5 things that make running less intimidating
“From now on, time will… go by like the wind. Whatever you want to do, do it now. For life is time, and time is all there is.”
1) Being a beginner is the fun part.
When you start running for the first time, or come back to it after a long break, there is a sense of excitement and novelty. Especially, when you are first starting out, you don’t feel the same pressure to be “good at it” or fast (not that we should ever feel that pressure in running). As a beginner, you are learning every day and expecting to make mistakes and grow along the way.
2) Majority of your runs should be easy.
It’s a common belief that if you aren’t hurting at the end of a run, you didn’t do it right. Well, you’ll be happy to know that majority of your runs should be easy! Easy, in this case, is defined as being able to hold a conversation during the run, or around 70% of your max heart rate. When you run the majority of your runs easy (and truly keep them easy), you reduce the risk of injury and allow yourself to run harder on hard run days. A smart runner is a runner who doesn’t expend excess energy by running too fast when it’s not necessary.
3) Pace doesn’t matter.
Especially prevalent on social media, everyone is talking about how far they ran and how fast their pace was. The good news is that it doesn’t matter! If you are walk/jogging a 15:00 minute mile or running a 7:00 mile, both are great workouts in their own right. Everyone is on their own unique journey and you are right where you need to be.
4) Some runs will suck and that’s okay.
I often remind myself of the 1/3 rule. When you are doing something hard or new— in this case running— 1/3 of the runs are going to feel great, 1/3 will feel average, and 1/3 will suck. If a run feels harder than usual or just generally sucks, it goes in the 1/3 sucky runs bucket (PSA: Even easy runs can feel hard). Maybe the next run will fall in the great 1/3!
5) Each run, no matter how it goes, is a win.
At the end of the day, what really matters is the fact that you showed up for yourself and are moving your body. Have compassion for yourself on the hard days and thank yourself for prioritizing your health and wellbeing. Celebrate the runs that feel good and take that confidence into the rest of your day or week!