RUNNING INFORMATION ARTICLES

Five Ways You Can Establish A Great Running Routine

Running is no doubt a fantastic way to get exercise. You don’t need anything, really, to get out there and go for a run. Granted, a pair of shoes is a pretty good idea but humans ran for centuries without them so that isn’t even an excuse. It is what I believe to be the most primitive form of exercise dating back to when we didn’t even know we needed it. That which used to be a requirement so we could catch food is now a requirement to keep our minds healthy and keeps us able to compete in our modern jungle. The problem, as is with so many other things in life, is sticking with it. Sometimes the rain makes you just want to stay inside and sometimes you just have too much work to do. Whatever your excuse is, you have to realize that running is a priority and without it, everything else falls apart.

Create a Schedule

And most importantly, stick to it. Remember that running is a priority, just after eating and sleeping so making excuses isn’t really an option. You should try to run four or five days a week so that your body is used to the exercise and will really benefit from it. Find time before or after work and actually run every time it is on the schedule. Use pen and write in “exercise” on your calendar in pen because you really shouldn’t be moving this activity for others. It is also really important to run by distance rather than time. Run as far as you can and then turn back. With each run thereafter, try and get further than you did on your previous run and you should be able to tackle marathons in no time.

Buy a Treadmill

I know I’ve used the “it’s raining” excuse basically once a week for the past five years. Recently though, I bought a treadmill and stuck it in the mini basement with a small TV to keep me entertained whist running. I asked the wife to get on my case when I would just sit on the couch to watch TV and now every time I do, she makes me go down for a run. Before, when I used to have to run and it was pouring outside, I’d hit the gym, which I also hated. After reading a few treadmill reviews and running on as many as I could get my feet on, I picked one and had it shipped to my house. It will really cut down the amount of excuses you have at your disposal and make you feel guilty about buying a piece of training equipment and never using it. If you have a treadmill in your basement and you’re serious about running, you will run on it at least twice a week. Somehow it just works out.

Run with Friends

Another great way to make sure you’re sticking to your running is having other people to hold you accountable. I like to run with people as much as possible. I’m not a talker and don’t really get you people that can hold a conversation while running a few miles but I would much rather run beside somebody than do it alone. For one thing, the idea of increased safety is helpful but you don’t want to let your friend down by not going for a run because you want to watch a CSI marathon. Find running buddies and they will most certainly keep you going and they will depend on you to do the same thing.

Buy a New Pair of Trainers

I always find that a new, really expensive pair of training sneakers is a great way to get me out the door running as much as possible. Don’t throw out your old ones either; they are going to come in handy. For one, new kicks are pretty cool and you’ll want to use them when you can. For another, I can’t count the number of times I didn’t go running in the rain because I didn’t want to ruin my new kicks. Throw on the old shoes and go for a run in the rain. It is really one of the most enjoyable ways to do it, in my opinion, and is a great way to keep cool during exercise. If you don’t mind squishy shoes, try and get out there in the rain with your old shoes; it makes you feel like you’re in a commercial and everybody thinks you look cool.

Pick Different Places to Run

Granted, gauging your progress as a runner along the same route is something that will give you a nice little push and keep you optimistic about your running, but so much of running is getting out and enjoying your neighborhood. You should go about creating three or four different routes to keep yourself entertained; maybe even create a route for each day you run throughout the week. If there is a particularly nice running park in close vicinity to you, drive there and go for a run. I really like seeing new things and running through terrains that aren’t necessarily known to my feet; it keeps me on the ball because I get bored easily.

Running is probably something you’re passionate about but there are definitely times when you don’t feel like doing much of anything. Sticking to your good running habits is definitely a matter of breaking down every excuse you can think of, and finding ways to neutralize them. If you were planning on going running but didn’t manage to, figure out what your excuse was and try to render it useless next time. This is also a great way to get yourself disciplined in other areas of your life and should improve your life everywhere. Stop making excuses and get out there and run.

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