If you told me back in middle school that I would train for a marathon one day, I would think you were insane. I’m the girl that got excused from the mile in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade in gym class because my asthma was always conveniently bad around that time in the semester. Anyways, somehow I actually got into running my sophomore year of high school and stuck with it until graduation. I fell off of my running kick when I moved to the south for college though, so when I started running again this summer, I definitely needed to get back in running shape. I’m by no means an expert in the field, but over the last few months I’ve fallen back in love with running, so I thought I’d share a few tips with all of you if you’re thinking about starting… even if you HATE it right now (trust me… I hated running in July). Here are a few things that helped me start to love running again.
Get the right gear.
When I first started running again this summer, a major reason I hated it was because I didn’t have the right shoes and headphones wires are so annoying. Running in the wrong shoes can cause all kinds of injuries. My old shoes weren’t necessarily bad, but they were too old and didn’t offer enough support or shock absorption.
I went to my local running store and got fitted for a new pair of HOKAs and running felt so much easier. I highly recommend going to an actual running store and getting fitted for shoes instead of just buying a cute pair you find online because they let you try the shoes out on the treadmill in the store and they check to make sure they’re working for your foot type.
As for headphones, my boyfriend got me a pair of Jaybird X2 earbuds which I absolutely love. They’re bluetooth headphones designed for working out, so they don’t slip out of my ears and they don’t have wires that get in my way. It’s been a huge game-changer for me and I have no idea how I ever used to run with my old earbuds.
Change up your routes.
Changing up your running routes is one of the easiest ways to make running more enjoyable. Running the same 1-mile route over and over again around your neighborhood is super boring in my opinion. That’s why I love using an app called Footpath to map out new routes around town I can explore. With Footpath, I’m able to see how many miles each route is and how many hills it has. It helps that I live so close to the Bay though because I love all my waterfront runs at sunset.
Find a running buddy.
Having a friend to run with makes all the difference. I wrote about this a few weeks ago, but this especially helps if you’re just starting out with running. If you make plans to run with a friend, you’re less likely to back out. It’s also a great way to see your friends if you have a busy schedule, since working out should be something you do regularly anyways. You might as well have a little more fun working out and invite a friend to come along on your run.
Listen to podcasts.
I’m just not the kind of person who can listen to music when I go out on long runs. I need something to occupy my brain when I run so I’m not just thinking about how sore my calves are or if my pace is fast enough. Podcasts have been a life saver for me. I love listening to the Ali On The Run Show, The Morning Toast, What We Said, and The Skinny Confidential.
Check the weather before you go.
This may seem obvious, but I’ve gone on way too many scorching hot runs over the past few months. Always check the weather to see when the most comfortable time to run is that day. Nothing is worse than running in 98 degree summer eat… except for maybe 100 degree summer heat. Anyways, check your weather before you run and choose the best time to run based on whatever the weather is like that day. I promise your run will be so much more enjoyable.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and go for a run! Comment down below if you have any more tips for making running more enjoyable!
Authentically Linni 