A Running Mom

Photo Credit: KitAy

Tip 8: Do It For A Reason!

Ok. I’ve been on vacation, traveling and I took a break from my blog.  But surely time has brought more discipline and focus to our running, right?  We are running more regularly, with more passion, regularity and intensity.  Yes? No?

Ok. Still, we need motivation.  Here’s where Tip 8 comes in.

Tip 8:  Stop running just for you.

Choose a purpose for your running. Choose a cause; an organization; a benefactor; a friend. Choose something or someone who could benefit from your running and commit to them; him; her.

The people in this picture are paddling for peace.

Powerful, yes?

If the caption read: a group of fun-loving friends enjoying padding along the river. This would not have carried as much clout, right? This is the point of Tip 8.

We had our first child in June 1997. We had lost our first friend that year, too. I needed motivation to carry on and care for myself and do a simple thing called running. So, a friend and I decided to sign up for the Paris Marathon. We ran it for our friend. I ran it for him and me. Committing to that run made me commit to more than just training. It made me focus on doing something bigger than something just for me. At the end of that race I felt like a special person. I had endured tough circumstances as a nursing mom to get those miles in — no need for details here — it was challenging! So crossing that finish line meant so much on so many levels. I loved it. It became a lifelong memory.

Crazy? Maybe.

Worth it? Definately.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: Ecnerwal

Tip 7: Make It Pretty!

Sound too fluffy? It’s true! Plan at least one a week that is pretty. You know, one that offers eye candy. Great inspiration. Views. Perhaps a place of sentimental value. You know why? Then the run all of a sudden becomes WORTH IT! You must plan, make extra time, consider options, perhaps discuss ideas about where you will run. Not every day. Just once a week. And shazam! You’ll find yourself hankering that run. Wishing it was Saturday so you could go on that run. You may even plan a run that’s just a little challenging… a-ha!  And then you’ll have to make sure that you’re ready for the upcoming run. So you’ll plan a couple of more challenging runs in preparation of the “pretty” one. I’m telling you, it’s powerful stuff.

One of my fave all-time runs is the Brooklyn Bridge. Just experiencing that fabulous moment of crossing over the Brooklyn Bridge and all of a sudden you can’t see the whole city any longer so it kind of feels like the city swallows you whole is absolutely envigorating. I just love it.

I recently had the chance to run the Brooklyn Bridge 3 times in a row. What a feeling! I’m ready to run the NYC Marathon again after all that fabulousness! LOL. But really, it was a great inspirational moment and it made me realize that those pretty, “eye candy” runs can tip the scale for getting me committed to a better running routine. Let it tip your scale, too.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: by UNC - CFC - USFK

Tip 6: Run B4 You Think!

This tip is so funny, but true, that you ought to just try it. You know how you wake up and start thinking about the day, what you need to do and all that’s challenging you at the present time? Try this! Wake up and go run. Don’t think. Just get out there and start running!

Before you know it, the run is completed and you can go about your day with absolute clarity.

This is exactly what I did today. Before I could gather a cohesive thought, my feet were passing each other on the road. By the time I returned to my house, I had calculated the day and my to-do list to a point that actually made sense, not stress. It was a great day. Best of the week.

May your next run be a good one!

Rebecca

Photo Credit: Tony the Misfit

Tip Five: Ask Your Friends. Before you bail on any given run on any given day, just ask someone you know what they think about this decision. Or let them in on your inner debate.  For example, you look out the window and it’s raining. It’s pouring. The old man is snoring. You can’t imagine running in the rain today. You start considering the treadmill, the gym, the possibility of post-posing the whole week’s running plan because of the terribly disappointing weather. Before you make your decision, reach out to some friends and get their feedback. You might be surprised by the answers you get!

This is how it worked out for me this week.  I looked out the window and saw the rain pouring down. I debated running in it vs. running on the treadmill. So I reached out to my Twitter friends because in my gut I knew what I thought I ought to do, but I just needed a little push. And they responded immediately! It was so inspiring! Their answer? GO run in the rain!

Thanks, @katgautreaux and @_jenniferlynn_! My two new BFFs helped me remember the fun of running in the rain and even better, helped me achieve my running goals last week! Had I run on the treadmill, I never would have run 4 miles. I would have run a quick 2. And you know what? I loved that run in the rain!

Next time it’s raining, I’m going to kick up my heels and go for it.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: laurenatclemsen

Tip 4: Think These 5 Things

So it’s that time of day that you can run. Maybe it’s first thing in the morning or right after dinner or perhaps your lunch hour and you’re considering whether or not to hit the trails. Stop right there and think these 5 things:

1. Put on running gear

2. Put on shoes

3. Grab ipod

4. Walk out the door

5. Run

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: Now I’m Always Smiling

Tip 3: Unclench The Claw!

