Preface: It should be noted that this is a guide for beginning runners. Meaning, if you run ten miles on the reg or have a 13.1 sticker on the back of your car, I have very little to say to you. This is geared towards people who can't run a mile before calling their mom to come pick them up for a ride. If this is you, let's talk.
But first, story time. I've always wanted to be the type of person that could just go for a run like it was no big deal. It seemed like a great stress reliever and workout that required no equipment or gym membership. I branded myself as "just not a runner." I assumed I was born with some sort of irreversible deficiency that prevented me from running, the way a gluten intolerance bans a person from bread for life. About a year ago though, a friend of mine challenged me to reevaluate my fate. She was no more a runner than me and was training for her first half-marathon. Well, this sucks. I was all out of excuses. I realized what was missing for me was not some ambiguous running gene but rather a lack of persistence and patience. I started reading articles online about running, bought some shoes (actual running shoes) from the Nike outlet, and downloaded a running app. I was going to follow through with this if it was the last thing I did.
It started out slowly and painfully. I would set time goals for myself, huffing and puffing around the park until the time on the screen finally said nine minutes. Then it was ten, fifteen, twenty minutes... Eventually, I started keeping track in miles. Long story short, a year and over 360 miles later I can now run up to six miles.
Without sounding over dramatic, running has been one of the best things to happen to me. Like every other female on the planet I've struggled with body insecurities almost my whole life and running has given me a confidence like never before. It's hands down the best workout I've ever done and I've seen results like never before, but really, it goes deeper than that. I have my fair share of days when I don't like what I see in the mirror and on those days knowing that this body of mine can run four, five, or six miles gives me a great deal of confidence and thankfulness. I feel proud of what I've accomplished and what my body is capable of (especially compared to a year ago). I would encourage everyone to find a physical activity they can challenge themselves with, running or not.
As mentioned earlier, I'm no running expert but I do want to share a few things I've learned for anyone that is looking to start running.
- Running can be incredibly intimidating at the start. Seeing girls fly by you in their lululemon shorts with seemingly little struggle sucks. Try to believe that if you are running you are a runner. This is your new chant. Cheesy? Yeah, but it works. Regardless of if you're running down the block or doing a marathon, you're a runner. Keep in mind that everyone started where you did and it takes time and persistence. Very few people are born natural runners and it takes some work at the beginning.
- In the beginning measure yourself in time not distance and then gradually work up from there. This was something I read in a couple of different articles. Focus on building up a consistent pace and endurance in the beginning and then when you've established a base move on to mile markers. This also helps from getting discouraged at the start.
- If you don't have them already, invest in some running shoes. You don't have to spend a fortune but buy some shoes actually designed for running with good support. Very important in terms of preventing injuries.
- One of the things that was hardest for me to figure out in the beginning was how to stay hydrated. There were many runs in the beginning cut short not because I couldn't go any further but because I was straight up about to lick the dew off the grass. It's not rocket science and you'll find that as you run more drinking water becomes almost a constant thing. Hydrating can't be something you do two hours before you run, it has to be part of your lifestyle. I really hate that I just said that.
-Last but not least, you have to stick with it. Consistency and persistence is the name of the game here. I can remember running into a friend about a month into running and complaining that I couldn't seem to get past a mile and a half. "I had that too but you'll be surprised how fast it happens." That very day I ran four miles. It was the strangest thing. If you stick with it, I think you too will be surprised by how fast you progress. Develop a schedule that works for you-every other day, three times a week, whatever, and then stick with it and you'll amaze yourself.
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