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.

Source: someecards.com via Renee on Pinterest

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.