First Draft Expert's Article

Becoming someone, you never thought you’d be  

How to run a half marathon, when 6 months earlier you couldn’t even run a 5K.  

I come from quite an athletic family. In his lifetime my dad has run 5 half-ironman triathlons, my mom has completed 6 marathons and 2 half-ironman triathlons, and my little brother, who is two years younger than me ran his first full marathon last year. I often find myself staring in awe at my home’s living room wall, where all their medals hang. It is very impressive. Although running should come in my “veins” it is not something I feel I am naturally good at. I’ll be honest, I have tried. But I’ve learned the hard way, that training at my family’s pace is something that always ends up in suffering and kind of traumatic experiences for me. Even though I do enjoy playing sports, like basketball or volleyball, since very young running seemed to be torture with too much impact that seemed impossible to enjoy for me. To put a number to it, since high school, my max running distance without stopping was 5K. 

 

Today, I find myself in shock at how much things have changed and how our relationships with sports/exercise and our bodies can evolve. I, personally, have rediscovered my relationship with running and during the process, have learned so much about myself and about how we can dismantle limiting beliefs of what we think we are capable of doing. If you are someone who likes running but doesn’t know where to start, get ready, this is the training you need. If you are someone who is not even a bit interested in sports, don’t worry at all, because today we will analyze how running goes beyond a physical exercise, and can change lives. Although at first glance running can be seen as simple and boring, it is actually an activity that challenges individuals physically and emotionally. Today, we will go over the three fundamentals of running, how to be a runner, a healthy one, and most importantly, a happy one. (Roadmap)

 

How to be a runner: Showing Up

 

Step 1: Get out of bed and put those shoes on. 

When the alarm goes off, you’ll realize your bed hasn’t felt warmer or comfier than at that exact moment. The first step consists of beating the resistance and laziness. I promise it will be worth it. 

 

Step 2: One step at a time – Focus on the present. 

You will get easily overwhelmed with the journey you have in front of you. Don’t let your overthinking brain take control over you. Focus one step at a time. Pump yourself with some music. YOU’VE GOT THIS!

 

Step 3: Celebrate the small wins. 

After achieving steps 1 and 2, celebrate, because showing up is a win. Recognize your effort, what you are doing is not easy. Become your biggest fan, you are the only one who knows the effort you’ve put into it. 

 

The first, but hardest part of the process is showing up to training. Running is not about talent or luck, it’s about consistency. There will be some days when you feel strong and active. But it is completely normal if some other days you are simply not feeling it. It is okay! Showing up is doing your part. Your body will take care of the rest. 

 

How to be a healthy runner

 

Let’s begin with the equipment. To start running, you don’t need much, except a good pair of shoes. It is essential and non-negotiable to invest in good running shoes that are adequate for your type of footstep. (Expert - SOURCE)

 

Secondly, identifying your compass will guide you in areas you probably don’t have much knowledge of. In my opinion, what makes the running process incredibly less intimidating is having a coach or a running group that will guide you in this process. Having a coach helps establish a training plan and gives you confidence in knowing how to distribute the athletic workload. My four best tips for a good training experience are the following:

• Make your training realistic to your experience. I had to start by running only 20 minutes without stopping and start building up from there. Having a realistic and sustainable for your current endurance plan will help you to be consistent and complete your training. 
• Running outside will make a huge difference to running on the treadmill. It will test your resistance to unexpected elevation, change in pavement, and weather, which are all factors you cannot control on the day of the race. 
• Strength training sessions are non-negotiable. Doing them equally as consistently as the long runs is fundamental, as it’s the only way to protect yourself from injuries. 
• If you plan to use any additional energy boosters like Gu’s or energy gums you must try them out during the training. You don’t know how your body will react to them and don’t want to get a surprise upset stomach on the day of the race.  

Finally, and most importantly is to analyze our day-to-day habits and how we take care of ourselves apart from the training. The running experience will also be affected by what you do in the 24 hours of the day. Sleeping and having a healthy diet (and by healthy I don’t mean restrictions, but rather complete meals) are only some of the factors that will play an important role in the journey. Resting is equally important to training. You must let your body recover for it to be at its fullest when you need it to be. Following a healthy training plan means resting your body 1 or 2 days every week, and doing light workouts lightly, even if you feel you have more energy to do give. 

 

How to be a happy runner

(THIS IS ONLY A DRAFT – NOT FINISHED)