Now, if you’re anything like I used to be, you probably laughed whenever you read that sentence.
You probably thought “No way, I could NEVER run and actually enjoy it!”
For most of us, the memories that hold running include the pacer test in elementary school and running the mile in high school gym class. Although it is understandable that activities like these ruined the idea of running for most of us, it is actually an activity that can be very enjoyable, and anyone can do it!
I recently started getting into running a few months ago.
I held the typical mindset – that I would dread running once I started and would not be able to run any impressive distances or times. One of my good friends ran constantly and encouraged me to try to get into it as well. She claimed it was an excellent mind-clearer and stress-reliever. When I first started, most of my “runs” were actually walks. I felt exhausted and out of breath after running for a few short minutes, and this was extremely discouraging for me.
However, slowly but surely running became easier. I could run for longer amounts of time while feeling less tired. I originally started running because I wanted to get more in shape and lose weight. However, once I changed my mindset and decided to run as a break from the rest of my life, it became much easier and enjoyable! I now run for the enjoyment of being outside in the fresh air, and it allows me to take a break from reality for an hour or so, so I can return back to my work with a clear, more motivated headspace.
You do not have to consider yourself a “runner” to run. Even if you are like me and you start out just walking, you will quickly find it is not as difficult and miserable as you made it out to be in your mind. Listening to a podcast or a playlist can make it even more enjoyable as well! Besides the several health benefits that come with being active, sometimes just the sunny, outdoor atmosphere alone can improve your mood and leave you feeling less stressed about homework and daily worries.
Here’s some running tips to help you get started:
- Grab a friend! Running with a friend can be very motivating. It is easy to forget that you are exercising when you are talking with someone else, and the time will pass very quickly! Running with someone else also keeps you accountable and challenges you to keep up and push yourself.
- Pick a playlist or podcast. Podcasts are another great time-passer. They distract you from the act of exercising and allow you to instead put yourself in the shoes of another person, allowing you to forget what you’re doing, and time will pass in no time! Playlists can also be very motivating and running to the beat of songs makes it easier as well.
- Start slow. As I said before, if you start out trying to sprint you will become tired quickly and this will be very discouraging. Start out a slower pace so you can run farther and feel more accomplished. Walking is also completely okay! Sometimes it is better to walk and take in your surroundings for enjoyment instead of pushing yourself too hard.
- Run for the right reasons. As I said before, run for yourself, not anybody else! If you set your mind to it, you can achieve any goal you want. Running for the simple reason of losing weight can lead to some unhealthy habits, so be sure you run for the enjoyment of it instead. It will make the overall experience much better!