This sounds freaky, but it’s really true. I bet you are just like me in this way, too. Having a run hanging over your head can stress you out, can’t it? It can for me. Just knowing that I want to run 4 times this week, and really get in nice, meaningful runs, can cause a bit of a pang in my stomach, and a clench in my hands. I somehow develop the, you guessed it, CLAW!  (Now, this isn’t to be confused with the Mommy Monster Claw that I use to chase my kids around the house, just like I always stop them from doing on their own, with my hands in the air poised to tickle them into fits of giggles.) This tension-filled, OMG I-have-to-run-and-get-this-over-with-Claw is more of a symptom of the wrong attitude I sometimes fall into regarding my running altogether.  Stressing about getting the run “in” is in direct conflict with the peace and tranquility one is meant to find from the run itself. Is this true for you, too?

In many ways, getting into a better running routine for me comes down to a few basic things. It’s not really all about being goal-oriented or serious about running or needing to train or get into shape. For me, sometimes, it’s simply about chilling out and remembering that at the end of any given day, I am a happier me if I go for a run. I’m a better me once I’ve finished a run. I listen better. I laugh easier. I’m more patient. I have better ideas. I can stay awake later. I can even wake up in the morning quicker! And all I have to do is run to have all these benefits! So what’s with The Claw?

Unclench The Claw. Chill. Take a deep breath. Enjoy the idea that you are going to be a better you after you run. And then, tada! You will go and put on those shoes and hit the road. Done deal.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Tip Two: Finish strong. When you finish a run, do you sometimes feel so exhausted that by the end you’re just happy to be done running? Does your pace become an afterthought because you feel so exhausted? Then this tip is definately for you. Try visualizing a finish line, like this one, and quicken your stride. It doesn’t matter if you finish at any certain pace. What matters more is that you feel like you’re giving an extra effort for that last quarter of a mile to the finish. Why? This is where you can build your endurance, gain greater speed and psychologically overcome the feeling of exhaustion. By finishing strong, you actually push through the toughest part of the run with intensity, thereby allowing yourself to bring more intensity to your next run. Best part of this trick is that once you’ve finished the run, you can feel certain that the next time you run you won’t feel that tired. You’ll have made yourself just a little stronger, confident and fit.

Yesterday, my friend and I ran together and as we approached our finish we picked up the pace to finish strong, like we always do. Today I can feel a little soreness from that stride in. And I love it. The strength I gained from just that stride, that extra effort, is something I’ll actually bring to that same run when I go back to it this week, and I’ll finish even stronger and with more speed. It’s not just a perceived benefit. It’s a tangible benefit. Try it and you’ll see what I mean. I bet you’ll love it, too.

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

So yes, here’s the first in a series of Top 10 Tips For A Better Running Routine. They are designed for the psycho runner who can find any reason in the world to keep her from hitting the road! So get ready! If you’re used to putting running on hold for a variety of reasons, these next few posts will challenge you to knock it off and commit to a consistent running routine!

Ready?

Tip 1: Buy New Shoes Tomorrow - Run In The Old Ones Today!
Some days I put off running just because I start to think that I need new shoes and I’ll get into a better routine once I buy those new shoes. You too? Well, here’s the challenging thought: buy the new shoes tomorrow. But get off your behind and run in the old ones today. It’s that simple. One more run in the old shoes is not going to make a big difference. Make the plan to buy the new shoes. Commit to run in the old ones until you get the new ones. May sound obvious, but if you’re like me, it may mean getting in a few more runs, and a few more days of fitness, vs. allowing yourself to languish in the days of no running and therefore lack of fitness benefits.

This morning (I’m all about running in the morning these days) I ran in my old shoes. I’m convinced I need new ones. I haven’t purchased the new shoes. But I have been tricking myself into thinking that my running routine and the new shoes are related. I had hoped to buy the new shoes this week. But factors kept me from researching the shoes I think I need, locating them and hence buying them. See how it works? Do you ever do this?

It took a bit of psycho babbling in my head to get me to simply make the list that includes all three of those time-consuming tasks and realize that I may not get those new shoes for a couple of weeks. I’m not sure which ones I want to get. I cannot afford another pair of shoes that creates discomfort in my foot or knee. I need high-arched, stabalizing running sneakers. This might take a little time on my part researching, trying on shoes and talking to friends whose feet are like mine. So fine. I may not get those shoes for another week.

But I’m still going to run. I cannot afford to wait for the new shoes.

Deal? Now get out there and get that run in! You go!

Gotchya!

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

Just like they say on iTwixie.com, let’s be BFFs!

I promise, as your BFF, to:
1. Always share chocolate cake if you have leftovers on your countertop
2. Make sure I’m in bed by 11:30pm, so I can wake up early enough to run with you or to let you know that I did, so you’ll feel motivated to do the same
3. Try and run in the morning, at least 3 days a week, so that on those days I will be chipper all day long and I’ll even try to get you to run with me

That’s the kind of stuff a great BFF will do. I promise I’ll always be your BFF!

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

It’s clear to me.
I need to run every morning or it’s just not going to happen.

Done.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca