When it comes to running, most people have a love/hate relationship. If you are new to running, it does take a bit of effort on your part to get going and get those miles in, but afterwards, you’ll feel SO much better about yourself.
Some people just plain hate running and can’t stand it. Although there are other forms of cardio and fitness activities to help you stay in shape out there, wouldn’t it be cool to call yourself a runner?
For me personally, I grew up always running outside with the other kids in my neighborhood, so running was something I grew accustomed to doing and loved.
It made me feel free, and obviously back then, I was always trying to become faster so I could become “cooler”. I even joined the track team for my high school, and while I’m not going to lie, it did change the way I viewed running into more competitive terms, all of that pain led me to feel that running needed to be a habit of mine that I must continue to do in the future.
Now, running is an activity I do as a stress reliever and I find that it helps jump start my day so that I can become productive. Not only does running improve your physical and mental health, but I also think of it as something we humans were just made to do.
Our ancestors were always on their feet while working for survival, and I like to think that I am maintaining a connection with my body in this busy world we live in every time I run.
Once you get over the challenging hurdle of acclimating your body to running, you’ll find it to be a meditative, and maybe even an enjoyable experience.
Here are some simple steps to becoming a runner, and remember, all of the panting and sweating will pay off in the end!
1. Get Your Nutrition in Check
It’s never a good idea to start running when you are hungry or had so much food that you feel bloated. Personally, I like to have a Clif Bar about half an hour before working out, but other people have stated that eating half an apple helps give them the boost they need.
Experiment a little to see what gives you the burst of energy you need without feeling the food weigh you down as you run. Also, do NOT workout before drinking water. You need to stay hydrated as you workout and sweat.
If you are not hydrated, you will experience health issues such as dizziness or heat exhaustion. Usually half a cup is enough, but always have a water bottle on standby.
2. Take Baby Steps
I mean it. If you’re just trying to get into the running scheme, you shouldn’t expect that you’ll be able to run a 5k in one fell swoop.
Most people take on too much too soon because they think “this would mean I don’t have to workout for the next … days” which is not the mindset we should be going for. This sadly leads to injuries and stresses you out even more.
As a matter of fact, I recommend that you start out walking before breaking into a brisk jog after 30 minutes. Then gradually build up your ability to run for longer over greater distances, and each day, either walk for fewer amounts of time and jog for longer, or interject more jogs into your walking.
Soon, once you get a hang of it, you’ll be able to jog comfortably in your workouts, and then you could experiment with picking up the pace and breaking out into a run when you’re ready!
3. Take Time to Recover
When you start working out, it’s a good idea to give your muscles a break so that you don’t strain yourself. It doesn’t matter if you went for a run for only 10 minutes or an hour. Take a break and see how you feel.
Eat plenty of nutritious foods to help your muscles regenerate. Maybe start out by going for a run 3 times a week and then after a week or so, add in another day.
But no matter how comfortable running becomes for you, I want you to make sure that you at least have one day off for recovery during the week. If you don’t, you may get shin splints like I did, and trust me, they are a pain in the butt to deal with!
4. Make Your Runs Enjoyable
First thing that we must establish is that you should run for time, not distance. If you place distance goals such as running 2 miles for the day, it can seem like a daunting and discouraging task to get started.
When I run for time, I find that I not only enjoy pushing myself to get a few extra minutes in, but I cover an unexpected incredible amount of distance. Your goal at the end of the day is just to get moving, and running for time allows you to make adjustments that meet your body’s needs.
However, sometimes you’ll start running, and then all of a sudden the boredom starts kicking in. Uh oh. To spice up your workout a bit, try listening to some music or running with a friend.
This will keep you motivated and make sure that you aren’t dropping out of the game too early.
5. Invest in Proper Running Shoes
Wait… shouldn’t this be the first step? If it were, then it would lead to all sorts of excuses for why you can’t start running in the first place. You don’t need any fancy gear to get started running, just some comfortable tennis shoes.
However, once you’ve started running and have that feeling that you need to commit to your exercise routine, THAT is when it becomes safe to start buying things like athletic wear. I got my running shoes from my local Potomac River Running store.
They found my shoe size, had me run on a treadmill to analyze the way my feet hit the ground, and gave me the right kind of cushioned running shoes. Those shoes have never let me down and I wear them religiously whenever I go for a run.
Properly fitted shoes will protect your feet, ankles, knees, and hips. Think of it this way: after you workout for a week or two, you can reward yourself with some shopping!
Now don’t wait around and making any excuses (I mean it). Get out there and go for a run! I recommend going outside to run rather than using a treadmill because your feet get to push off the ground naturally, you’ll use up more energy, and it can be a nice change in scenery!
What are some things that you find motivating when you run?
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