Skip to Content

The worst training advice ever given to runners, as told by Gifs

We’re just as confused by the origin of this horrible advice as you are

By
Fun, Walking, Recreation, Tree, Photography, Jogging, Running, Leisure, Winter,
Matt Trappe

Everyone has heard some bad training advice at some point. Family and friends – runner and nonrunner alike – love to insert their two cents and tell you what it is they think is best for your training. So, we wanted to know what the worst advice you’ve ever gotten is and, wow, the answers you gave were shocking (and, often, very amusing!).

This advice ranges from bad to baffling to just plain offensive and old-school. What better way to showcase a series of bad advice than with a series of gifs? Though you’ve likely heard and rolled your eyes at some of these comments multiple times, other 'tips' might be a new surprise, so laugh along with us...

You'll ruin your knees

Yellow, Animation, Cartoon, Interaction, Animated cartoon, Sharing, Conversation, Majorelle blue, Fiction, Fictional character,
Giphy

'Dont start running after age 40. I started at age 41 and Im still running at 53.'—annahashby

'That I shouldn’t run so much... that it's bad for my knees.'—iz_amstutz

'You really shouldn’t run. It will mess up your knees... especially as a woman.'— technicalzan

'It’ll destroy your hips and knees.'— giveherplants

Never slow down

Track and field athletics, People, Sport venue, Race track, Athletic shoe, Running, Line, Competition event, Public space, Athlete,
Giphy

'the answers you gave were shocking and, often, very amusing.'—_christina_horne

'Run as hard as you can every single day til you almost puke!' My dad, not a runner. — livvy_the_runner

'Three runs per week, intervals, tempo and race-pace training won’t help you to improve. You must run seven days per week at a fast pace.' —fabellan506

'When its below 40 degrees its dangerous to run outside. You could have a heart attack.'—ncfitover55

No pain, no gain

Lip, Mouth, Chin, Forehead, Collar, Jaw, Brown hair, Long hair, Photo caption, Feathered hair,
Giphy

'The pain will pass. (No it won’t lol).'— ohandaugust

'Just run through the pain. No pain no gain.' I did and developed knee and calf issues. Turns out, I have pronated feet so it was a shoe issue that could have helped prevent the pain.' —missvicrenee

'Five weeks left of marathon training and I started having pain in my knee. I’d tried Ibuprofen and took a few days off without resolve and told my family I didn’t think I could run it. They said I’d be fine and should keep training and add in Tylenol. A week later I couldn’t walk. Took an entire year to recover. No one but you knows the extent of your pain! Don’t take the advice of non-runners and listen to your body!' — kellymichelle90

'Train thru shin splints.' —viewsfromthewolffden

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

No days off

Organism, Adaptation, Terrestrial animal, Black, Wing, Snapshot, Wildlife, Recipe, Stock photography,
Giphy

'The ‘No Days Off’ concept, might as well call it ‘Injury Here I Come!''— jennyrmcg

'Push through the pain, run when you’re sick, real runners don’t take walking breaks. All led to preventable injuries! Now I know better.' —stuffytales

Running causes heart attacks

Finger, People, Product, Forehead, Photograph, Formal wear, Collar, Facial expression, Coat, Audience,

'When it’s below 40 degrees it’s dangerous to run outside. You could have a heart attack!' —runner_cp2018

'You shouldn’t run... you’ll How Im trying to outrun the Marathon Demons.’ Um, no. I’m running so I won’t How Im trying to outrun the Marathon Demons!' —pennyfloyd5

You're too old to run

People, Infrastructure, Photograph, Recreation, Sport venue, Asphalt, Public space, Community, Line, Active shorts,
Giphy

'Running over 40 years old means ‘jogging short distances’ because your body can’t handle hard running anymore.'—kitm79

'You will never run a marathon or run fast because you didn’t start when you were younger.' —kacraine

'You’re too old to run…it’s too hard on your body.'—lindasiokaloguthrie

'Don’t start running after age 40.’ I started at age 41 and I’m still running at 53.' —lsgeckogal

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

How not to fuel and hydrate

Fluid, Fun, Photograph, Glass, Drinkware, Jaw, Drink, Liquid, Drinking, Neck,
Giphy

'Not to eat before my runs when I was marathon training because the person thought that the only reason why I run is to just lose weight.' —ddesiderio10

'My mother-in-law (not a runner) told me after my 12-mile run, ‘you know, you shouldn’t eat any carbs after that long of a run. Then you’ll just burn fat!''—carlygiblets

'Back in the late ’70s/early ’80s the track coaches told us not to drink any water while running or we’d get cramps.'—marathongrl1

'because theyll make you bulky.'—staygiddy

Runners shouldn't strength train

Red, Pink, Line, Cartoon, Animation, Art, Animated cartoon, Fictional character, Illustration, Paint,
Giphy

'Lifting and strength training Dont run when you are pregnant.'—tradehomeshoesofficial

'Don’t lift weights because they’ll make you bulky.' —teddy.yvr

'You can’t run and lift weights. You have to pick one.'—west.coast.cereal

'Don’t lift weights or you’ll get bulky and won’t be able to run.'—rungry

Women shouldn't run

Finger, Chin, Eyebrow, Photograph, Collar, Black hair, Photography, Snapshot, Gesture, White-collar worker,
Giphy

'Women’s bodies are not made to run marathons!'—fusbal

'Women shouldn’t run because the ‘bouncing’ damages your female parts and will make you infertile.' —seebottsski

'A lady I once worked for told me women shouldn’t run, but should walk for fitness instead, as running jars our bodies too hard and will cause our internal female organs to collapse, and soon I’ll be in in adult nappies (WTF?). And, according to everyone who doesn’t run, running will destroy my knees, so I should switch to an elliptical.'— caseykelly72

'Don’t run when you are pregnant.' —txrunnergirl365

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Just...huh?

Audio equipment, Microphone, Lip, Cheek, Hairstyle, Chin, Forehead, Eyebrow, Electronic device, Music artist,
Giphy

'You can’t wear contacts to run in the winter – they’ll freeze to your eyes.'—stephrunningsk

'Meet the cover star: Nathaniel Dye.' —4seasonsrunner

'Running is a battle between your body and the pavement. The pavement always wins.' —eklass1235

'A high school roommate (non-runner) advised me to start smoking cigarettes to increase my lung capacity.'—meghanemorris

'High school track coach advised me not to swing arms, but to keep them long by your sides to avoid exerting too much energy, which would tire you out early. All energy should come from the legs. I stupidly followed that advice for many years.' —kera719

From: Runner's World US
Watch Next
 
preview for Runner's World UK - Featured
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Motivation

2022 tcs london marathon celebrities

‘How I’m trying to outrun the Marathon Demons’

nathaniel dye london marathon trombone

Meet the cover star: Nathaniel Dye

chris carse wilson running in glen coe

When its below 40 degrees its dangerous to run outside. You could have a heart attack

jasmin paris barkley marathons

How running can empower autistic people

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below