1.) First of all..this picture is a bad example but GET OFF THE TREDMILL! Go outside!!! Running on the tredmill is absolutely horrible. It's boring & you'll get burnt out VERY easily. Fresh air & scenery make 100% of a difference, trust me! That's the first step. Running is a very mental activity and if your bored you'll be done a lot faster than if your actually enjoying yourself.
"Fitness has to be fun. If it isn't, there will be no fitness. Play is the process. Fitness is merely the product." --Dr. George Sheehan
2.) You do NOT need to pump your arms a million miles an hour. RELAX. Relax your arms and DON'T clench your fists. If you do this your using more energy than you need to & you'll get tired extremely fast.
3.) Run with a friend. It makes it so much easier. You won't want to stop if the other person is still going so it's motivation to keep pushing!!4.) Common sense: Get pump up music on your iPod. I wish I was one of those people who could run without music but unfortunately I'm not so get music that puts you in a good mood and makes you smile!!
5.) If you have an iPhone there are great apps out there so you can track your runs, see your statistics (calories burned, time, etc) I personally like to use MapmyRun or Runtastic. Both are great apps and the free versions work perfectly fine!
6.) Set Goals!! If your just starting out running shoot for a walk/run session. It's the best way to learn. Run 5 min then walk 5 min then the next day increase the time, etc.
7.) Get good running shoes!! You don't need to go out and spend $300 but if your going to be serious about running you need to get a good pair of shoes! My personal pair I've been using is the Mizuno Wave Rider 14. This is a great shoe! I highly recommend it!
8.) Make time for a quickie! If you only have 10 minutes to run that's better than sitting on the couch for 10 minutes! Getting out the door is one of the hardest parts but you'll feel great after you do!
9.) Be sure to stretch before/after your run! I used to NEVER stretch and was recently injured during a 5K because I ran too fast so always be sure to stretch!!
10.) I have a problem with this but you need to stay hydrated!! It doesn't matter if it's cold weather or warm weather, we use water to sweat, lubricate joints, tendons, and ligaments, and to carry blood efficiently to major organs so make sure your really trying to do it! It's recommended to have atleast 8 glasses of water a day!
**Just a fun fact: Each mile you run burns about 100 calories**
11.)Get some quick, low-fat fuel. Protein bars are great for runners. If I eat one I will make sure to eat it about 30 minutes before I run. Look for bars with 4 grams of fat or fewer per 230 calories. Fat slows down digestion.
12.) Dress accordingly to the weather. Don't wear sweat pants if it's 100 degrees outside. Yes, you will sweat more but you'll also be miserable. No cotton socks either!!! Good socks make an amazing difference.
13.) Last but not least, HAVE FUN!! Running can be a great experience mentally & physically if you put your heart into it! Some days you just don't want to go, it's normal, everyone has those days but just think about something that motivates you. Like the fact that summer is here and we all want to look good in a swimsuit, the run might suck but when you look at it it's only an hour or 30 minutes etc, of your day then YOUR DONE and your one step closer to that bikini body your wanting!!!!
I hope this post was helpful to all you runners out there! It's something I enjoy and I want to share my passions with all of you!!! X x - LW
.jpg)