Getting Back Into Running
I initially began running two years ago. However, my training experience was far from great. I signed up for a 10k, and it went extremely poorly. Signing up was a rash and impulsive decision—it resulted in me developing a bit of disdain for running. The 10k itself went ok, but the training was horrendous. During my training block, all I cared about was my pace, which was suuuuuuuuuch a big mistake. When getting into running, pace should not be a concern whatsoever.
After a year-long hiatus from running (post-10k fiasco), I stumbled upon running again (thankfully!). Running has not only helped me physically but also mentally, which has been a great surprise! I can finally say that I have experienced runner's high (yes, I promise you it is a real thing). The main factor that helped me actually enjoy running was running slower. I'm not joking. Running slower—at a conversational pace—has helped me run longer distances and achieve my goal of running sub-2 hours at my first official half-marathon event.
I want to reiterate this, as it is very important for newbies: the best piece of advice I can give someone—and I can't stress this enough—is to train at a slow pace and run as often as you can (consistency is key!). Keeping an eye on my heart rate really helped me train effectively for my first half-marathon. Do not let your ego get ahead of your abilities (aka run slower); strong results will flourish from consistency.
The mental aspect of running began to creep in when I started to push myself towards longer distances. There comes a time when pain starts to ripple through your body, yet you know that you can physically push through. However, a significant hurdle is that your inner monologue begins to say otherwise.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. - Haruki Murakami
Even though pain begins to set in, it doesn't mean that you should give up. You can choose to stop running when it gets hard, or you can choose to continue and push through. This is where I find the fun in running; it creates a little competition between my mind and my body. While I have found the physical benefits to be great, it is truly the mental aspect that keeps it enjoyable.
Quick tip for peeps just getting into running:
Try running with someone! I've found that running with someone has helped me tremendously.
(1) It helps you run at a comfortable pace, as it is impossible to talk to someone when your heart rate is off the charts.
(2) Running with someone helps you avoid solitude—an often overlooked factor. When you try to run further by yourself, you inevitably come face-to-face with your inner monologue begging you to stop. However, when you run with someone else, it becomes much more difficult for negative thoughts to creep in, especially if you’re engaged in conversation.
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Photo is of a lonely pink tree that I stumbled upon while on a run.
FYI: great + informative video that helped me train better:
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