Running Tips

After my half marathon a few weekends back, you all were so gracious with your comments. I thought maybe doing a post on running tips I find helpful to maybe motivate some of you to either continue with your running (if you do), get back into running after a hiatus or start running if you never have. 
Just to give you a bit of background information on my running, I never competed in cross country or track, I have always run for myself. It was a form of exercise I picked up senior year of high school and something I would do before school with my dad, we would go on runs together. 
Up to date, I have done one full marathon, two half marathons and a few 5K in between. 
For full disclosure, I don't pretend to be an expert at running, my tips I am providing here are tools that have helped me along the way.

1. Find a time you are most likely to run on a daily basis and make it your "me" time. Guard that time, be selfish with that time you have planned to run. 
For me, this means the mornings. I started out doing morning runs and have just continued that way.

2. Get good running shoes. 
Pounding the pavement means pounding your knees and hips and you need shoes that will help cushion the pounding a pavement. Additionally, if you are wearing wrong shoes it can increase the potential for an injury so get good shoes, get fitted properly for running shoes.

3. Think about how great you will feel after you run if you aren't motivated to go out.
There are days that I feel like sleeping an extra hour, however, I know how much better I feel after I run and that motivates me to get up out of bed. 

4. Listen to music on your run if it helps. 
Some days, I don't want to run but I get myself out of bed and listening to music while I run encourages me along. Instead of thinking I don't really want to be running right now, I am listening to my music and the miles seem to roll by.

5. Drink water and stretch.
If you want running to be easier the next time you go out there, be sure to stretch. Give those muscles a good stretch after they worked out and hydrate, replenish your body with that vital fluid, water.

6. Think one day at a time. If you are struggling to create a consistent running routine, think of one day at a time. Say to yourself, today I will get up and run. Don't think about tomorrow, just say today I will run. Then tomorrow do the same thing.

7. Give yourself a rest and listen to your body. If you are really really tired and a run wouldn't as beneficial then give yourself one day off and don't beat yourself up about it, just go running tomorrow.

Oh by the way, yesterday was National Running Day. I hope what these tips that I help use to motivate myself to go running will help you. If you have any questions, certainly please email me!! Happy Running.


18 comments:

Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings said...

Great tips!! Mendi and I were just talking about the fact that she needs to go get fitted for a good pair of running shoes!!

Jayme & Mendi @ Her Late Night Cravings

CALLIE said...

Great Tips!! Going on 3 weeks of morning workouts. You would be so proud. (Not everyday of course...)

Sarah said...

Great tips- thanks for putting this together, Meg!

BeckyJo606 said...

These are great tips! I am doing some speedwork over the next few weeks to cut a few minutes off of my miles. I am such a slower runner, but I know speedwork helps. Do you ever do any? I also think running is the biggest mind game of all--if you think you can do it, you can!!!

Hilary said...

I just stuffed my face and topped it off with 2 sugar cookies. I need this motivation so thank ya!!

Shannon Marie said...

I can't stress the "get good shoes" that are good for you enough! My roommate from last year just asked me for tips and she said she was going to ignore this one... NOT A GOOD IDEA! I wish my injury would go away so I can start running again! Great tips! XO

Leslie said...

Great tips and all very true :) After my break from running I am finally getting back into it! I forgot how much I loved it!

Faith said...

such awesome tips! i've started running a little bit but i get nervous and then i stop, haha. i just need to try a little harder.

Olga said...

Great tips, for me finding the time is the hardest!

Unknown said...

great tips! I can use all of the motivation I can get! I wish i could get up a litlle bit earlier everyday! It's sooo HOT here after 6am in AZ! Trying to run indoors, it just isn't as much fun :)

Sara said...

Thanks for all the tips! I'm actually training for a half marathon for the fall right now, and this helps so, so much. ;)

Alexa said...

Happy National Running Day!

Anonymous said...

Great tips! Especially the bit about the shoes ~ def invest in some good ones to help with the pain when you first start out!!

♥ Shia

Anonymous said...

Oh and of course CONGRATS on the half marathon...YOU ROCK!!

♥ Shia

Lisamarie said...

Thanks for therunning tips! I think that running is such an amazing work out. Its so hard for me, though! I do run outside in the mornings before work. I drive a minute or so up to the local reservoir which is 1.7 miles around. Its fabulous to run around and I do find it peaceful, even though I struggle to breathe. =)

stephanie said...

great tips! I am trying {emphasis on the trying} to run a half. I need to start training more for sure though

Carol Lee said...

Kudos to every mom who finds time to exercise despite life's busyness. Balancing a woman's time for her family, work and children is a great feat.
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Mrs. Pancakes said...

I can't agree more
About the running shoes...it definitely makes or
Breaks your running experience! Great tips!