Congratulations! You’re here and ready to take the first step.
Turns out your commitment to start running is real, whether it was an easy decision or quite a hard sell. You’ve thought about it in forever, or might’ve just magically landed and got hooked reading 8 Reasons to Start Running Today while navigating the complex Internet and Social Media space. Well, runnr appreciates your effort getting here while fighting off those annoying pop-up advertisements and distracting trending videos. So we’ve prepared a guide just for you on how to kickstart your running journey! With 5 few simple steps, your road towards achieving a personal best will be done in a fun and effective way---the runnr way!
Warning: Continuation to read this runnr blog entry could change your life.
So before you start lacing up those shoes and dash out the door, here are our 5 steps on how to kickstart your running journey.
1.Set Running Goals
Give a purpose to every run you make. Take time to figure out what the driving force is every time you start letting those legs fly. Whether it’s to lose weight, finish a marathon, gain more endurance, or simply beat boredom as your Wifi is jamming up again and you can’t log-in at Netflix (our deepest condolences), having running goals will keep you consistent. They provide assistance in tracking & measuring your progress, and will guide you make the necessary adjustments to be a more efficient runner.
To better accomplish these, it is highly recommended to set specific but realistic goals like “run 5x/week for 30 minutes for 2 months and lose 25 lbs” (and finally fit into that old cocktail wedding dress!) or “finish a sub 30 5K race by building speed and endurance through 3, hour long run sessions a week” (and impress that special someone!). It may seem impossible at first, but these are realistic, easy to track and motivating running goals. Setting too high, messy and uninteresting ones will only set you up for failure, risking a bad start to your running journey.
2.Choose the Right Running Gear
Running is known to be a simple sport that requires little equipment. All it takes is a pair of running shoes to get started, and a few other accessories to help boost performance (Hey, if Flash uses gadgets then so should you with your Garmin watch!). Choosing the right running shoes by knowing your foot type and strike is essential to achieving the running goals you’ve dictated. So make sure you find yourself a shoe companion that’s able to support the running journey you want, instead of pulling you back.
Running with the right gear is also a great way to promote proper running form and stride, reducing the risk of getting irritated and injured. By wearing soft, quick dry and sweat wicking apparel, your runs will be more comfortable. Because trust us, there are so many annoying things that can happen during a run but nothing is as bad as serious case of chafe! The gear you choose also may function as protection and balances out external factors that are beyond your control. Hiding from the sun is impossible and a tough workout will make the muscles sore, but there is magic in putting on a cap and some compression wear. Don’t forget about convenience too! Using a watch to track your runs will efficiently measure your progress towards your goals, and a running pack is a great way to store small items like a cellphone and house keys. And hydration gels!
3.Practice Proper Training
This is where it gets exciting! You’re taking the first steps towards your running goals. Keep things simple, slowly breathe, and don’t “just do it”! Be patient and you’ll be rewarded, because as you go further, there is a good chance that you’ll start discovering and incorporate more types of training. Various running levels demand specific running programs, so don’t be surprised if you start finding a 3k run relatively easy as compared to when you started. Not breaking a sweat simply means progress! This is the point where increasing your mileage and cross-training is suggested. Doing so will make you a faster and stronger runner, opening new doors in your running journey.
You might also start exploring other types of running workouts. If you’re someone who enjoys mixing things up, setting up a weekly running schedule combining different running styles will do the trick. You can choose to be a speed demon taking shorter but faster runs, or a take a more Forrest Gump-like approach in a slow, long run. Entering race events are also a great way to test your current running level. In race day, you’ll naturally push yourself harder which can reveal your running strengths and weaknesses. This allows you to find ways on how to maintain and further improve your running economy when training.
4.Join a Running Community
Don’t tackle on your running journey alone! Surround yourself with fellow runners, and buckle up for a more fulfilling running journey. It’s a welcoming bunch, with someone always ready to offer you tips on how to be a better runner --- and they’re a dime a dozen! What could start as a simple group conversation geeking out over a shared obsession with the latest running shoe releases, might lead to long lasting friendships that go beyond running. It’s also a great support system to have when encountering challenges or injuries, and every running milestone you pass will be a call for celebration (Yes, simply signing up for a race might already get you a medal in the form of cake!).
The easiest way to experience the pleasures of a running community is to join a running club. These clubs often hold running sessions twice a week and takes place across different top running spots around the metro. It’s normally led by running coaches and pacers, to ensure you finish a specific distance under a certain time period. Some clubs are also known to feature special programs to further help members reach their running goals while becoming more connected. You might find yourself teary eyed from a running mate’s inspirational pre-run speech, or lose your mind in a group yoga session upon learning you can actually do a full split! So when choosing a club, settle for one that provides more than just the running, but an overall sense of community!
5.Stay Inspired
This last step is arguably the most important. Your running journey will be comprised of so much exhilaration and fulfillment! However, there will be times when you just can’t help but question why you’re choosing miles of discomfort over laying on your couch. This especially pops up when you’ve finally accomplished the initial running goals you made (good job, the cocktail dress now fits and you’ve got a date). Having thoughts like this is completely normal, but it should not dictate the direction of your running journey!
Staying inspired will help you get back on track. It is a process that requires a constant check-in that all four previous steps are aligned with each other. Reestablish your running goals and support them with the new proper gear, training and relationships that you need! Your body might already be capable of running a marathon, so the basic shoes and slow runs will no longer do the trick! Upgrading into racing shoes and improving speed work might be better, and in doing so you might just come up with new running goals that are ready to inspire you.
There is also a never ending flow of inspirational running stories to keep you stay uplifted all throughout your running journey. From stories of amputees finishing a marathon, to ordinary people making extraordinary records, there is a wide selection of running books and movies that showcase the power and beauty that running can bring. So prepare to be entertained, it’s going to be an exhilarating ride!
So, are you now ready to take that first step? ;) Go kickstart your running journey this 2021 with runnr, and be amazed with how fulfilling a running journey can be! Head on over to your nearest runnr store or shop here at www.runnr.com.ph, for your much needed running essentials! Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram as well, to stay up-to-date with all the latest on anything and everything runnr, the leading running specialty store in the Philippines. Happy running!