After playing volleyball and basketball in high school, I once dreaded the thought of even running half a mile. However, I needed to find something to keep me in shape after high school and to become addicted to again just as I was in sports. At first, my thoughts were that I was running after nothing and it was a seemingly empty purpose. I wasn't sprinting on a fast break or running cross court to pass a ball, I was just supposed to run. For what? Once I began to set and reach goals for myself, I found more of a purpose in running. With the weather warming up and schedules clearing up, summer time is the perfect time to start your running journey as well.
1. Build mental strength
When most people begin running, they often hear the phrase, "The first mile is always a liar.” After two years of running, I still have to remind myself this phrase at times because it is incredible truthful. With all of my predisposed negative thoughts about running, one of my first goals was actually to just become comfortable with the whole running thing. It doesn't matter how slow you run or far you reach, make it a priority to become comfortable with your running so you can allow yourself to push through your set goals in the future. Pay close attention to correctly breathing and striding in the right form to start off on the right foot, no pun intended.
2. Have someone along with you on your journey
Although running builds your mental strength considerably, that alone is not enough motivation on days when the reasons not to run are seemingly endless. When I first considered running after high school sports ended, I made the decision along with my sister. This allowed us to always have a partner to run with and to keep one another accountable on the days when running was the last thing we wanted to do. It also allowed for us both to have a perfectly good reason to indulge in a cheat meal every now and then.
3. Treat it like a routine
Moving from sport to sport in high school was a constant adjustment. I was always in a "different kind of shape" during this transition. With running, the same applies. You have to fight through the beginning uncomfortable pain to reach a place where you feel confident in your runs. For me, setting up my runs five days a week, three days in the morning and two days at night, has become so routine that I felt like my day was out of whack if I didn't run. Now, it's like brushing my teeth, I feel like I'm missing an essential part of my day that's important to my health.
4. Allow time for thought
During school and even the summer time, I use my daily running time to think about things I need to do or just anything in general. I usually think about these very articles that I write each week. Becoming deep in my thoughts allows for blocking out any pain I'm feeling from my run and it makes the entire process pass by much quicker, while being highly productive as well.
