Now that the weather is getting warmer, my outdoor cardio motivation is renewed! I have recently moved to downtown Wichita and can run on the river in the morning, it is fabulous. This morning I ran 10 miles at the fastest pace since I have done before weather, and it was amazing. The harder it is for me to breathe and the more my legs hurt and tire, the more I love it. It is such an adrenaline rush, and I love getting back to my apartment gasping for air and walking out the cramps in my legs.
What?! You are not EXACTLY like me?! :-) Okay, I realize I am an extremist. I live by "No pain, no gain". I am like the energizer bunny- I am always sitting on go and by nature a very high energy person. But I realize that most of the world a) hates running, and b) hates long distance running (and by long distance, I mean anything over a mile!). I could go on and on about all of the health benefits of running and how great it is for you, but I will sum it up in two statements- you WILL look better and you WILL feel better.
The first thing you need to realize when you start lacing up and stretching to get out there is that running is NOT easy. I have had many people use the excuse that I am a natural runner and they just aren't- this could not be further from the truth! I used to hate running- as soon as my heart rate would go up, I would slow down. I could run a mile, maybe two tops, and that was all I needed to do.
Running is like anything worth working on in life- it takes patience and persistence. Like when you start a new job- you are not automatically brilliant and a star performer. But if you take the time to learn the tricks of the trade and what it takes to be great at your job, you just keep getting better, and your job gets easier. Running is the same way.
So if you are new to running, congratulations! You have picked the BEST time of the year to start- the weather is warm but not hot, and everything will start blooming and coming back to life, and you get to see it first hand. Here are some tips on how to get started:
START WITH A WALK/RUN
I guess I should reverse that and say do a run/walk. Start out running for as long as you can, until it becomes too uncomfortable to keep that pace. Then slow down and walk until your breathing returns to slightly above normal. I think a lot of people give up on running too quickly becuase as soon as it gets hard, they stop that pace and are done with their workout. If you want to be a better runner, you have to keep going. So catch your breath, then start running again until it is uncomfortable, walk, run again, etc. Start out just doing this for 30 minutes, 4 times a week. I like to run every single day of my life, so in this situation, do as I say, not as I do. I am addicted, but I know that when I am forced to take a day off, my run the next day is much better. So it is okay to take breaks. When you start out, you will be walking most of the time, but it will gradually change to running most of the time.
MOVE UP TO RUN/SHUFFLE
Same concept as the run/walk, but instead of slowing to a walk, slow to a shuffle. If you need to do this in a private area I totally understand- you may feel like you look like a geriatric, and you probably do. But keep your feet moving at a quick rate, just slow your pace. This will help you move up to a solid run.
RUN THE DAMN THING!
It will not take you as long as you think to move up to a full-on 30-minute run. I would say from couch potato to runner, it will take a month max. And how FABULOUS will you feel when you can run for 30 minutes straight!? I reccommend running by time and not by distance when you first start out- if you are anything like me, you will get frustrated with not being fast enough, but I promise the speed will come with time. As running 30 minutes starts feeling comfortable, start increasing the length of your runs. Before you know it, you will be a runner!
Why do this? Why should you run? Why not just go to the gym and do the eliptical or stationary bike? From personal experience, my body looks the best from using running as my main form of cardiovascular exercise. If you start feeling pain in your joints (which believe me you will, I think my medicine cabinet looks like a 70-year old arthritis and osteoperosis patient), switch it up with a different form of exercise. But I promise you, the more you do it, the more you will enjoy it. I get the greatest highs in the world from running- not only does it make me look better, it makes me feel better. When I am sad, stressed, pissed, or just in a bad mood, I feel better after a run EVERY time. It can really heal you and make you better, on the inside and on the outside.
If you need some motivation, go buy some new running shoes- I just got hot pink and neon green ones that glow in the dark, I swear it makes me run better :-) And if you live in the Wichita area, holler at me! I love running with people of all paces and distances. So get out there and start running!
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