In the past five months, I’ve run 5Ks, 8Ks, 10Ks, a half marathon, and I am about to run a full marathon… and I still cringe when somebody calls me a runner. Sure, I’ve run all my life, but as part of another sport. Just running to run was never the goal. I’ve always felt that there are people faster than me, people who take it more seriously, people who love it more than me… I’m not a runner, they are. Just because I log the miles, doesn’t make me a runner.
But that’s wrong.
leggings ($108) - tank ($48) - sports bra ($68) - water bottle ($15) - hat ($38)
I started running because J wanted to run another marathon. I had no intention of doing that, but I wanted to spend time with him and be involved in something that was about to be a big part of his life. It was great for us to go out to the US National Whitewater Center early every weekend and spend time outside. Even if we weren’t running together. Even if I finished two hours before him, went home, got the dog, came back, and still had time to take the dog for a swim before he finished running. This thing I started “just to bond with my husband” turned into something that’s a part of my daily routine and can’t imagine stopping. As I type this, we are in Hawaii to run my first marathon.
I'm still not entirely sure how I went from I-will-only-run- if-CrossFit-makes-me to running 26.2 miles for fun. But I think these seven things are a good start. Maybe this is all nervous rambling before the marathon, but maybe these things will help somebody else become a runner too.
*and of course, all you really need to be a runner is to go out and run…but I had YEARS to do that was was never able to motivate my self. So if you’re like me and need a little incentive, these tips are for you.
O N E - SET A GOAL
My first goal was to run four miles. I had never intentionally run more than a 5k, and four miles felt impossible. Once I accomplished that only a week into training, my husband encouraged me to sign up for a half marathon. The Maui Oceanfront Marathon to be exact. I wasn’t going to say no to a trip to Hawaii in the dead of winter, so I quickly signed up.
Then my husband found the Southern Fried Half Marathon in NC that sounded fun and fell on the exact weekend that called for a half marathon in his full marathon training plan. He assured me that with the combination of running and CrossFit that I had been doing consistently for the past month, I was ready for a half marathon. He also found an amazing dog-friendly VRBO with a fenced in yard on the water in the Outer Banks where Miss Dixie Doodle could live her best life.
VRBO in Kill Devil Hills, OBX ($195/night)
I felt I was ready to at least do a run/walk strategy and I was definitely ready for a relaxing weekend in OBX, so I said sure and ran my first half. To my surprise, I was able to run the entire thing. I felt so good and finished ten minutes under my goal time, so I wondered if I should switch to the full marathon. If I was able to conquer my first two goals in a month, what could I do with four months of training? And if I only run one marathon, it may as well be in Hawaii. I don’t think I’ll ever to another full, but I’ve loved training for one (repeat, one). Having this once truly unattainable goal become more and more realistic has been so incredible.
So pick a goal… start small and set new goals as you grow stronger as a runner or set one big goal. JUST GO FOR IT!
T W O - FIND A MOTIVATOR
5 mile progression
First 8K - 10’50” per mile
Second 8K - 9’12” per mile
Third 8K- 8’16” per mile
tank ($33) - watch ($399) - watch strap ($49) - 8K race ($45)
I’m going to start by saying that losing weight should not be your motivator. You should never exercise to lose something, but to gain something. Yay for healthy relationships with your mind and body! In CrossFit my goal was always strength, so my mini-goals are always what I like to call “CrossFit Party Tricks”. First it was handstand push ups and then I switched to a muscle up. After relentlessly ripping my hands, I dropped the muscle up goal for butterfly pull-ups. Specifically, graceful butterfly pull-ups and not the dying-fish-out-of-water pull ups I have now.
For running, my goal was to get faster and meditation. I wanted to be able to quiet my mind and just run. I’m still working on this, but one thing that has helped me is the gratitude mile. Just a mile of your run where you think about and list all the things you are grateful for. It could be the great weather that day, or how strong your lungs and legs feel, or it can be much more personal. For me, the next best thing to quieting my mind is flooding it with positive thoughts.
So what do you want to gain out of running? Strength? Endurance? A Community? Whatever it is, let it motivate you on every run, even the ones you don’t feel like doing.
