Question for runners

SnShne322

What's your #1 (or 2 or 3) tip for newbie runners?

booneybear

Good running shoes.

Be patient until you learn to breath

MrsJenE

Pace yourself.  Speed will come with time.

sfgiantsjo

Just keep swimming... Just keep swimming...

Change "swimming" to "running"

SusieBW

I used to set micro goals when I was first starting out - jog until the end of the block, and then you can walk for a minute, or whatever.  But then at the end of the block, I would set a new tiny goal instead of walking like I had told myself.  After a while, it started to feel like, you've jogged for this long, it would be a cop out of you walked now.

Which is the same as what sfgiantsjo said, but longer. 

packfan20

Get a training plan. Don't think you can just walk out the door one day and run. (I tried that. It ended badly.)

And ditto @susiebw. Small goals. Run to the stop sign. Oh you made it? Now make it to that blue car. Got to the car? Now to that curve in the sidewalk.

Don't get discouraged. We all have bad days/crappy runs.

formerlyGDaisy09

Spend the money on good shoes, go to a shop that will assess how you pronate and fit you for the right shoe...your joints will thank you later. 

Also, one thing that I learned the hard way (and now have recurring tendonitis and bursitis) is that your joints take longer to adapt to running than your muscles and your cardiovascular...but they don't start complaining until you've gone too far.  The first 3 weeks it'll be your cardio/muscles that hold you back...don't push it too much too fast after that, find a training plan (couch to 5K or something similar) and stick to it. find soft running surfaces when you can and incorporate them into your runs and give your joints a break, I have a dirt path near me that I try to incorporate into my run, ex. on a 6 mile run I do about 2 miles on the trail. rubber tracks are good too. 

small goals are great, apps like map my run are great, however when I'm starting back up running I often find them discouraging because I'll look at my pace and feel disappointed by how slow I am for how tired I feel.  And remember that you burn about the same number of calories walking a mile as you do running a mile....you just do it faster when you're running

SunshineJoy

Ditto to the others on getting fitted for shoes, start slow, and if you do races...no new foods right before race day  :-)

Passanie

SusieBW said:

I used to set micro goals when I was first starting out - jog until the end of the block, and then you can walk for a minute, or whatever.  But then at the end of the block, I would set a new tiny goal instead of walking like I had told myself.  After a while, it started to feel like, you've jogged for this long, it would be a cop out of you walked now.

Which is the same as what sfgiantsjo said, but longer. 

I do this too. I'm more of a wogger (walk/jog) than a runner, but it's a technique that's made the miles go a lot easier.

GreenBride624

Pretty much what everyone else said! 

Get properly fitted for shoes!  They will most likely be expensive so don't "waste" miles... ONLY WEAR THOSE SHOES WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING!  Don't wear them to go shopping or whatever. 

Start slow!  Briskly walk to warm up for 5 minutes.  Run for a minute.  Walk for 2 minutes. etc... check out the Couch to 5K plans (also called Ease into 5K).

Stretch! 

Focus on breathing rather than speed!  Take even breaths.

If you are running outside, be safe!!!  Wear bright clothes, run against traffic (or stick to parks & paths), wear ID (like a Road ID)... just carrying your phone doesn't count as ID.

Most importantly, Have fun!!! 

booneybear

I have to confess that I never stretch.  

My mom isn't a stretcher either.  Even after running 3 Boston Marathons, she still doesn't stretch before or after running.  

MrsJenE

booneybear said:

I have to confess that I never stretch.  

My mom isn't a stretcher either.  Even after running 3 Boston Marathons, she still doesn't stretch before or after running.  

I only stretch after I run.

AshleyT121

Good shoes are a must! Also, a good bra and comfortable clothes. I know it sounds stupid, but if you're uncomfortable or constantly adjusting your clothes, it makes for a very long run.

MrsJenE

AshleyT121 said:

Good shoes are a must! Also, a good bra and comfortable clothes. I know it sounds stupid, but if you're uncomfortable or constantly adjusting your clothes, it makes for a very long run.

YES!  I bought the worst pants once and spent my whole run feeling like I had to keep pulling them up.

RiverPlate

There's a Couch to 5K app that helped me a lot when I first started running.