Pre-heating an oven is easy, running is bit more complicated.
Running takes your resting, cozy muscles and launches them into action. Your calm heart, busy only with updating spreadsheets or drinking coffee, now has to handle the added effort.
Then there’s the most troublesome muscle; your brain. Your brain craves comfort, and rest, and protection from pain and stress.
Here’s what I learned in almost four and a half years of running:
A warm up routine helps - get your body and mind focused on the task at hand.
Go slower. There is no rule that first mile has to be fast. You don’t even have to run the whole thing (sometimes I don’t).
As Olympian Alexi Pappas (new book ‘Bravey’ out Jan 12) says, “tomorrow starts today.” That doesn’t mean you need to CARB LOAD before every run, but food is fuel - be mindful of what you’re eating, and how it makes you feel on your next run.
Replace expectations like “fast” and “strong” with “peaceful” and “fun.”
Run for six months. Run for two years. The speed will come. Yes, you can train and get a run coach and all that to get faster, but that’s a different newsletter. Right now, just embrace that you’re at the start of a run - the possibilities are wide open!
In October Boston Marathon winner Des Linden ran each day in miles (October 12th, 12 miles, etc.), running 496 miles in total.
“Running is the joy in the day for a lot of us,” she said. “I don’t want it to be something stressing me out. For me, it’s having a schedule that forces routine. When there’s nothing to look forward to, I have to find something that makes me accountable. I think this challenge proves that putting my goals out there works for me.” - Women’s Running
“One step at a time,” or “walk before you run” are cliches for a reason - they’re filled with truth. Every adventure starts with that first mile, and sometimes those first few steps are going to feel like garbage.
Don’t let those first few steps discourage you. Keep moving forward, get some sleep, and find the joy in each run!