“I’m not a runner”, “I’m not built for running”, “running hurts my knees”, “I could never run like you do” – any of those sound familiar? You’ve probably had them said to you if you’re a runner, or you’ve probably said them to others if you’re new to this!
I’ve definitely been on both sides of the phrase. For years I was ‘not a runner’ – in fact, I probably had no interest in running and used to think people who ran marathons were mad. But then it all changed and I flipped to the other side BIG TIME! Now I am the person that my friends say those things to (how things change…)
I’m not here to force anyone into running…but if someone wants to give it a try and they’re finding themselves coming up against barriers, I’m here to do what I can do to help them get over those. If I can do it, I’m adamant that other people can too. It’s certainly not always easy, but it’s so worth it.
So if you’re just getting started, here are 5 of my top tips. I actually have a LOT more….but let’s keep this bite size!
- Slow down
In the nicest possible way, no one really cares about what speed other people run at. Seriously. People are too consumed in their own business to care about your pace. So slow it down, take it easy, find a rhythm. Don’t feel you have to constantly hit a pace that starts with a certain number. Your body doesn’t know speed, it doesn’t know pace, it doesn’t know GPS – it knows effort. So just start slow – it’ll be what keeps you consistent.
- Don’t compare yourself to others
Once you get your head around this, it’s such a game changer. It’s YOUR run and it’s YOUR journey. Every person on this planet is different, so why bother comparing yourself to someone else. Once you let go of thinking you need do what someone else is doing, it’ll give you a sense of freedom and confidence in yourself that will make your running journey much more enjoyable. It’ll also make YOUR achievements much more significant to you.
- Walk if you want or need to
It’s allowed, it’s encouraged, it’s good for you. ESPECIALLY when you’re starting out, it is genuinely what will help you build up fitness, build up endurance and build up confidence. Couch to 5k is literally made up of run/walk intervals and it’s the thing that has gone millions of people into running. In fact I have a whole post on why walking on your run is great here.
- Wear something cute
I do believe that if you feel good in yourself you will radiate this outwards. So if you wear something you feel good in, you will bring feel good vibes to your run. Treat yourself to something fun, something cute, something that fits well – and you’ll WANT to wear it! I love buying myself running gear. I know I get a lot of wear out of it and I love wearing things that I like. Who doesn’t?!
- Smile and relax
Running is not there to be a punishment. I’m assuming you are an adult with free will who has not been forced into running. So don’t make it into a chore. Smile on your run, try to relax your shoulders, think of it as a thing you GET to do rather than you have to do. There are millions of people around the world who can’t run but would love to. Be grateful for what you can physically do and what you’re mentally wanting to do.
Overall, the biggest thing to getting into running is finding the things that help you make it consistent. This is different for everyone, but whatever helps you keep at it is what will help you progress. And you never know, maybe then you’ll be the person on the other side of those ‘I’m not a runner’ comments!!
What other tips would you add for newbie runners? What did you find helpful when you first started out? Pop them below!
Ele x
chasingele.com 