fall

“How did you do it?”

“I decided to be able to.”

So, I signed up for a half marathon. I have been consistently running for almost 7 years at this point and how I’ve never run a race is anyone’s guess. But that doesn’t make me feel like any less of a runner. Recently, my boyfriend got me a copy of Alexandra Heminsley’s book “Running Like a Girl”. To be honest, I didn’t think I would like it nearly as much as I did. In fact I devoured the book. It is the perfect read if you’ve ever had any questions about running. If you’ve never run more than your gym class mile as a kid or if you’re a consistent runner averaging 50 miles+ a week, you can still get something out of this read. I found myself jotting down quotes and passages as I went along just because they were so inspiring and really motivating. So much so that when I finished the book last night, I decided I was going to finally bite the bullet and sign up for a half marathon. Philly Love Run, I’m coming for you.

I get asked often questions about running especially by people who are just starting out and I’m always more than happy to answer, so while I’m getting my training for the half done, I’m going to be putting together a series of Running 101 posts to help new and experienced runners alike.

Today’s topic: Getting Started.

By far the hardest part about running is starting. When I first started, I had only ever run in school when we had our mandatory mile. In middle school, I would get wicked heel spurs and find any way I could to get out of running. It never worked and I always would get stuck plodding around the track for some laps while my lungs burned and I cursed the day the mile was ever invented.

Enter college. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week, but refused to run. The memories of gasping for air, beet red faces, and excruciating boredom kept me from running at all. After awhile, I had been elliptical-ing and working on my cardio endurance and getting pretty bored with just biking and walking, so I decided I would give a run a go. I saddled up onto the treadmill and picked a song to run along with. I ran and ran and hated every second of it. After I was sure at least 30 minutes had passed I pressed stop only to be met by a flashing red workout summary that totaled my distance at .6 of a mile. Awesome. I was disheartened to say the least and decided that I wasn’t a runner and this wasn’t for me.

A couple weeks later, I went and tried again. And you know what? It wasn’t nearly as bad and I actually finished a full mile. Was I going at a snails pace? Probably slower to be honest, but I had done it. And I haven’t stopped since.

That first run is a right of passage. I’m going to be the first to tell you, it’s probably not going to be that fun. It’s probably going to suck. But I assure you any run from there on out will be a whole heck of a lot easier. My advice: walk where you want to run a couple times first. If you really like a particular trail, walk around it a couple times and then one day, let it all go and run it. You know what’s there and what you’re going to run in to, but it’s such a different experience when you run past it all.

Tips for just starting out:

Pace yourself. This is not a race, this is just life. You don’t have to go as fast as you can. Pick a pace that if comfortable and conversational. If you can’t talk a little bit while you’re running, you’re going to burn out way more quickly than you want to.
Breathe. This is the most important thing you can do.
Visualize something awesome. Pretend you’re running through a field of daisies, pretend your running from a herd of zombies, pretend you’re running to catch something in front of you. Giving your mind a task keeps you focused on something other than what you’re doing.
Make small goals. See that lightpost up there? You only have to run that far. Oh, that felt good and you want to keep going? Why don’t you go to that tree. It sounds silly, but it works, I promise
Think about time in a useful way. 20 minutes may seem like such a daunting amount of time to run for, but think about how short of an amount of time that is compared to everything else you do. I bet it’s shorter than your commute. I bet it’s shorter than how long it takes you to make dinner. I bet it’s shorter than how long it takes you to get up and get ready in the morning. You can run for 20 minutes.
Remember, you don’t have to run the whole time. If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t have the cardiovascular strength to keep continuously running and that’s okay. Take a breather when you need it, but vow to keep moving. A great way to start is to alternate intervals of running and walking. Run for 3 minutes, walk for 2, run for 3 minutes, walk for 2. Then in a couple runs go for 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking. Eventually, you’ll be able to run non-stop like it’s no big thing.

You can do it if you decide you want to. Lace up your shoes and get out there because why not?

Workout: Run/Walk for 20 minutes in an area you love.

-sj

I recently joined a local choir. I have been a singer for a pretty hefty portion of my life, even majoring in vocal performance in college, but as soon as I graduated, I needed to get away from it. After taking two years off from singing in pretty much any capacity, I was itching to get back into it. But I knew I didn’t want to go in as intensely as I had before. So, I went back to my roots. I joined a local church choir that meets only a couple of blocks from my house. I am by far and away the youngest person there by a good thirty or forty years. When I first set out to join, I was nervous. I hadn’t sung in awhile and I wasn’t sure if I would like singing in that setting, but I couldn’t be happier that I joined. As I was sitting listening to those around me, I couldn’t help thinking about how this paralleled so perfectly with starting a workout regimen.

We all start at different levels. Some have a natural talent for running at the drop or a hat or just being able to lift heavier than the person next to them, but to get better, they have to train. You can’t expect to get fit by just wishing it. You can’t expect to be a good singer if you never sing. Everyone starts somewhere. Even if you are the worst singer in the world, as long as you dive in and try, who cares. The same can be said for working out. Maybe you can’t even run one mile. If you start working for it, eventually you will get there. You just have to break past that comfort zone and just try it. Just start. You could be the worst singer, runner, pretty much anything in the world, but as long as you’re trying at it, it doesn’t matter.

Here’s a little fall full-body workout for you to try that you can either do one time through for a quick 15 minute workout or twice through for a bigger challenge. Either way, it’s a great one whether today is your first day hitting the gym or not. As long as you’re getting out there and pushing yourself out of that comfort zone, you should be proud. And at the end of the day, that’s all that counts.

-sj

Love & Lunge

running 101: getting started.

getting out of that comfort zone.