I've been meaning to write this post for awhile so I am finally getting the chance.
I'm excited to talk about running! As in me and running are now friends. I've always wanted to run but just never had the motivation to stick to it. I even started working on it last summer while we were living with my parents. I would get up EARLY and run before work and was aiming for three times a week. I was doing good until we moved and then the time changed and then I stopped.
But one of the perks of my new job is that we have a gym downstairs in the lobby so I've gotten back into working out. Right now I work out 4 to 5 days a week and I take two days off. Depending on what my schedule is determines what day I take off.
My company encourages "wellness" so that's been a motivating factor. Right now they are hosting classes where we can work out to the "Insanity" DVDs. I have been doing this for two days a week and then doing weights and running on the other 3 days. I usually try to do a long run on Sundays when I have more time.
How I run:
1. I don't usually stretch to warmup because my body usually hurts worse later. I did learn that I need to "jumpstart" my nervous system before I run so I'll do some jumping jacks or something just to wake my body up.
2. I always, always walk for five minutes as a warm up which usually equates to 1/4 of a mile in distance. I read an article once from the Cooper Clinic and this method was recommended. It's always stuck with me plus it eases my brain into "get ready because you're about to run" mode.
3. When I actually start running after my warmup, the voice in my head goes like this: "Legs tight, shins hurt, did I eat enough, do I need to pee, why am I doing this, this really hurts, this sucks, this song is too slow."
4. If you've ever experienced this when you've tried to run, keep going!
5. After my body gets conditioned to what I'm making it do, I feel like Rocky sometimes. I find a groove as I run in pace with a song and then I start wanting to do fist pumps as I run, like Rocky did. This is when it feels great to run. Although I don't know if this is the runner's high or not.
6. When I decide to slow it down and end my run, I always walk for another five minutes as a cool down. After I'm done I stretch.
7. Then I eat!
What I've learned about running:
1. Running shorts with the built-in undies are the way to go. Trust me, you don't want to be messing with a wedgie while you're running.
2. Music is a must have.
3. Before I run I eat a snack about an hour before I go out. Usually a banana. When I used to run early in the morning I didn't eat anything and was fine.
4. Rest days are essential.
5. Sleep is essential. I can tell when I haven't had enough sleep because my body just doesn't want to go.
5. I started out with the Couch to 5k philosophy. I would run for a little while and then stop and walk when I needed to. I just made sure that when I stopped to walk it was no more than 30 seconds or a minute.
6. It's been 3 months of consistent running (1 to 2 days) a week. I can now run 30 minutes without stopping. Don't really know how fast I'm going but I'll take it. Doing the Insanity DVDs two days a week has really helped my endurance so when I do run I feel conditioned for it.
Below are the running shoes my mom got me. Yes, they are super bright. She said it's because I would go run in the dark when I lived at her house so she wanted to make sure I was seen. LOL
I ran my first 5k in April with my dad! I was so nervous but I didn't stop once!
