Eve Davies
Running has multiple physical and psychological benefits. It is a great high calorie burning, cardiovascular exercise that helps improve physical fitness levels and muscle strength, as well as mental resilience. It encourages people to get outside and clear their minds to benefit mental well-being.
What makes me a ‘runner’?
Many of my family members have tried their hand at running. For several years on the trot, a parent, auntie, or uncle have ran the London Marathon and we all go to support. When I was sixteen years old I began going out for runs with my mum and have since completed four half-marathons, park-runs, and charity races.
My Top Tips
Listen to something good: Your headphones are your best friend when it comes to running. Be it a motivating podcast, or favourite playlist, listening to something you enjoy can distract you on your run. If you’re looking to ramp up the pace and hit PBs, an upbeat playlist is probably your best option. But, if you’re taking it slow over a longer distance, podcasts can work. I recommend something that is funny and light-hearted to get you through.
It’s equally important to listen to your body: If you need rest, or to slow things down, do it! Running your body into the ground is no way to go on your running journey. Exhaustion will not lead to progress and lack of progress can certainly be demotivating. If you want to keep consistent, you must schedule rest into your running plan. Rest, fuel, sleep, recover. Remember that running for hours every day will do more harm to your body than good.
Smartwatches: wearable tech, such as Apple watches, Fitbits, and Garmin trackers, are great tools for tracking distance, pace, and a whole load of other intricate statistics. Visually seeing progress through your running journey can be motivating but I cannot stress enough how important it is not to become obsessed with these figures. Some days you’ll feel great, run fast, and feel like you can run longer distances. Other days you’ll be tired, perhaps a little achy, or your stride just won’t feel right. Beating yourself up about your pace or distance is the worst thing you can do on those days. The most important thing is enjoying your runs. Enjoying the process will help with consistency, which will lead to progress in the long run.
Start small and build up: If you’re new to running, don’t feel pressure to instantly smash out five kilometres because that’s the standard distance everybody seems to be doing. Start short and steady. Walk a little, run a little, walk again, until you feel comfortable to run the whole way. A good way to get started is to find a hill, walk up it and run back down. The downward gradient makes the run easier while you build up fitness. A gradual hill is best for this as running down a steep hill isn’t too kind on the knees and calves.
Choose a good location and time of day: Understandably, running on busy streets can be daunting. I enjoy running on cycle paths to get away from passing cars and pedestrians. If it is safe to do so, you could try running when it is dark in street lit areas. Early morning runs are my favourite as the streets are quiet and they set me up for the day with a clear mind. Do not be put off by the weather. Call me weird but I also enjoy running in the rain (I’m not talking thunderstorms but running in drizzly rain is surprisingly therapeutic). Although I prefer running outdoors with natural views, treadmill running is a good option when weather conditions are extreme.
Hydrate and fuel for your sessions: Whenever I feel groggy on runs, it usually comes down to not having drunk sufficient water before setting out. Tip: stay hydrated throughout the day. It’s all well and good downing three pints of water before setting out to run but needing to go to the toilet halfway through your run is never good. Same goes for fuel. A nutritious pre run snack is great for sustained energy levels but scoffing down a bowl of oats right before running can make you feel sick and sluggish, not forgetting the possibility of a dreaded stitch.
I hope these tips have inspired you to pull out your trainers, get outside, and give running a go. It really is a life changer. That being said, I recognise it is not for everyone. If you’ve tried it several times and hated every second, move on and try to find a sport or form of exercise that works for you.
Featured image courtesy of Venti Views on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
evedaviess
Eve is 22 years old and lives in Swansea. She has recently graduated from Cardiff University with a BA in English Literature. Eve's main interest is in lifestyle writing, particularly health, food, and travel.