Running was a big staple in helping me lose weight and remains important in helping me maintain that weight loss. I'll be honest: I don't necessarily find running fun like some people do, but I can't overlook the fact that it's certainly effective.
I was never a runner before losing all my weight, and it still surprises me how far I've come in about two years. Where I couldn't run a full mile before, I'm now training for my first full marathon. That's insane to think about. If I can do it, you can certainly do it, too. Here are some tips to help you get started with running.
1. Good shoes and good socks are a must. When I first started running, I wore a pair of super loose tennis shoes and cotton socks. My feet and ankles were killing me after a week, and I was getting a lot of blisters from wearing poor socks. After visiting my local running store to get a good pair of shoes, the difference was like night and day. The pain went away almost overnight. If you visit a local running store (Fleet Feet), they will help find the right pair of shoes for you by examining your feet and watching how you walk / run. I know a couple of the fancier stores even have treadmills with camera systems that map all that out. Trust me, this is absolutely mandatory for your running journey to be a success.
(Bonus tip: Invest in Lock Laces. My shoes always came untied when running, and the Lock Laces were an absolute godsend. It's basically the adult version of Velcro that looks good and works great. Seriously, it's one of the best investments I've ever made that costs less than $10.)
2. Invest in an armband and pair of Bluetooth headphones. Obviously, running is not a five minute workout. You're going to be out there for a while, and if you're like me, you'll go mad after five minutes of silence. Get an armband to carry your smartphone with you, and invest in Bluetooth headphones to be able to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts on the go. It makes the run so much more bearable. And yes, get Bluetooth headphones. I used to use wired headphones, and I always used to yank them out by accident while running. I know Beats and Jaybirds are the kings of Bluetooth headphones, but there are certainly cheaper alternatives out there.
3. Track your runs via an app. I know this might sound like an odd tip, but this is something I started doing in the beginning and have never regretted since. Much like tracking your weight loss over time, it is hard to physically notice the incremental improvements you are making over time. Sure, much like with weight loss, you will eventually notice an improvement after months of consistent training, but tracking your runs shows that improvement on a small scale. I personally found it encouraging to see the very small improvements over time, so I would suggest you use an app like Nike Run Club for your own benefit.
4. Maintain a varied workout routine. I learned this one the hard way. For the longest time, running was my only workout choice, and my knees suffered in the long run. The solution here is pretty simple: vary your workouts. In addition to running now, I do some light weight training. This will help to ensure your body doesn't get overworked in a single area so that you can continue running for a long period of time.
5. Don’t worry about pace in the beginning. We all have to start somewhere. If I remember correctly, it took me about two months before I could jog a full three miles without having to take walk breaks at all. If you keep your training up, you will almost certainly show improvement over time. (Tip #3 will help out here.) Eventually, you'll be able to jog non-stop for 3 miles, 5 miles, 10 miles, and more. And your pace will get better, too. The first time I ran a half marathon, I did it in a 12 minute mile pace. At the last Illinois Marathon, I did the half marathon in a 7 minute mile pace. Talk about a huge difference! Trust me, if you keep at it, you will indeed get better over time.
I was never a runner before losing all my weight, and it still surprises me how far I've come in about two years. Where I couldn't run a full mile before, I'm now training for my first full marathon. That's insane to think about. If I can do it, you can certainly do it, too. Here are some tips to help you get started with running.
1. Good shoes and good socks are a must. When I first started running, I wore a pair of super loose tennis shoes and cotton socks. My feet and ankles were killing me after a week, and I was getting a lot of blisters from wearing poor socks. After visiting my local running store to get a good pair of shoes, the difference was like night and day. The pain went away almost overnight. If you visit a local running store (Fleet Feet), they will help find the right pair of shoes for you by examining your feet and watching how you walk / run. I know a couple of the fancier stores even have treadmills with camera systems that map all that out. Trust me, this is absolutely mandatory for your running journey to be a success.
(Bonus tip: Invest in Lock Laces. My shoes always came untied when running, and the Lock Laces were an absolute godsend. It's basically the adult version of Velcro that looks good and works great. Seriously, it's one of the best investments I've ever made that costs less than $10.)
2. Invest in an armband and pair of Bluetooth headphones. Obviously, running is not a five minute workout. You're going to be out there for a while, and if you're like me, you'll go mad after five minutes of silence. Get an armband to carry your smartphone with you, and invest in Bluetooth headphones to be able to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts on the go. It makes the run so much more bearable. And yes, get Bluetooth headphones. I used to use wired headphones, and I always used to yank them out by accident while running. I know Beats and Jaybirds are the kings of Bluetooth headphones, but there are certainly cheaper alternatives out there.
3. Track your runs via an app. I know this might sound like an odd tip, but this is something I started doing in the beginning and have never regretted since. Much like tracking your weight loss over time, it is hard to physically notice the incremental improvements you are making over time. Sure, much like with weight loss, you will eventually notice an improvement after months of consistent training, but tracking your runs shows that improvement on a small scale. I personally found it encouraging to see the very small improvements over time, so I would suggest you use an app like Nike Run Club for your own benefit.
4. Maintain a varied workout routine. I learned this one the hard way. For the longest time, running was my only workout choice, and my knees suffered in the long run. The solution here is pretty simple: vary your workouts. In addition to running now, I do some light weight training. This will help to ensure your body doesn't get overworked in a single area so that you can continue running for a long period of time.
5. Don’t worry about pace in the beginning. We all have to start somewhere. If I remember correctly, it took me about two months before I could jog a full three miles without having to take walk breaks at all. If you keep your training up, you will almost certainly show improvement over time. (Tip #3 will help out here.) Eventually, you'll be able to jog non-stop for 3 miles, 5 miles, 10 miles, and more. And your pace will get better, too. The first time I ran a half marathon, I did it in a 12 minute mile pace. At the last Illinois Marathon, I did the half marathon in a 7 minute mile pace. Talk about a huge difference! Trust me, if you keep at it, you will indeed get better over time.
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