Forget the past>>>
Whatever feelings or fears you associate with running -- leave them in your dust!
"Forget about the coach who made you run as a punishment," says Sara Johnson, a coach at Reality Running. "Forget about those childhood memories of not being 'the athlete.' Just because running wasn't fun for you in the past doesn't mean it can't be now."
Set a goal
Establishing a goal for each run (even if it's just to not walk!) creates benchmarks of your progress and a sense of accomplishment.
"I used telephone poles when I was getting started," says Feller. "Each time I ran, I told myself to make it to 'one more pole.'"
3.. Rise with the sun
Switching up the time of day you run can have a huge impact on your performance and overall mood. While it's tough to roll straight out of bed and into running threads, studies show the early bird gets more than just the worm (and spectacular sunrises). According to research, those who work out in the morning have more energy, a curbed appetite and better sleep (not to mention fewer happy hour cancellations) than those who wait until the evening.
4.. Challenge yourself
Maybe you've done a few local 5Ks and want to take running to the next level. Sign up for a race a few months away that seems a bit out of your league and then chase it down.
"Find races that you know you won't PR in so you can approach it differently, "Whether it has crazy hills or is on a trail or a new distance, you'll avoid falling into a trap of same-old, same-old."
Want the run
Becoming a runner is about recognizing the value in every step along the way. "You need to want the run you are striving to achieve,". "If you want to run a marathon at a goal pace, that end goal is what's driving you through the run right in front of you (that you might not want at the time). The want for the end goal needs to be greater!"
He agrees it's all about remembering why you run. "The bigger picture is the most important thing to me," she says. "Running makes me feel alive and strong and connected to myself."
Maybe running isn't for everyone, but you won't know until you try -- and these are some ways to at least have fun while doing so. But according to Feller, the best tip we can offer is to power through. "When you're getting started, the fight is as much mental as it is physical," she says. "You want running to be fun right away? I assure you, it's not going to be. But once you can find the mental strength to push through the initial tough ones, the runs that follow will truly be a blast."
