Throughout my years of running I have seen so many little mistakes new runners make, that unfortunately derail them from moving forward in their training plan. It can be very deflating to have all of the right intentions and then lose steam. So I thought I would share with you the mistakes I see, and some that I have made myself.
1. Wearing the wrong shoes. There is no question that shoes matter. Wearing the wrong fit or even size of a shoe can cause pain and injury. It is worth the investment to find the right shoe for you.
2. Comparing Yourself to Others. One of the things I love about running is the fact that you can set individual goals and compete with yourself. Every person has the opportunity to set and accomplish goals of all sizes, it is unfair to compare your running to someone else. It is a quick way to lose confidence.
3. Not taking a rest day. Often times runners think they have to run every single day in order to get better. In fact rest days are important as well, they help give your muscles a break to strengthen and repair.
4. Not Cross Training and Strength Training. Cross training is important because it gives other muscles a chance to work. It will also vary your workouts up and help prevent burnout. I love to go to the gym and stair step. Some people swim or do the bike. I also love to lift weights. Strengthening your body will make you a stronger runner.
5. Running a race they have not properly trained for. The better you train for a race, the more enjoyable the race will be. If you don’t put in the training miles for any race, a 5K or a half marathon… you will be hurting and that will give you the impression that races are miserable. The better you train, the better you will feel.
Running is a great way to burn a lot of calories and the great thing is that you can do it anywhere. You are never ever too old to take up running or any other activity. Just train right and have a little confidence in yourself.
I am including some links to some of my favorite training plans for different lengths of races. You can choose your level you want to train at. Having a specific plan will help your accountability.
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51130/Half-Marathon-Training-Guide
http://www.mapmyrun.com/training-plans/event/half-marathon/
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50932/5K-Training-The-Most-Popular-Racing-Distance
I also love my Nike Running App. Some other good apps are MapMyRun and RunKeeper. They are great ways to track your progress in both distance and speed.
Remember, the better you train…..the better you will feel!
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”