I’ve never been a runner. As a kid, I always played a lot of different sports, but none that involved a lot of running. Growing up, I had several friends who were runners, but no matter how much they tried to get me to go running with them, I just wasn’t interested. I think because I, like so many other kids, was a victim of the mandatory mile run in PE.
The mile was something I always dreaded. I hated the way my lungs burned from running, I hated how boring it was, but most of all, I hated how weak it made me feel.
Naturally, one would assume that once I got to college, I wouldn’t ever run again, and at first, that was true. However, the summer before starting college, I became very passionate about working out. I would mainly do weight lifting with some cardio, like biking. This trend continued when I started college, and in September, I decided to take on a new challenge: running a mile.
It had been a while since the first time I ran a full mile, but afterwards I felt pretty good. From then on, I decided to run a mile once a week. As the weeks passed, I kept getting faster times. Around then is when I heard there would be a 5K held at Mizzou in April. Even though that distance seemed incredibly far, I decided to make it my mission to run that race.
However, as the months got colder, I found myself feeling less motivated to run. I could always run indoors to avoid the cold, but that got extremely repetitive and frankly boring. I had to reevaluate my relationship with running and figure out what worked best for me.
Something extremely important for me was consistency because it helped me establish a sustainable routine. From there, I knew that if I ran three to four times a week, I could improve my run times without overexerting myself or feeling fatigued.
Another thing that helped me stay motivated was figuring out my “why” for running. Having a clear reason for why you are doing something can help a lot with motivation. The reason I decided to run a 5K was that I like to be challenged and want to prove to myself that I can accomplish anything if I work hard enough.
Something that goes hand in hand with your reason for running is your support system. Now, two of my best friends are runners, and one is even running D1 at Illinois State University, so I could always look to them for advice. Whenever I texted them about a run, they would always cheer me on and make me feel even more accomplished.
My parents were also very supportive. I would call them after every run to talk about my time, and they would always say how well I was doing and offer advice. I truly believe that a good support system is motivation like no other and fuels you through even the toughest runs.
Speaking of fuel, nutrition was something I found was very important when I started running. I knew I always had to eat a snack about an hour before my run or else I would have less energy. Right now, my go-to snacks are applesauce or bananas, but I also love a good muffin. Properly fueling myself definitely helps me increase my run times and maintain my energy.
Another thing that I feel like people overlook is music. I’ve found that having a solid playlist keeps me more focused on my runs and makes them more enjoyable. I love blasting music, so I can drown out my thoughts and breathing and just zone out on my runs.
Last but certainly not least, I realized I needed to stop comparing myself to others. Everyone’s running journey is different. It doesn’t matter if you run an eight-minute mile or a 12-minute mile; what truly matters is your effort. It still shocks me how I went from despising running all my life to running several times a week, and I am so proud of myself. Running has made me feel like I am capable of anything.
As of now, I have run several 5Ks on my own time, but my official race was on April 18. I was so excited to run it and I’m in awe of my journey to get here. I went from a girl who hated running to one who does it for fun. In fact, I am going to be running a 10K this summer. So, to anyone thinking, Should I start running? Please do! I know it might seem scary, but it’s a challenge worth taking.