I Run, For Life!

Just do it! Yes! You don’t need anything to run - only yourself.

Running is probably the most accessible and the cheapest sport you can do. It’s recommended for weight loss and for improving your mental state as well. You don’t have to take lessons to run or go to a special place - you can run pretty much everywhere.

Kids don’t think about running - they just run. Unfortunately we, adults, have been conditioned to think that you need fancy gear and a fancy body to run, and some fancy place too, like a gym or a big park. I don’t have fancy gear or a fancy body and I don’t run in a gym or in a big park. And, somehow, I run!

From a Sitter to a Runner (Geek)

Since I started to run regularly over 5 weeks ago, I am a changed woman. I’ve turned into a running geek who browses running blogs, running books and basically everything about running, daily. But more importantly - I run! I run further and further each week. I can run 10 miles and feel better than I used to feel 5 weeks ago after running only 3 miles.

I don’t have a rigid running schedule; I have started running regularly so recently that I want to make it fun and not a chore until my body gets used to it. The bottom line for me is to run 6 days a week and never rest for more than one day. If I do rest for two days, it’s more difficult to get back to running. I don’t run long distances every day so that my body has time to recover, but even a shorter run helps to create a habit of running daily.

Last week I realized I have reached the point when I crave running. I just need to run! I actually prefer covering longer distances than just running for under an hour. 5 weeks ago I couldn’t run longer than 40 or 45 minutes and now I just can’t get enough (as long as it’s under 3 hours… I’m not perfect, you know)! It is an incredible feeling and I’m still baffled by what’s happened with me. I’m also more and more intrigued by running ultra distances (longer than a marathon). There’s just this amazing feeling of running for a long time - my mind just fills up with wonderful ideas. But that’s a story for another post.

Simply Run!

Running is… running. You just need to go outside and start running! Simple, right? To illustrate better how simple it is, here’s a list of things you don’t need to start running:

• Fancy Running Shoes

If you’re a newbie runner, the running shoes you already have will do. For the first few weeks you won’t be running long distances so you just need comfortable shoes - forget about cushioning, weight or breathability. There’s a big community of runners who relearn to run barefoot. So don’t stress that you don’t have the latest model - put your sneakers on and run!

• Fancy Watch

If you need to know how long you’ve run, just wear a regular watch to check time. To know how far you’ve run, use Google Maps to map your route and measure the distance. Once you get comfortable with running and you’d like to venture out on longer runs in the wild, you can get a fancy watch which shows your coordinates and measures your exact time and distance, and shows you your pulse. Until then, once your heart starts beating like crazy and you start to feel like you’re going to die… you should stop running.

• Fancy Clothes

There’s a huge choice of running clothes out there - they’re all very high-tech and… intimidating. I don’t know about you, but I’d feel a bit uncomfortable wearing leggings on my runs right now. But you don’t need those - you can just wear some shorts and a T-shirt, or sweatpants and a sweatshirt on colder days, or whatever you feel is comfortable and doesn’t make you self-conscious.

• Fancy Body

You don’t need to look like an athlete to run. You don’t need to be skinny, fit or even healthy - running will get you there! Put on a good attitude and just start running and forget about people you pass. If they judge you, they just show their own insecurities. It doesn’t matter that your thighs jiggle or your belly can’t fit into your shorts - you’re having fun!

• Fancy Place

You can run anywhere as long as it’s safe and not too crowded. You probably shouldn’t run on a highway or in a mall, but there are many places good for running apart from huge parks or treadmills. If you live in a city far away from a big green space, you can still run around your neighborhood. It’s obviously nicer to run surrounded by nature, but it’s not necessary to just start running.

• Fancy Gear

You can put your mp3 player in your pocket, leave your water bottle at home and let your family know you’re going out so they could let you in when you’re back. You don’t need special kits for keys, mp3 players or bottles. When you start running you probably won’t get dehydrated during a 20-minute run, so you can drink water when you’re back. You also don’t need to strap your mp3 player to your arm - having it in your pocket won’t affect your performance. If you prefer running without music (I don’t, I’m a music geek after all) - that’s even better!

Stop thinking about all the things you need to take with you and focus on the only one important: running. If you need some inspiration, watch children play - they run effortlessly and don’t care if they’re wearing their Sunday clothes or if they’re in their PJs. They just run when they want and wherever they want. Do the same and you’ll be a great runner!

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I’d love to hear from you!

– Ola