Running Tips
1. Find someone to run with.
Find a partner who is as committed as you when it comes to running. With that, it can keep your motivation in running at a good level. Aside from that, when you have a friend who is expecting you to run with him on a regular basis, then you will find it harder to skip it.
2. Avoid comparing yourself to others.
When you begin running, there may be a tendency for you to compare yourself to others. This is not good, since it can take you away from your own goals. Thus, it is best to always remember that you are running for yourself. When you do that, you will be able to establish your own pacing, and prevent pushing yourself too hard.
3. Determine your goals in running.
Some people run in order to have better body condition, while others are doing it in order to become competitive in the sport that they are involved with. It is important that you determine your goals prior to starting your running activities. This way, you will be able to plan out your running better, and start the right way.
4. Make up a plan for running.
Making up a plan for running is good, since it can help you build your own routine in it. In your plan, it should include the running schedule that you want to follow. Aside from that, it should also involve purchasing the necessary gears that you need. Moreover, it is also important to come up with a well balanced diet.
5. Tell your friends and family about running.
Prior to starting running, it is best if you make your family and your friends aware of your plans. This way, they would be able to support you on what you want to achieve from it, as best as they could. Aside from that, some of your friends or members of your family may even become your running buddies.
6. Watch runners in television.
Watching running competitions in the television is one of the best ways that you can do in order to get inspired in running. Thus, you should take note of the many running competition schedules today. By watching them in the television, you would soon look forward to running, and even joining in one of the upcoming events.
7. Think about your running goals before going to sleep.
Just prior to closing your eyes at night, you should think about your goals in running, and how you are going to achieve them. When you sleep with that thought in your mind, by the time you wake up, you would be raring to go outside and start running. Do it every night, so that you will always look forward for the next day’s running.
8. Running to lose weight.
Running can actually help in losing weight. However, you should not get discouraged if your weight would not go down immediately. This is because it may take some time before you experience weight loss with it. Thus, it is best if you combine it with a healthy diet, as well as performing other forms of exercise.
9. Be prepared for tougher days.
Always remember that while you are trying to make progress in your running, there may be times when it seems too hard to achieve even just your short term goals. When this happens, you should not get discouraged and you should motivate yourself more. Aside from that, be optimistic that the next day would be better.
10. Running with music.
If you want to have more energy while you are running, you should try listening to upbeat music while doing it. Music can actually boost your level of energy. Aside from that, if you are listening to music that you really like, then you may not even notice that you have already spent some time in running and have already covered quite a distance.
11. Remove negative words from your vocabulary.
It is very important that you always encourage positive thoughts when you are running. Thus, you should get rid of negative words from your vocabulary, such as “cannot, never, and won’t”. By doing that, you would become more confident that you are indeed capable of hitting your goals in time.
12. Keep in mind that there are days when it could hurt.
Always remember that when you are running, especially for the first few days, you will be putting your muscles to work at a higher pace. Therefore, you may experience muscle soreness in your thighs and legs. You should be glad in experiencing it though, since it means that your body is working in order to build more muscles, which can support you through the activity.
13. Learn more about running.
You should learn more about what you are getting yourself involved with. Learning more about running can be done through visiting websites that provide valuable information about it. Aside from that, you can also get in contact with professional runners, so that you can ask them some questions about it.
14. When you run, it does not necessarily mean that you are going to lose weight very soon.
Running is a form of exercise, which can boost your body’s metabolism. However, even if you are running on a regular basis, you can still gain weight, especially if you continue eating foods that have high sugar and calorie content. Thus, if you are running to lose weight, make sure that you combine it with a healthy diet as well.
15. Make sure to have the right kind of shoes.
When you are in the process of purchasing a pair of shoes for running, you should keep in mind that not all rubber shoes are made for runners. Thus, you need to make sure that you are buying a pair of running shoes for it. Aside from that, make sure that it fits you well, and that it can provide you with the support that you need for better balance, and to prevent injuries or strains.
16. Purchasing socks for running.
Although most people focus more on buying the right kind of shoes for running, it is actually very important to have the right kind of socks as well. When you use regular cotton socks for running, it can lead to blisters on your feet, which is bad news. Thus, make sure that you are buying running socks to pair with your shoes, so that you would be able to run comfortably.
