{"id":1085,"date":"2018-08-16T15:20:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-16T20:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neverdonewithfun.com\/staging\/5228\/?p=1085"},"modified":"2019-11-23T12:31:56","modified_gmt":"2019-11-23T18:31:56","slug":"a-reluctant-runners-guide-to-getting-your-miles-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neverdonewithfun.com\/staging\/5228\/2018\/08\/16\/a-reluctant-runners-guide-to-getting-your-miles-in\/","title":{"rendered":"A Reluctant Runner\u2019s Guide to Getting Your Miles In"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you had told me a year ago that going for a run outside would become my go-to stress relief, I probably would have laughed.<\/p>\n

I kept flashing back to junior high PE class \u2014 remember having to run the mile then? All I saw in my head when I thought about running was junior high me, sweating and red-faced and huffing and puffing as I barely finished a mile in well over 12 minutes. Meanwhile, my classmates were breezing in at 7, 8, 9 minutes. Pretty mortifying for an insecure, out-of-shape teenager.<\/p>\n

But as an adult, progressing in my fitness journey, I grudgingly started to see the advantages to running. It\u2019s free, for one. You do it on your own time and schedule, for another \u2014 ideal for busy motherhood. And it\u2019s an opportunity to get in some serious cardio…not necessarily what I wanted but definitely what my body needed to get to the next level.<\/p>\n

So I gritted my teeth, laced up my running shoes, and started doing laps at the park nearby. It wasn\u2019t pretty, and I felt exactly like that junior high kid again.<\/p>\n

The difference was I didn\u2019t give up and just walk it this time. I stuck with it. I toughed it out. And each mile I logged, I found I hated running a little less.<\/p>\n

If I can become a runner, anyone can become a runner. Here are my tips for getting started.<\/p>\n

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em> Read my full\u00a0<\/em>disclosure policy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for all the boring details<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n
10 Tips for Beginning Runners<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

1. Start slow and small.<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe very first time I decided to start running, I set a goal that I would run driveway distances only. Even running a block without stopping seemed intimidating, so I set that first goal really, really small. I alternated between a power walk and a jog, building up from one driveway length to two driveway lengths to one block to two blocks, and so forth. Before I knew it, I had run a mile without walking. I think I had a legitimate runner\u2019s high from the accomplishment of that 1 mile.<\/p>\n

Keep adding distance to your runs; you\u2019ll be surprised at how quickly you can increase your mileage. At this time last year, I was running 1 mile without walking and feeling proud. This spring, I realized I could basically get in a 5K for my evening run, and now those evening runs have extended to 5 or 6 miles.<\/p>\n

2. Get outside.<\/strong><\/span>
\nI\u2019m still intimidated by the treadmill. But running outside is a no-brainer. You don\u2019t have to figure out what your pace is; you just go and your pace sets itself, at least in the beginning. Plus, running outside is more of a challenge because you are dealing with wind, weather conditions, elevations, uneven surfaces, and more. But most importantly, running outside is interesting. There are new things to see, people to watch, houses to covertly check out. When I run in my neighborhood, I\u2019m always on the hunt for new real estate. If I did all of my running indoors on a treadmill, I guarantee I\u2019d still be barely making it 2 miles at a time. The monotony of the treadmill just isn\u2019t for me. But getting outside with the breeze in my hair, watching the sun come up or set \u2013 that\u2019s why I\u2019ve come around to loving running.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Figure out what motivates you when you run.<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen I first started, I didn\u2019t wear headphones at all. I just ran. The quiet I found in my head outside was enough, and I used the running time to work through things I didn\u2019t have time to process any other time.\u00a0As I started to increase my distance, I tried running to music for motivation. I found I liked it, and now I frequently run to the very same channel on the Rock My Run app. (It\u2019s free if you don\u2019t mind ads every 15 minutes or so!) The Hamilton soundtrack is my other favorite, especially for a longer distance run.<\/p>\n

Explore whether you’re a solo runner or you prefer a partner or group for motivation and pacing. I’m all about the solo runs because I love that quiet in my head and the \u201cme time\u201d to think. Plus, I’m fitting runs in wherever I can, even when the sun is going down or isn’t even up yet in the morning. But I like to train for a race goal with a friend to stay motivated. On Race Day, there’s something both reassuring and competitive about being at the starting line together. Even though I know she’ll finish whole minutes ahead of me, I push myself harder knowing she’s already at the finish line, waiting to congratulate me when I cross it too.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Multitask while you run.<\/strong><\/span>
\nRecently, I\u2019ve gotten even smarter and started listening to podcasts on my long runs. Listening to podcasts or audiobooks rather than music is helpful when I\u2019m focusing on distance because it keeps me at a slower pace than music does, letting me stay slow and steady to meet my mileage goal. Plus, it lets me multitask: I can listen to a business podcast and feel like I\u2019m working while working out. This discovery has been revolutionizing my life this month.<\/p>\n

5. Make sure you have the right shoes.<\/strong><\/span>
\nDon\u2019t get too far into running before making sure you have shoes that feel good on your feet and work for your body and goals. I got fitted at Naperville Running Company<\/a> for the first time last summer, and it\u2019s changed my fitness game. I won\u2019t buy shoes on my own ever again. If you\u2019re going to start running with any consistency, I highly recommend being fitted. Running is inherently hard on your body, and having the right shoes can make the difference in preventing injury.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

6. Invest in just a little bit of gear to make running easier and safer.<\/span>
\n<\/strong>My first months of running were just me in my running shoes with my FitBit, nothing else. You could spend hundreds of dollars on other running gear, but I don\u2019t consider myself a \u201cserious\u201d runner yet. I can\u2019t justify the expense. Recently, I invested a few bucks in some minimal gear.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

These are the items that have made a difference:<\/p>\n

Wireless magnetic headphones<\/em><\/strong>. These Bluetooth wireless headphones<\/a> stay in place, even when I\u2019m really sweaty after a long run in high humidity, and they magnetize around my neck when they\u2019re not in my ears. For under $30 from Amazon Prime, I\u2019m sold. Sound quality is totally acceptable, and they\u2019re comfortable too.<\/p>\n