running tips from a barely runner.

I hate running. Really I do. Except each day I force myself to go out and do it, I like it a little more. And when I'm running with my friends, I start to really like it. And I really do feel better after it's done (even if I'm saying I hate it just ten minutes before that).

I'm not good at it. I'm slow. I don't go far. And I always have to start the couch to 5k over after not running for awhile.

So I'm totally the last person that should be dishing out 'running tips.'

But.

If you're like me (you hate running and you consider it exercise just running up the stairs to fulfill that salted chocolate caramel craving), these tips might be a good starting point. (And my 'actual runner' friends can skip right over this post or maybe leave your own expert tips in the comments below. Just don't laugh at how pathetic I am.) :)



Here's what works for me:

1. Find two running buddies. Or ten. I find I'm a lot better at sticking to it if I have someone holding me accountable or someone counting on me. I read once you should have at least two running buddies. One that's better and faster than you, one that's not. All of mine are better/faster than me and that seems to work okay too. (If you need someone slower than you, I'm your girl!) Having a running buddy doesn't mean you don't ever run by yourself but it is handy to have someone with you for longer runs or  when you're doing a new run for the first time. ie. in week 5 of the couch to 5k, you go from doing short intervals of running to a 20 minute solid run. My friend Jen meets me for that one and doesn't let me look at the clock. My running buddies can talk to me for an entire run but don't ask me questions (I have breathing to focus on). I love it but not everyone does. Find what works for you.

2. Find the right shoe (and socks). You don't have to spend a lot of money on shoes to find good shoes. I went to Kyle's Bikes to find my shoes. They do a free gait analysis for you and pull out shoes for you to try on that are best for your foot. My sales guy got to know what I liked and didn't like and helped me find the perfect shoe for me (I'm a pain of a customer but he was awesome). I was expecting to spend over $100 and walked out just $60 (or so?) later. He didn't try to get me to spend more money and didn't give me any sale pitches. He was great. (He did talk to me about socks though and I walked out with these socks by Brooks. The tab and fabric are amazing. I hate running in anything else now!) Related: a good sports bra helps too. I found this especially important when I was breastfeeding or pregnant. This Underarmour one is my favorite. I only have one but it was worth the investment to me.

3. Start slow. Unless your name rhymes with usty icks, you probably shouldn't just go run a 5k without building up to it. That dude is always in shape and it doesn't phase him. If you're more like me and try that, you might die on the side of the road. There are some great apps for Couch to 5K programs that make it super easy to go out and run. They start by having you run 60 seconds, walking 90 seconds and you build up from there. If you struggle and want to redo a day or two, you can do that too. There's no pressure to start out running far or fast, just run.

4. Reward yourself. For me, I need an incentive to keep doing something I don't particularly love. When I started running, I truly hated it. I also hated that I didn't have any running clothes that I loved. I remedied both by treating myself to new running clothes each time I accomplished a goal. New running shoes, socks, shorts, tanks, etc were all treats along different week marks for me. You don't have to spend a lot of money on these things. Some of my favorite running clothes are from Old Navy (on sale, of course).

5. Get a race on the schedule. This totally motivates me to not give up. I need a date that I have to finish the couch to 5k by so I keep going every day. I make plans with friends to go to it as well so I know people are counting on me. It keeps me from quitting.

6. Do your research. There are all sorts of tips for making your run easier and making sure you're doing it right. Breathing/posture/etc play a huge part in your run; make sure you aren't wasting extra energy by doing it wrong. (It's seriously hard for me to keep my arms in the right position when I run so I need to remind myself of that rule often when I run.) Search for blogs/articles by real runners and you'll find all sorts of great tips.

7. Be okay with being disappointed. Last week sucked. It was windy and Monday and Wednesday were ROUGH days for me. I whined to my friend about it and she encouraged me by telling me her and her husband both had tough runs those days too. They are in way better shape than me and run way more. So knowing I wasn't the only one struggling on a bad weather day made me feel better. She's good at reminding me that everyone has tough running days and to work though it.

8. But don't stay disappointed. Go to your running buddies for encouragement (see #1 and #7). Find (or make) an inspiration board on pinterest. Just don't give up and keep moving forward.

You can totally do this!!