T H R E E - GET OUT THERE
My other motivator is obviously Hawaii. I want to see all 26.2 miles of the Maui coastline, I want to see as many whales as I can, and I really don’t think I could have finished some of my longer training runs without this pushing me. No matter what you’re training for, I highly suggest signing up for some races along the way. If you just want to do a 5K, Sign up for a 5K! If you want to do a 10K, sign up for a 5K and a 10K! Want to do a Half Marathon? That’s right, try a 5K and 10K too! Some people suggest doing races other than your goal race because it helps you get used to the race routine - like using the port-a-potty, handling bag checks, and queuing up for the race. All of that is easy enough to figure out. I say get out there and sign up for races because its fun! I love the energy and adrenaline at every race and it makes me even more excited to the next one. Here are some of my favorites and some I’m looking forward to:
5K - Belcara Health 5K at the Baltimore Running Festival, Baltimore, MD
leggings ($108) - shirt ($55) - shoes ($160) - ring ($25) - 5K race ($45)
I love this race. It’s a great intro into running. The 5K course is an easy out and back, and no it really isn’t scenic or pretty. But! The medals and shirts for the Baltimore Running Festival are fantastic and you even get a medal for the 5k! It’s easily my favorite medal I’ve gotten. It has a great expo, and since it’s Baltimore, all of the swag is from Under Armour. After the 5k, grab a beer or two and hang out by the water and cheer on the Marathoners and Relay-ers. The Half Marathon will start shortly after. There are a lot of people at the festival doing challenges like the BaltiMORON-athon (5K + Half on the same day), the King Crab Challenge (Frederick Half-Marathon, Baltimore 10-Miler, and the Baltimore Full or Half Marathon), or the Maryland Double (Frederick Half and Baltimore Half or Full Marathon). The challenge medals are also truly awesome so keep an eye out for those!
These races are popular, but won’t necessarily sell out. J registered for the BaltiMORON-athon and I registered for the 5K about two weeks in advance last year. But it’s always better to plan ahead.
10K - AJC Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta, GA
This has been ranked the #1 Race in the 10 mile or less category by BibRaves for THREE years in a row. I’m not one for big races, but I’m recommending this “Independence Day Parade” for the giant party it becomes. You’ll see everyone from beginners to elite racers, some in outrageous costumes, and some showing off practical patriotism. This is an extremely popular holiday race, so plan ahead if you want to spend your Fourth of July running in Atlanta (yes, it’s hot). Members of the Atlanta Track Club are guaranteed entry into the race, but if you aren’t a member you can either register for the lottery by March 31 or register for a Kilometer Kids Charity Race Number, which guarantees you automatic entry. Charity Race numbers are $200, but $165 is tax deductible and goes directly to the Kilometer Kids program.
Half Marathon - Urban Bourbon Half Marathon presented by Jim Beam, Louisville KY
This is one of the races that I’m really looking forward to. I really really enjoyed the OBX Southern Fried Half and do recommend it. OBX in November has the perfect running weather and the course is very flat except for the bridge, which was actually my favorite part of the race. It had the best views and after training on hills, I was able to fly past some of the people I had been chasing for nine miles.
Back to the Urban Bourbon Half… First, how fun is it to say that name? Urban Bourbon, Urban Bourbon, Urban Bourbon. The Urban Bourbon Half starts and finishes in downtown Louisville, but only 1 mile of the race is out-and-back. The rest is a nice loop through Cherokee Park and the final stretch is a straight away down Main Street. There is some elevation change, but nothing serious. The race is presented by Jim Beam, so the race is restricted to those 21 and up, which just means that you don’t have to worry about a teenager passing you and questioning your life choices and impending death. It also mean alcohol! In addition to the bourbon-themed medals, you’ll also get bourbon samples and beer after the race. Plus the race shirt is a long sleeve tech shirt (my personal favorite) and you get to spend a weekend in Louisville. Whats not to love?
Some other Half Marathons on my bucket list are Napa-to-Sonoma, Bar Harbor, Old Port, Great Wall, Sarajevo, and Athens.
Full Marathon - Maui Oceanfront Marathon, Hawaii
I have been so impressed with the Maui Oceanfront Marathon (MOM). We initially picked this one because it’s flat, along the coast, and in Hawaii. But it also has aid stations at almost every single mile that are all run by members of the community who benefit from this race. We’ve also been receiving frequent e-mails from the race director with tips on signing up for things like the post-marathon whale watching sail, a sunset tour of a national park, and his favorite luaus. The race also recommended hotels that are big supporters of the race and has a great discount code for a rental car. There is also a Half Marathon, 15k,10K & 5K if you want to make it a group “Run-cation” but not everybody wants to run a full Marathon. There is also an early-start marathon for those who want to run.walk a marathon, but are worried about the cut off time. I’ll post a review of the entire race experience once we’ve run it, but right now, I am so impressed with the organizers of the race.
