It's a 'Run'derful Life
I’M BACK Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!! Recently I hit the snooze button on running because I had a baby injury in my back. Then persistent laziness kicked in and couch potato mode was initiated. But no more! Thank goodness my coach, number one fan, and homie lives in the same house as me. Good ol’ Clay wrote up a running plan for me and lovingly followed up to make sure I wasn’t slacking. Running is such an interesting form of exercise, because it completely builds on itself. When you take a long break from running or even start running for the first time, it sucks. But the more you consistently run and start to slowly build up strength the more enjoyable it becomes.
Since kicking myself back into running shape, I have realized how therapeutic it can be! Exercise has always been something that has helped keep me grounded. When my anxiety is high and the stresses of life, school, or work begin to swallow me whole, I will turn to exercise to return to equilibrium. Consistently running helps improve my sleep, appetite, and mood. I guess the same can be said about most forms of exercise. Have you tried getting into running? If so have you gotten to the phase where it doesn’t suck? Shoot me a message, I love hearing your experiences and tips.
So in my limited experience and with my limited knowledge I decided to write up some game changing tips that helped ease me into running.
Invest in good shoes -People your feet are so freaking good to you! If something goes wrong with your feet then your knees start to hurt, than your hips, then your back, etc. etc. etc. So invest in yourself and your health. Buy a good pair of shoes that are meant specifically for running and that give back to your hard working feet!
Warm up -I am the worst at this. I get so excited to jump in and get the blood pumping that I forget to ease into my workout. It is so important to take 5 minutes and ease into your runs. This will help aid in injury prevention and promote good future running habits.
Listen to your body -Don’t be stupid and push yourself to the point of injury. So many people get into running and start experiencing shin splints, knee pain, tightness, etc. The problem is they ignore the signs their body is giving them and just endure through the pain or quit. Getting into running can be a shock and awe on your system. Maybe your body is telling you it needs to roll out after each run. Maybe it needs you to ice your shins, or get better shoes, or slow down. Your body is so blatantly honest! Listen to it and course correct as needed.
Make a plan -The best way to get to the point where you enjoy running is to consistently do it. Sitting down and making a plan, plotting out your goals and figuring out where you currently stand is a great way to get on the path regular running.
The kitchen is key -Who would have guessed it? Running more can equal a bigger appetite. Your body needs fuel to perform properly. Filling your tank with nutrient dense foods before and after run can determine the outcome of your training and performance progression.
Recovery is essential -As important as it is to train it is twice as important to rest. Rolling out, taking Epson salt baths, frequently stretching, are all great ways to recover after vigorously exercising. Take those rest days. Your body needs them in order to exert 100% on the training and workout days.
Running takes strength -Lift, lift, lift. On top of making a running schedule make a weight training schedule too. In order to get into running shape you need to be strong! It wasn’t until I started focusing on weightlifting and incorporated resistance bands into my workouts that I saw a vast improvement in my running performance. Strong bodies run smarter, have better form, and are less injury prone.
20 minutes a few times a week. Start with a 5 minute warm up and then 15 minutes for the rest of your run/walk. Maybe try running and walking in intervals. Maybe you tortoise run for 15 minutes straight. Then take a few minutes at the end to stretch, roll out, and rest. Find a starting point and keep consistent with it. Then go find an accountability buddy to report to and set some achievable goals for yourself. Progress is the measuring tape you should use. I often find myself drenched in sweat, in pain, and feeling like a hobby jogging grandma after some of my runs. But I take a step back and see how much progress I’ve made and I am amazed! Tortoise and the hare peeps. Take it slow.