Only four more weeks until my grand vacation to California/Las Vegas! I can hardly wait. To prepare, I've been running anywhere from one to ten miles everyday... depending on what I did for resistance training that day.
Do you like to run? There is much to love about it, even though it's hard and it's hot out. First, there's the endorphin rush. What an awesome feeling! Then there's the fact that it is a free activity. I put my favorite feel-good tracks on my ipod and BOOM it's a cardio party! It's all I can do not to fist pump in public.
Here are some tips for you runners/aspiring runners out there:
*If you're going to run in the day time, WEAR SUNSCREEN. On your nose. Under your eyes. On your knees and shoulders.
*Night time running is awesome too. Unless you're at a very well-lit track, wear bright colors. Your favorite black running outfit may make you look super duper cool and athletic, but oncoming cars won't see that and you won't look so awesome as road kill. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and get a reflective vest and/or a flashlight (don't shine it at the driver's eyes, just click it on and off a few times for their attention).
*STAY HYDRATED. Get a big 'ol water bottle and keep it cold. There are all kinds of temperature regulating bottles out there, camel backs, ice cube trays that make tiny ice cubes for water bottles... so many ways to avoid dehydration.
*Invest in a good pair of running shoes. My personal favorites are ADIDAS. The best idea is to go to a sneaker store (or a running store specifically) and talk to someone who works there. They will talk to you about your running goals, check out your foot shape and point you in the right direction for the shoes of your dreams. Yes, they will probably be on the expensive side, but it's worth it for the amount of time they'll hold up and injury prevention!
*A good friend of mine hates running, but he just signed up for a 5K. He bought a new pair of sneakers and a rad new watch that keeps track of his times. He has the right idea- if you have a goal and you want to stick to it, invest some money into it. Buy things that you will be excited about, even if it's just a cute workout outfit to match your new running shoes or sporty sunglasses. I have a heart-rate monitor that I use for every workout. It tells me how many calories I burned and how to stay in my weight-loss zone and encourages me to work harder every time.
*Write out your goals and running game-plan the night before the work out, or on Sunday write out your plan for the week. Somehow I always feel like I have to stick to a plan that I took the time to think up and write down.
*Watch the Olympic track events. If that doesn't get you up off your butt, I don't know what will!
*Join a running club or reach out to runners in your area that you know on facebook. Having people around for encouragement is never a bad thing. If you don't like to talk during your runs (I certainly don't), maybe tell them that ahead of time.
*Make a kick ass playlist of songs that make you feel happy! My current favorites to run to are "Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield and "Cherry Cola" by Savage Garden.
*Don't pound on the pavement. Think about your knees.
*Think positive thoughts during your run! If it gets hard, think about the fact that you're doing something GOOD for your body! Think about your goals!
*If you see a sprinkler, run through it! If you think the homeowner will chase you off their lawn, whatevs, you're running anyway! (Don't blame me if they catch you, though.)
Happy trails, you animals!
No comments:
Post a Comment