Stop Wishing or Giving Excuses—Just Start Running

It’s National Running Day! If you are a runner, I hope you have time to enjoy a run today.

If you aren’t a runner and you want to be one, stop wishing and/or making excuses… and start moving.

To begin running, you don’t need anything but yourself and a pair of sneakers. You don’t need the lastest and greatest type of running shoe. You don’t need a matching running outfit. You don’t need a watch. You don’t need a running buddy. You don’t need gatorade.

To start running: simply drink some water,
go out the door and put one foot in front of the other
And you are on your way!

Walk for at least ten minutes. Seriously. You have to warm your body up. I can almost guarantee that if you break into a run right away, you will hate running.

If you are on a road with telephone poles, run from one pole to the other. If not, run to the count of 50 or 60. Don’t sprint. Don’t push yourself to run fast. Just run at a comfortable pace that works for you.

Even if you can run farther, stop at the next pole. Walk to the following pole and repeat.

For beginning runners, running until you are
totally exhausted is a sure way to hate running.

Stopping before you are exhausted will allow you to continue the run/walk intervals longer, which will help your body and mind get stronger, which will help you run farther soon.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Do these run/walk intervals anywhere from ten to twenty minutes to start. Aim to do them every other day or about three times a week. Then after a week or so, add a few minutes to your time.

You can do this… seriously! Even if you’ve never been a runner. Even if you think you can’t. Even if others think you can’t. Even if you have pain here and there. It’s four years since I’ve taken my first tentative running steps after the accident and I continue to be amazed how my energy increases and my pain decreases the longer I run.

And many others have also discovered how running helps with aches and pain.

Yolanda runs because it helps with the aches and pain from fibromyalgia.
Casey plans to “kick Lyme’s butt” by running a half-marathon in March, 2013.
Adam run a 5k over 20 years after being diagnosed with lupus.
Troy has run three 5ks on a prosthetic leg since losing his lower leg in an accident.
Roger started running when he was obese and now has an inspiring YouTube video.
Michelle channels her rage to help her run and lose weight.
Many people in this Runner’s World forum share how running helps with their depression.
Krysten, a girl with “a robot heart, no boobs, and stubby little Hungarian legs” doesn’t let that stop her from running.
Running helped Vern as he grieved the loss of his wife, now he’s turned his passion for running into a way to help other families struggling with cancer. Check out OneRunTogether.
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So what was your excuse again?

Start doing the run/walk method now and you could celebrate
your running start date along with the National Running Day next year. 

Are you or someone you know running even if you/they have a major ‘excuse’ not to?

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Other posts I’ve done about running…
Getting there pole by pole
The myth about running hurting your knees

Running Shoes—Regular, Trail, Minimalist or Barefoot?

My run/walk/run plan for healthy running today and long into the future.

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