How to become a runner, in a few easy steps

I get frequent questions from readers who are looking to start running but need some advice on where/how to begin.  Here, my friends, are my thoughts on the matter.

I started running about 8 years ago and since then I have run 4 marathons about a dozens halfs ….and have had more adventures, personal challenges, flashes of euphoria and come-to-Jesus moments in my sneakers than I could ever possibly recount. I love it with all of my heart.

I wasn’t always a runner though.  So, what got me started?

Funny story (not really)

I was dating a guy in college who told me that unless I started running, I would probably get fat (asshole).  And since I am nothing if not stubborn, his challenge was enough to turn me into a runner.

Here are tricks that I used to motivate me through those first steps…then miles…then races.  Perhaps they might help you too:

How to become a runner, in a few easy steps.

• Make a short playlist….3 songs if you are a total novice (which works out to about 12 minutes), maybe 4 or 5 (15-20 mins) if you feel a little stronger.  Make sure the songs are the most awesome songs you can think of and commit to running, without stopping for the duration of your playlist.  No More.  No less.

• Bonus points for naming your playlist something inspirational like “Too Sexy for my Sneakers” or “Running Supah-Star” (this is obviously not required to become a runner, but is highly encouraged none the less.)

• Once your playlist is loaded and you are ready to roll, start out slowly….i mean really, really slowly.  If you get tired, slow down.  And if you want to stop, slow down even more.  You aren’t trying to win a race, you are just trying to run.

• After you runs, you will be sore.  You will want to use this as an excuse to take an extended break from your newfound sport.  NO!  Give your self a few days to heal, but get your athletic-ass back on that treadmill/running path as soon as you can.  I don’t care how busy you are….you can find a measly 12-20 minutes a few times a week to dedicate to Operation: Become a Runner.  Right?

• Build your distance using your super awesome playlist [running to the same set of songs helped me measure my progress, ie. last week I started hurting at the Chorus, but this time I made it though both versus without much pain.]  Once running to the 3 songs becomes easy-ish, it is time to add another.  And once running through that forth one is no longer a huge challenge, add another…..increase your mileage one song at a time. 

• It is important to remember though, you should really only focus on developing either distance or speed in a given week.  No need to do both.

• The beautiful thing about running is that adding distance only requires incremental effort.  By that, I mean….If you can run for 12 minutes, you can run for 15. If you can run for 15 you are only a few minutes away from  20.  And if you can run for 20 minutes, you are at about 2 miles….which is so close to 3.  And you know what they say….if you can run 3 miles and have 6 months, you can run a marathon.

• The most important tip I can give you is to JUST DO IT.  You may not feel like it, you may not be in the mood, but if there is one truth in life, it might just be this: you will never, ever feel worse after a run.

Alright team, now let’s get out there and MOVE IT!  MOVE IT!