Good morning everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday yesterday, and are ready for a thrilling Thursday. Just felt like the morning needed a little bit of alliteration, ya know?
This morning’s post is absolutely timely for me. I realized that, since I am basically starting over with my running after a few-month hiatus, I might as well share my tips for beginning runners! Because no matter whether you have been a runner forever and have simply taken a break, or if you are lacing up those sneakers for the first time, starting at the beginning can be tough.
That’s why they call is square one, right? But square one doesn’t have to be terrible. You just need a little guidance to start heading towards squares two, three and four!
1. Start slowly. This seems like common sense, right? Wrong. It’s actually one of the toughest tips to follow. Once you start knocking out quarter miles, half miles, etc, it’s hard to not want to keep going! But doing too much too soon can lead to injury, burnout and the end of your budding running career. This (ironically) is one of those places where it is better to be the tortoise and not the hare.
2. Don’t be afraid to walk. Most beginning running plans actually have walking breaks built into them! Walking for a minute or two can reenergize you, give your body a little break and allow you to actually run for longer. Totally counterintuitive, but it works.
3. Get the right gear. No, I’m not just saying this because I love a good shopping trip. In this case, having the right clothes (good socks, moisture-wicking clothes – no cotton!) and the right shoes can keep you dry and happy. And injury-free. You don’t have to spend a fortune either – Target and TJ Maxx have some great workout clothes (and shoes) that don’t cost an arm and a leg! Save those arms and legs for your running 
4. Pick a plan. And a goal. Maybe this is my Type-A-ness rearing its ugly head. But I know that the reason I stuck with my running when I started last fall is because I was following a plan. Couch to 5k is a good for beginners, and so are some of Hal Higdon’s plans. I also know that I stuck to my plan even more because I had a goal in mind – to run a half-marathon! Nothing motivates you more than plunking down that credit card for a little chunk of change months in advance…
and one of my favorite (yet strange) tips?
5. Tell people. Tell everyone you know, in fact – maybe do it via a blog? Hey, it worked for me Because I had so many people, both in person and online, encouraging me and supporting me and checking in and HOLDING ME ACCOUNTABLE there is no way that I could stop running. I had too much to prove!
So there you have it. Just a few things that helped me when I started out last fall. It seems crazy to me now that I could be giving advice on running – all this from a little girl who vowed never to run again once field hockey and lacrosse ended? Yeah, I’ve come a long way.
Do you have any more tips to add? For beginners, or even more experienced runners?
Those are all great tips! I think each one is so important! I like telling ppl not to expect perfection right away! It takes time and improvement to build up to where u may want to be! great post! Have an awesome day! spa <3
Thank you! I agree, perfection right away is NOT necessary – or achievable. Taking time is definitely important!
Awesome post, Leah!! I love all these tips! Especially number one. Lots of people want to be running 3 miles right off the bat but don’t realize they need to build up to it! I remember just starting out. It’s hard but if you stay focused and consistent you get there eventually
Thanks Katie. So true! Staying focused and building up slowly is definitely important
You hit all my major tips! Start slow, walk a lot. Though I also think it’s important to have fun! If your lungs are dying and everything hurts, that’s not fun and you’re probably pushing yourself too hard. Also, you look SUPER hardcore in that picture, I love it.
I agree! Having fun is definitely also important
And thanks, haha – I was about to finish my first half-marathon. So really I’m about to die
Great advice, here are mine for new runners:
-Find a group or friends to run with and hold each other accountable
-Don’t be too hard on yourself or compare yourself to others.
-Have fun!
A group of friends can be an AWESOME running resource!
great advice! When I first started to run I kind of just went outside and did it and didn’t think too much about it!
That’s kind of how most people start haha. But I’m just a nerd, and liked to do a bunch of research before doing anything!
Love all of these! I think the biggest thing for me, that I overlooked for a long time, is getting the right gear. Proper running shoes made a huge change in my life!
So true! Good gear is totally key
These are great tips, I’m not a big runner at all and my biggest fail every time would be to go too hard and then get discouraged when I don’t go as hard or as much as as fast or far as other bloggers. But it’s like DUH I’m a newbie!
Thanks Kammie! Yes, I agree – it’s easy to get discouraged at the beginning. That should be another one of my tips – no comparing yourself to others! I’m definitely not the fastest blogger on the block either
Being patient was so key for me. I wanted results RIGHT AWAY, but it took months for me to really get into a running “flow.” These tips are great.
I agree – patience is not my strong suit either
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Great tips, Leah! I agree with being patient (which I am not) and I think that’s how I got injured before our first half marathon. We may have taken it too fast but in the end everything worked out, now that we are at over 30 races.
I’m going to share this on my blog’s facebook page!
Thanks Jamie – and thanks for the share too