Lights/ “Don’t Walk” signs. Or anything that makes you stop in mid-run.
Late nights at the office.

[Jay Silvio]

Add:
Fast Food Chains
Reebok's "Run Easy" ad campaign
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Video Games
Not being able to register or pick up race pack on the day of the event (I simply can't afford to stay in a hotel for an event that's only an hour or two away)

I disagree with treadmills because sometimes you need to recover from the constant pounding of roads and, more importantly, sometimes the weather is simply not safe.

By the way, great topic!

[Peter]

You run in any weather if you are that badass. we with Xc ran in the rain in late october on a cold day. there is not excuse for not running in bad weather.

[Parker]

Reminds me of a 10 miler I did when I was living in Monterey. Wind was blowing so hard that as I ran by, a newspaper stand blew over. I liked to think that I was running so fast, that I caused the wind that blew it over. By the time I was rounding the corner back home, cops were on the roads directing traffic because all the power to the traffic lights were out. One of my most memorable runs.

[Scott]

Ever run on black ice and fall and break something?
That is not badass, that is counter productive. You miss running days when you are injured.
Somedays you run on the dreadmill to be on the safe side and get your run in.
The next day when the weather presents you with a safer environment then you go outside.
BTW- I run in crap and cold weather all the time but sometimes I suck it up and stay inside.

[Neil Barr]

what about 46 degrees C and 70 kilometre / hour winds.

[Ghost]

Love the topic, gotta say I don't necessarily think Red Lights/ "Dont' Walk" signs applies to me, I just keep running anyway.
I'd put "Treadmills" in a seperate "Necessary Evil" catagory, I think we all hate them, but recognize their uses on a limited basis, thankfully, it's been more than a year since I've used one.

ADD:
Dogs that bite.

[Lance]

Junk shoes- too many poeple buy crap and give up running when their knees hurt. Invest in yourself.
Procrastination
Dreadmill. I agree, I can't even bring myself to call it by it's real name. 10 miles is about all I can stand on one
Snow plows. I live in Michigan. What more can I say.
Traffic. Although dodging cars could be considered cross training I guess.
Oprah, I love that one.

[E. Christy]

I must agree with the late nights at the office...That's why I always get my run in before work.

[Holly]

aaahhhhh i hate girl scout cookies... well their calories anway :) i was so happy when my brothers ate the last box

[kai]

...
my bed
working at night
the shower
breakfast :-)

[Bobby]

Low Elevation
Jogging
People who don't run
Car's
Side-walks/streets
Downhills

[Peter]

Jay you are so right, not being able to sign up day of the race is idiotic on the races part and screwed me up at the azalea trail run on march 29, if i could have signed up the night before i would have got second in my age group. that pretty much is the same thing (them cuting off registration early.) i was deeply angered.