According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, running is the fifth most popular form of exercise out of 25 exercises listed in their survey. The most common exercise duration was between 30 and 59 minutes. (Source: American Time Use Survey.) I am sure these numbers increased for running due to the global pandemic that hit the US in March of 2020. It has been a safe and socially distanced exercise for people.
Looking back at how I started running, it was December of 2019 when I signed up for a half marathon race. My training started first of January 2020. Two weeks into my training, I was not enjoying the running experience. I decided to visit one of our local running shoe stores and see if new shoes would help. After speaking with the manager, who was an accomplished runner, I realized it was going to take more than shoes to be successful at training for a half marathon.
Since January 2020, I have found several ways to make running more enjoyable and more productive. Here are five ways to elevate your running experience.
- Create a schedule. Our local running store provided us with an excel schedule. The schedule is based upon 14 weeks of training to prepare you for a half marathon. It starts off with running 3 miles, 4x per week with a longer run on Saturdays. Try creating your own schedule, asking a friend or reach out to me and I can provide an example.
- Join a running group. This was one of my friend’s recommendation. I started attending community runs on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. After a few group runs, I had met a few new friends and my training results were improving. Look to your local running store and Facebook to find local running groups for you to join.
- Buy running gear that you like. Make sure you get your foot measured and then try on at least three different running shoes before you purchase. You will also need to buy at least a pair of running socks for each day of the week you plan to train. When looking for pants, shorts, shirts and other clothing items, make sure it fits well, the material is breathable and sweat wicking. If you are going to track your runs, I recommend a fitness watch like the Apple Sport watch or Garmin Fenix watch models. The new models also allow you to download music and play to Bluetooth enabled headsets. I recommend AfterShokz running headsets.
- Start small and stay on schedule. If you are starting out or wanting to reset your routine, start out small for the first two weeks of your training plan. During my first month of marathon training, I never ran further than five miles at one time. The first two weeks will be the toughest. Stay strong, stay on schedule and enjoy the milestone gains along the way.
- Enjoy your recovery days. This is important. Celebrate your recovery days. Sleep in that day, make a special breakfast or treat yourself to a favorite meal later in the day. Review your past weeks training results and start to plan on your next week’s running schedule.
If you are bored with running or exercising, do not waste another minute. Try one or all of my suggestions on elevating your running experience. It will be more enjoyable and your fitness will improve!
What are some next steps you could take to start or improve your running routine?
James G Morrison 