When I was on the swim team in Florida growing up, no two words were more horrifying than……dry land. Because that meant, well, running. And I hated running. Seriously. I think I was one of the slowest ones every time just on premise of the fact that I absolutely did not want to run and therefor detested it and did not try on purpose.
Running really is pretty darn mental….
Then later in high school I was on the track team for a year. Thanks Dad…. And much to my happiness chagrin, they put me in the 800 and the mile.I don’t know if coach hated me or pitied me.
It wasn’t until college when I started to learn to love running. And by college, I mean after freshman year when people kept trying to make me run.
You have to want to run for yourself. You may not want to like it at first but getting that foot in front of the other at a pace more rapid than a walk has to be you. for you. For me it was about challenging myself. I had always been active and swimming and I just needed something new, something for me, something that I had to work for.
At first I hated it. Especially since that right turn out of the lower Sijan gate was directly up a hill. and turning left just led to an even worse hill. But in that time to myself, I asked myself why I hated running. More importantly, why was I wasting energy being miserable and hating running instead of using that energy to run. I hated running because it was hard, and it was hard because I hated it. Once I learned to acknowledge the pain and effort it took and let it pass, that one mile turned to 3 which turned to 6 which turned to my first 13.1.
I searched my computer and my extra hard drive for pictures from the Denver 1/2 marathon either year or the San Antonio 1/2 marathon but I couldn’t find any of them so above is my picture during the 1/2 marathon part of my 1/2 Iron Man I did May 2011.
If you want to start running — start slow–. Run, then walk and run, and when you think you want to stop just maybe walk a little and see if you can push yourself just a little more. You may find that you will beat that wall.
Get off the treadmill. In the winter in Colorado, I had to run on the treadmill but luckily it was after I had already developed my love. Do Not start running on a treadmill. GET OUTSIDE!! Run a trail, go somewhere new, but get moving forward. I was lucky because I learned to love running with this
Seriously, I don’t know how I couldn’t love running with the scenery in Colorado. I could do an entire post on how beautiful Colorado is.
You may not be lucky enough to have this scenery but I promise, the great outdoors anywhere is worth it.
Oh, and get good shoes! If you are getting blisters everywhere and your joints are sore, you are going to be too miserable to continue.
I wear Brooks for regular running shoes and have recently gotten into the Vibrams
you really have to start slow if you are trying to break these babies in. So maybe if you are just starting out it would work just fine for you!
Another wonderful thing about running was how my body changed. Sure, I had always been in shape and worked out but running just makes me feel lighter, I like how things move and shape when I am running regularly…and when you run for fun first, the rest is extra delicious icing on the cake.
I know you are still sitting there shaking your head and saying I just don’t believe you, there is no way that I will ever love running. Just try it. and try it for at least a month or so, it isn’t something that will happen instantaneously.
Try and take my tips as you start, challenge yourself, start slow, run outside, get good shoes, stay positive!!
My other tips
Get a great playlist – make it at least an hour long full of high energy songs
Tell someone you are going for a run – so you have support or accountability
Let yourself rest when you really don’t want to go, but know when to make yourself take that first step
Stay positive – do not pressure yourself.
Don’t make it about speed….yet
Eat well – this can make a HUGE difference. Check out the book Eat and Run if you want to learn more. This was an incredible book.
Next thing you know, you will be hooked just like me!