17. Ladies should not go for cheaper bras.
When it comes to running, if you are a lady, you should provide adequate support to your chest. Thus, it is best that you purchase a bra that is designed for running, which is made with good and quality materials. Even if it may cost as much as your running shoes, a quality bra is still a very good investment.
18. Running clothes.
Running can become a more fun and exciting activity, especially if the clothes you are wearing are comfortable. Wearing the right running clothes does not only mean being comfortable with it. Your clothes should also make you look good, so that you will become more motivated in wearing them as well as in running.
19. Buying running clothes online.
If you are on search for running clothes that are available at reasonable prices, then don’t forget that online shopping can offer you that. Through internet shopping, you can access running clothes conveniently. Aside from that, most online stores offer their products at discounted prices, since they don’t have to deal with high operating expenses.
20. When to buy cheaper running clothes locally.
If you are searching for more affordable running clothes in your locality, you should try to wait for sales events. If you have time to wait though, it is always best to shop at the end of the season. This is because most stores would usually offer the previous season’s products at bargain prices.
21. Knowing the right speed of running.
When you are running in order to get fitter and build your stamina, you should be mindful of your speed, so that you can increase your distance without getting too fatigue. One way of determining this is to follow the “talk test” which is done by lots of avid runners. This basically means that if you can talk to your friend comfortably while you are running, then you are at the right speed.
22. Listen to your stomach.
Since running can boost your metabolism, it can also make your body process the foods you eat faster. Thus, there may be times when you get hungry earlier than usual. With that, you should listen to your stomach when it says that it is hungry. Because of that, you can address the needs of your body immediately, which is a good thing.
23. Relaxing while you are running.
While you are running, it is not a good time to be bunching up your shoulders towards your ears. When you run it is best to relax, so that you can maximize the benefits you can derive from it. Thus, let you jaw hang loose when you are doing it, as well as shake out your arms as well as your hands in order to relax.
24. Think in minutes when running.
One of the biggest mistakes that some runners have is to focus more on the number of miles they have covered. This is actually not the kind of mindset you want to have when you are running. Instead of thinking about the distance covered, you should become more focused on the time spent on it. If you are able to maintain running for a longer period of time, covering a longer distance with it would simply follow.
25. Make running another way of meeting new friends.
In order to meet new people when you are running, one of the things you can do for it is to sign up with a local running club. To find one, what you can do is to check with running fitness centers. Aside from that, you can also do a quick search through the internet, in order to find running clubs in your community.
26. Sign up for a race.
Signing up for a race can actually make you more excited in running. This is because you don’t want to be the last person to cross the finish line. Aside from that, finishing the race can also motivate you more. Thus, once you see an upcoming race being promoted, sign up with it as soon as you can.
27. Make up a good running schedule.
There are some people who may get hooked by running, in which they no longer give a chance to other important activities, such as spending time with their loved ones. Thus, make sure that you are able to properly balance your schedule for running and other important matters. This way, you still get to enjoy running, without certain people regretting that you got involved with it.
28. Don’t carry loose change when you are running.
One of the most annoying things that you can experience is to have loose change on your shorts when you are running. Thus, you should not carry them whenever you are running. Aside from the fact that it can annoy you, it can also distract others who are running along with you.
29. Don’t overdo it.
It is quite normal that you can find yourself talking more about running, even at work or at your own dining table. However, you should not overdo it, since some people may get tired of hearing the same topic from you all day. Try to talk about something else, especially with people who are not interested about running.
30. Increasing you mileage.
When it comes to running, one of your goals in it may include increasing your mileage in each running week. However, you should not go beyond 10 percent when you try to increase the distance that you can cover. Be conscious about this, so that you can prevent injuries, which can cause you to stop running.
31. Whenever you are running, certain things may begin to rub.
Running can actually result for things to begin to rub. This can actually lead to experiencing something painful such as blisters and even bleeding nipples. To prevent it, make use of clothing that would not cause too much friction. Aside from that, you can also use Vaseline by applying it on the affected areas.
32. Run on soft trails on your regular running days.
When it is your regular running days, it is a good idea to choose running on soft trails. This is because, it can prevent lower leg pain, as well as shin splints. Thus, it is best to go through soft trails whenever you are training, and only go through the asphalt whenever you are running on a race.
33. Set a day or two apart for running hard.
Running two hard days straight is actually not a good idea, since it can put too much pressure on your muscles. Aside from that, it would not provide your body with