5 Top Tips on How to make running FUN!
Running….. Who loves to run? Why do you love to run? What does running do for you?
Have you heard of the runners high? It’s that feeling you get after a run when you thought you couldn’t do it, you may have struggled with motivation, may have procrastinated a little but eventually you got out there went for your run and it was the best damn run. That feeling of accomplishment, of achievement, of satisfaction.
Take it from me… I was never a runner. There was a time I believed I couldn’t run. I thought i was no good at running, too fat to run. I though people would laugh at me if i ran. I shyed away from athletics carnivals or cross country. I didn’t want to come last. I didn’t want to be laughed at.
But these are the beliefs I convinced myself were true.
Our beliefs will limit us or empower us. If we find our selves having negative beliefs like I did we need to change our beliefs to positive beliefs. Because our beliefs are not necessarily the truth. They are what we have told ourselves over and over and over again and of course we believe it’s the truth.
I remember when I first started running I use to wear baggy clothes and a hat. More so to hide myself away from people looking at me rather then keeping the sun of my face or the hair out of my eyes. It was to hide and not be recognised. I still wear a hat to this day but not for the first reason???? I actually now wear it because its a habit now and of course to keep the sun and hair out of my eyes.
Running can be hard to start with. Running can suck when you start and you may not enjoy it at first. But once you get better and that feeling of accomplishment you just want to run more. I’m going to share with you my 5 Top tips to make running fun.
1. Mindset, Language & Attitude
Change the way you speak about running. I hear clients say to me all the time…. ‘I can’t run’ or ‘I hate running’ ‘every thing hurts when i run’ ‘I’m no good at running’. These are negatives beliefs that you have drilled into your brain and now you believe it. SO every time you hear your self saying these negative beliefs tell yourself a new belief ‘I love to run’ ‘Running is fun’ ‘I can run’ ‘With practice I will be a good runner’
Think before speaking. Your thoughts become your actions, your actions become your habits. Change your thoughts, change your actions, change your habits.
2. Music / Podcast / Audio Book
Music is a great way to keep your mind off what your doing. Make a fun, up beat playlist that you can listen to while you run or if you want to kill two birds with one stone and learn something at the same time download a podcast or audio book. I do all of these and sometimes I’m so engrossed in what I’m listening to I’ve nearly finished my run.
3. Run with a friend
Training with a friend is a great way to catch up, run and have fun. The key here is to run with someone who is around the same level as you or a little bit more experience. She can motivate you to keep going when you want to stop. You want to run at a pace where you both can engage in a little conversation. If you run to hard too fast to start with you won’t enjoy it because you will be having all these negative thoughts going through your head about how hard it is. You want to make running enjoyable. You wan to make running a WANT to do exercise not a HAVE to do exercise. Run for fun. Pace yourself to start and as you gets fitter you can push the limits a little bit more.
4. Outdoors
Definitely a must do outdoor activity. Explore the area you live in. Maybe drive a little bit to run in a different location rather then from your front door. Beach, Lake, Mountains, Bush where ever it may be enjoy the scenery. If you cant get outdoors your other option is to run on the treadmill. Running on a treadmill can be boring! But if you can’t get outdoors this may be your only option. My next point will explain how to make running on a treadmill more enjoyable and also implementing the above strategies too will help prevent boredom.
5. Intervals
Intervals are a great way to run. They improve your fitness quickly. They can be short and quick. You can change the length of time each session and they make running achievable for everyone. Everyone can run for 30 seconds at least. When doing intervals make sure you walk to warm up for 10 minutes and then plan your session e.g 1 minute of running then walk for 2 minutes and repeat this 8 times. You can run intervals at an oval, along the cycle way or on a treadmill (this will help break the monotony of running on the spot). If you’re running along a cycle way maybe using landmarks as your timer. Run from one telegraph pole to the next or one house to the next 10 houses? You have the freedom to do intervals any way you choose.
MY SUGGESTION….. If your new to Running first things first change your attitude, language & mindset when it comes to running. If you believe you hate it and it hard well the universe is going to make it hard and you’ll attract more hatred. Start off with small intervals 2 – 3 times a week, listening to music or podcast, being outdoors and maybe with a friend or running group. If you would love to chat about running send me a message I would love to share with you my running experience. But take it from me…from someone who believed they couldn’t run to having actually ran a Marathon 42.2km of all things and numerous half- marathons it does get better and yes you do love to run. You love the amazing feelings after running, the accomplishment, the achievements and the satisfaction that you stuck with it and ran 5km or more ????