“No run, no fun” (running adage)

“No run, no fun” is a running adage. It’s no fun when a runner can’t run (for physical or other reasons). “No run, no fun” was cited in luge in 1967, in football in 1976 and in basketball in 1987. “Instead of thinking ‘no pain, no gain,’ think ‘no run, no fun’” was cited in The Runner’s Handbook (1996).
 
“No run, no fun” is also a fishing adage.
   
 
Google News Archive
12 December 1967, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), “Twice over Lightly” by Harry Missildine, pg. 14, col. 1:
No Run, No Fun for Luge Team
 
22 November 1976, Oakland (CA) Tribune, pg. 41, col. 1:
No Run, No Fun for S.F.
Rams’ Total Shutdown
By BOB VALLI
(Refers to a running style of offense in football.—ed.)
 
24 April 1987, The Oregonian (Portland, OR), “Rockets seek happy ending to tumultuous year,” pg. E2, col. 1:
“No run, no fun,” (Ralph—ed.) Sampson complains after a lopsided loss to the Lakers at LA that leaves Houston’s record at 10-16.
(Refers to a running style of offense in basketball.—ed.)
 
Google Books
The Runner’s Handbook:
The Best-selling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Runners
By Bob Glover, Jack Shepherd and Shelly-lynn Florence Glover
New York, NY: Penguin Books
1996
Pg. 45:
Instead of thinking “no pain, no gain,” think “no run, no fun.”
   
Runner’s World (Germany) 
MissBlümchen
28.10.2003, 10:23
No run - no fun! ;(
 
The London Sprint Triathlon
thursday, january 12, 2006
No Run: No Fun
Evenin’ all, just a quick one tonight. My experiment ran late so I got stuck at work and missed my run tonight. Will make up for it at the weekend though.
 
Twitter 
winnie pooh☯
‏@tao_of_pooh
A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.
Work work all day no run no fun:)
1:56 AM - 16 Apr 2009
 
Twitter
WieseLaw K Studio
‏@WieseLawFirm
@MinnesotaMolly I totally understand that feeling.  I’m in training for my first half-marathon.  No Run = No Fun!  Get better soon!
9:38 AM - 12 May 2009
 
Twitter
Pam Piligian
‏@PGPiligian
How to Know if You’re a Jogger or a Runner http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-to-know-if-youre-a-jogger-or-a-runner.html…love … this—- no run, no fun
12:31 PM - 2 Jan 2013
 
Fitnasty For Life
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
No Run, No Fun
(...)
The bigger revelation for me is that I was able to get a loss when I haven’t really run at all in the last two weeks. As I mentioned, I’m dealing with achilles tendinitis issues, which has pretty much completely killed my running game since the Hot Chocolate 15K about 2.5 weeks ago. Running comprises roughly 90% of my workout regimen, soooo I’ve been going nuts and not knowing how to fill the void. Did I mention I hate gyms?
 
Twitter
adidas Running
‏@adidasrunning
No run, no fun. Sign up to win a full year of Spotify Premium http://www.adidas.com/go/sign-up
11:00 AM - 19 Jun 2014
 
Twitter
Nike Running
‏@NikeRunning
@KTA78 No run, no fun. We like where your head’s at.
11:15 AM - 10 Oct 2014