Published: March 26, 2017
By: Meaghan Krifchin, Mizuno Race Team Member
We are surrounded by people each day with different talents, careers, interests, personalities and so on. For me and most runners alike, running is just part of who we are and it’s our world. For those who can’t quite see themselves as a “runner,” the idea of running can be unsettling and just basically off limits, but it doesn’t have to be!
Often I hear running is hard, it’s boring and it hurts.
Running doesn’t have to be any of those things. Running doesn’t have to be negative at all, and it’s not just a matter of having a positive mind set. Here are some ways to help you overcome running’s biggest challenges and help you to learn to love the sport.
You say running is…
- Hard and challenging:
- Make it easier- Go out for a comfortable run, an easy pace. Going for a run does not mean you have to go all out and gasping for air.
- Identify YOUR baseline- If you have a loop you’ve done before, next time, shorten it and try to do it a little slower next time and see if running is still as difficult. Then keep track, and maybe progress to going faster in following attempts while still being comfortable and not difficult.
- Boring:
- Find a training partner- Running with someone can help with your boredom because you have someone to talk to, push you, motivate you and keep you accountable.
- Music- Run with your phone or iPod and make an assortment of playlists or just listen to music on shuffle. I run with music quite frequently and find it to be super helpful even if I’m just using it for background noise.
- Track yourself- I find that if you are able to monitor your fitness and progress that helps you to stay motivated and not be bored with what you are doing. Tracking your pace and distance over time and comparing it can be exciting and help get you out the door for next time.
- Location- Go run somewhere new. It’s always fun to explore, see new surroundings and decide if this is a place you would go to again.
- Find a race or something to train for- Keep it marked on a calendar or piece of paper and count down or cross out the days to go.
- Running groups- Everywhere you go there are local running groups. Some are connected to the local running store or some program.
- Running hurts:
- Try running on softer surfaces, trails, clay, dirt, grass.
- Take care of your body with stretching and icing as needed.
- Change your running cycle and frequency, every other day, 3 times a week etc.
- Be consistent, sometimes it just takes the body to adjust to running and getting used to the feeling and tolerating it.
- Go easy and make it less difficult, do some walking and jogging, but of course listen to your body and play it safe as needed.
For runners, the sport and activity is one of the best things in our lives. It is a lifestyle, it connects us with so many people, and it’s healthy and makes us happy. Why not try to get the same thrill?
Running is challenging, but it’s also good to challenge yourself. Challenge yourself to making running easier, more fun and less boring. Good luck!
-m