How to Make Running Your BFF
Hello Side of Sneakers readers! My name is Theresa & I’m the author of ActiveEggplant where I blog about making exercise a regular fixture in my life. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to write a guest post for Heather. And maybe a little nervous too – this is my very first guest post!
Heather has made it pretty clear that she misses running now that’s she’s been sidelined due to a nasty knee injury. The idea of “missing running” sounds simply insane to me. Why? Because I hate running.
Ok, ok. Hate might be a strong word. Let me rephrase: Running and I aren’t the best of friends.
Nonetheless, I run 2-3 times a week and have completed one full marathon, 7 half marathons, a 15k, a handful of 10ks & countless 5ks over the past few years.
Even though I moan and groan every time I lace up my sneakers, I’ve realized that running has become a necessary component of my fitness routine. A necessary evil, if you will.
- Running lets me manage my weight without starving myself. I tried “not running” for a while and promptly began to pack on the pounds.
- Running is a good way to blow off steam after a long day in the office. No matter how pissed off I am when I start running, my mood is noticeably better when I finish.
- Running is one of the only things I can take with me on vacations or business trips. It’s much much easier to cram running gear (shoes, socks, shorts, sports bra, shirt) into a suitcase than everything you’d need if you wanted to take your bike with you (have you ever tried to put a helmet in a suitcase?!)
So I’m on a mission to become better friends with running. And here’s how I’m doing it:
- Cross training. When I first started running, that was all I did. If I didn’t run, I didn’t do anything. A “day off” turned into a week off & before I knew it, my next run felt like a “first run” all over again. I never got any better, and it never got easier. Then I discovered cycling.
Cycling on a regular basis keeps my legs moving, but without all the impact of running. Now, when I hit the bricks again, my legs are used to moving & they’re still strong.
These days I’m a cross training machine! And I’ve seen lots of improvements in my running as a result.
You don’t have to have a bike to cross train. You can walk, take a spin class, swim, do yoga, Zumba, anything! Just keep moving so your body is ready to go next time you lace up your sneaks.
2. Speed work. I don’t do speed work very often, but it is a tried and true way to make sure I’m challenging myself and not just going through the motions. In only a few short months, I’ve shaved a few seconds off of my pace! And seeing this on my watch pumps me up for the next time I’m out there.
3. Mixing up my running route. Lets face it, running the same route day in and day out is boring. So mix it up! Some days I’ll drive to a park to run on shell trails.
Other days I’ll start in front of my house. Every now and then I’ll run out to the beach and back. Varying my route makes running feel less like work and more like sight seeing!
4. Running with a buddy. I do most of my runs alone, but I try to run with a buddy at least once a week. Whether it’s just me and my sister or my hubby, or with a running group, having someone else there with me makes running a bit more tolerable. With someone at my side I’m less likely to focus on how many miles I have left to go. I am also much more likely to actually show up for a run when someone is waiting for me and counting on running together.
5. Sign up for a race. Nothing like a looming race day to help you keep your eye on the prize!
I usually have two races lined up at all times – one that I’m actively training for, plus one on deck that is my “next” race. This way I don’t stop training altogether after crossing the finish line. (This is a lesson I learned the hard way!)
Plus, races are just F.U.N. There’s always excitement in the air and an overall sense of camaraderie. And it always feels really good to cross that finish line (no matter how long it takes to get there) and say “I did it. I ran a race today.”
Happy Running!
Thanks Theresa!
Anybody else hate running? What’d you do about it?
