Smiles… happy, giggly smiles. 
That was me yesterday! Not only feeling proud for finally feeling like a runner and getting to share my story with yall, but then to read all your comments & feedback just made my day! I loved hearing how some of you struggled like I did with running at first, then went on to run 10ks, half marathons and marathons. AMAZING. ::shakes head in awe & disbelief::.
I also loved hearing from others that have never been (nor care to be) runners, as well as those that used to be runners about how they feel wonderfully fit and healthy without running in their lives. Like I said yesterday, I don’t think you need to be a runner to be incredibly healthy & in shape, I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed it being my personal challenge.
I also found those that suggested tips to be very handy to me as a new runner. Holly & John J. (;)) suggested continuing to track my progress. I think it’s a GREAT tip! If it got John J. to the finish line of a marathon, it has to be good advice! Plus, I love looking back over my notes to see how far I’ve come.
I enjoyed your tips so much, I thought I’d share the tips for beginners that I’ve found to be so helpful in my short career as a runner. These are things I’ve discovered through trial and error.
1. Count in Minutes, Not Miles
When you were the kind of beginner I was, running for a mile felt impossible, daunting and discouraging. But 1 minute? Surely I could jog for 1 minute. And when I did, I felt so proud! These small milestones help create a feeling of success, even early on and are more likely to keep you motivated. Stick with adding on minutes, and eventually you’ll get to those miles!
2. Shoes
Throw out those “running” shoes that you run in, cut the grass in, spend all day at the amusement park in. Get fitted at a running specialty shop for some quality running shoes that are just for running. I kid you not, they make all the difference in the world!
3. Eat
In the beginning I was too nervous that I’d get sick to eat before I ran. And it wasn’t a big deal. But by the time I was getting to week 3ish and running further, I started to feel woozy and nauseous. I found something small, like a spoonful of peanut butter, kept this nauseating feeling at bay without making me feel like I was running on a full stomach.
4. Stretch
Not before running. Before running, start with a walking warm up to loosen the body, but static stretching before loosening up can actually hurt you. Afterwards, however, stretch stretch stretch! My lower back was getting really tight and painful after some of my wogs. Turns out, if I did a better job of stretching my hamstrings, the pain would go away. Who knew? Spend at least 5 minutes stretching after a run to do away with pain.
source
5. Track your Progress
*See Above* Tracking your progress is easy to do and keeps motivation high. Plus, you deserve to see how far you’ve come!
What is your BEST tip for new runners?
Smiles… happy, giggly smiles.
That was me yesterday! Not only feeling proud for finally feeling like a runner and getting to share my story with yall, but then to read all your comments & feedback just made my day! I loved hearing how some of you struggled like I did with running at first, then went on to run 10ks, half marathons and marathons. AMAZING. ::shakes head in awe & disbelief::.
I also loved hearing from others that have never been (nor care to be) runners, as well as those that used to be runners about how they feel wonderfully fit and healthy without running in their lives. Like I said yesterday, I don’t think you need to be a runner to be incredibly healthy & in shape, I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed it being my personal challenge.
I also found those that suggested tips to be very handy to me as a new runner. Holly & John J. (;)) suggested continuing to track my progress. I think it’s a GREAT tip! If it got John J. to the finish line of a marathon, it has to be good advice! Plus, I love looking back over my notes to see how far I’ve come.
I enjoyed your tips so much, I thought I’d share the tips for beginners that I’ve found to be so helpful in my short career as a runner. These are things I’ve discovered through trial and error.
1. Count in Minutes, Not Miles
When you were the kind of beginner I was, running for a mile felt impossible, daunting and discouraging. But 1 minute? Surely I could jog for 1 minute. And when I did, I felt so proud! These small milestones help create a feeling of success, even early on and are more likely to keep you motivated. Stick with adding on minutes, and eventually you’ll get to those miles!
2. Shoes
Throw out those “running” shoes that you run in, cut the grass in, spend all day at the amusement park in. Get fitted at a running specialty shop for some quality running shoes that are just for running. I kid you not, they make all the difference in the world!
3. Eat
In the beginning I was too nervous that I’d get sick to eat before I ran. And it wasn’t a big deal. But by the time I was getting to week 3ish and running further, I started to feel woozy and nauseous. I found something small, like a spoonful of peanut butter, kept this nauseating feeling at bay without making me feel like I was running on a full stomach.
4. Stretch
Not before running. Before running, start with a walking warm up to loosen the body, but static stretching before loosening up can actually hurt you. Afterwards, however, stretch stretch stretch! My lower back was getting really tight and painful after some of my wogs. Turns out, if I did a better job of stretching my hamstrings, the pain would go away. Who knew? Spend at least 5 minutes stretching after a run to do away with pain.
source
5. Track your Progress
*See Above* Tracking your progress is easy to do and keeps motivation high. Plus, you deserve to see how far you’ve come!
What is your BEST tip for new runners?