If Hawaii isn’t calling to you, some other bucket list marathons to check out are Big Sur, Missoula, Paris, Midnight Sun, The Big Five, and Banff. If you want more of a party / boot and rally vibe… definitely check out the Medoc Marathon. It may be the only one I would ever consider doing.
F O U R - FIND A BUDDY
me: tank ($33) - leggings ($90) - belt ($25)
J: tank ($45) - shorts ($55) - watch ($600)
I think it is so important to have a running buddy. It doesn’t even need to be somebody who will physically run with you, just somebody who you can talk to about running and keep you accountable. J and I don’t run together very often, but every weekend we go out to a trail together and do our own runs separately. I also love using apps like Nike Run Club, Strava, or Apple Watch to record my runs and stay connected to running friends in different states.
Seeing my friends log runs on these apps and being able to support them from afar motivates me to log my own miles. I also love the support you can give (and get) on a daily basis instead of only on race days. The hardest part of running isn’t the races, it’s logging those daily miles. Having an accountability buddy will make those daily miles a lot easier!
F I V E - GET A COACH
I remember chatting with somebody after the Southern Fried Half Marathon who was shocked that this was my first Half Marathon. I had the right shoes (Nike Next%), knew the proper water station etiquette, brought my own fuel for the race (Jelly Bellies), and had throwaway layers with sweat wicking clothes underneath. She said for her first half marathon, she wore her old, falling apart high tops (I can’t even lift in those shoes!), a long cotton tee with no shirt underneath, tried to drink water from the water station while running at her full speed, and had never tried a Gu or other fuel before the race (hello tummy troubles!).
These were only things I knew how to do because I had my husband semi-coaching me. If you don’t have a friend or loved one to help you with these tips, join a local running club! A lot of clubs have perks (like the Atlanta Track Club are guaranteed entry into the AJC Road Race) but it’s also a great way to train and find your community. Google or Fitt.com can help you find a run club in your area!
Other things I didn’t know to do were small check ins with myself. How’s my posture? Is my breathing steady? Am I scrunching down or leaning forward? What is my head doing? Why am I looking down instead of looking ahead? The guided runs from Nike Run Club were a huge help and I don’t think I could have gotten through my first few weeks of training with them. I loved
S I X - GET THE GEAR
leggings ($108) - tank ($48) - sports bra ($68) - water bottle ($15) - hat ($38) - watch ($399) - watch strap ($49)
The barrier to entry to running is very low. You don’t need much to get started. You really don’t even need real running shoes - any sneakers will do. Once you start upping your mileage, you’ll probably find that you need an upgrade. Go, in person, to a local running store to find your perfect fit. Take the time to work with a salesperson who will watch you walk and run to see how your pronate and watch you try out shoes on the treadmill or outside the store. Running shoes are expensive, but finding the right pair will make your runs so much more pleasant.
Other items that have helped me run are special racing shoes, my absolute favorite running leggings, anti-chafing balm for my thighs and armpits (ugh), a headlamp for runs ending in the dark, a light up vest for runs at dusk and dawn, a good running belt, compression socks, trying out a ton of different fuel options, designated running headphones, and running gloves. Seriously, running gloves. Gloves before long sleeves is the best layering tip I got for winter running and investing in good running gloves was a life saver.
S E V E N - FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT
Maybe you set an easy goal and want to push yourself more. Maybe your goal was a bit too lofty and now you need to readjust. It doesn’t matter. Once you’ve gotten into a rhythm, figure out what you like and roll with it. Maybe you just like having a run streak, or logging two to three miles a few times a week. For me, I really enjoy half marathons. I think it’s just long enough to push me, but not so long that my body feels terrible afterwards. It’s also a short enough distance that, while training, I will rarely have to run more than one hour on a week day, which has been a huge issue while marathon training - especially now that it gets dark so early. I have a long list of bucket list Half-Marathons and have made plans to run a few with friends I don’t get to see very often.
me: tank ($33) - leggings ($90) - belt ($25) - socks ($16) - shoes ($250)
J: tank ($45) - shorts ($55) - watch ($600) - socks ($18) - shoes ($275)
I hope these help you run more in 2020!
