Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Running: Don't Stop, Won't Stop


Whether you're new to running, or it's been part of your life for years, it is always fun to exchange tips!

Running has been a routine part of my “workout life” for almost 10 years now.  What I love most about running is the way it challenges my whole body and clears my head; it is defitinitely a stress reliever for me.

My weekly workout routine (Monday-Friday Cardio) generally consists of two runs:

1.     A shorter run (5-7 miles); occassionally I will do this run on the treadmill to work on intervals.
2.   A longer run (7-13 miles); I always do this longer run outside to enjoy the scenery.

If you are new to running, here are some fun and basic tips that work for me:

#1: Triple knot your shoes: Nothing is worse than having to stop because of loose laces. This must be a pet peeve of mine!...You are probably fine with a double knot~ I just don't like to take chances J

#2. Food: Find a meal that makes your tummy feel good while you run, and try to stick to a routine of eatng that thing leaving a certain amount of time before your run (everytime you run). I always start my runs early in the morning (usually between 5:30 and 6am). For me this means I am up at 4:00 or 4:30am, eating a very large bowl of Cinnamon Oatmeal squares cereal with almond milk.  After I eat, I give myself about an hour to start digesting, and do free weight/core work before my run. It works for me! Find what works for you!

#3.  Start with walking: There is something to be said about the old saying "you have to walk before you can run". Want to set a goal of running 5 miles? Walk a 5 mile route for several weeks instead! Walking long distances will help you to appreciate any running pace you start at; just about any running pace will be faster than a walk! Confidence booster!! Plus walking is great excerisie.

#4. Brace Yourself/Pace Yourself: It takes time to build the physical and mental stamina needed for long distance running.  Duh! Try to be kind to your ego and let yourself feel good about little accomplishments; like making it even an extra 50 feet from your previous run! The BEST feeling is the clearness of your mind and healthy balance of your body after any distance you run…hold onto those feelings! Don't let the berating ones creep in!

#5.  Fashion Statement: You don’t need to go out running in the latest “state of the art” running gear…but you probably won’t feel very comfortable running in yoga pants and an old cotton shirt either. Pick out some running clothes that are meant for running. You don’t have to spend a lot of money for great gear! I have really good luck finding great looking running clothes and shoes at Marshalls  ~ they are always inexpensive and last through a lot of sweat sessions!

Have some great runs!

After almost a decade of running I JUST started using the Map My Run iPhone App...and I already love it!! This mornings run:






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