Why Run?
If you would have asked me three years ago if I were a runner, I would have told you no way. I'm not a runner. I'm the girl who skipped running the mile in Fitness for Life. I hated it. I actually thought of ways I could cheat the system. I was the one who even in track in high school purposely kept my distance from the long-distance team. I wondered why on earth would anyone want to run on purpose for more than a mile? Especially in the heat? Especially in the rain? Especially...ever? I just didn't get it. Plus they all looked the same to me. Thin.
When I started hitting the gym a few years ago I knew cardio would be important. Everyone told me that cardio was the best way to "melt" the pounds off. At first I steered clear of the treadmill. Instead I opted for the bike. That's where I read the entire Twilight series and countless other books.
Then I tried the treadmill. I walked mostly. After a couple of weeks I tried jogging in spurts. I'd jog for a couple of minutes. Somewhere along the way it became a competition. Me against my previous time. I'd see if I could last just a little longer. I'd go into the cardio cinema room where I could lose myself in a movie. That was dangerous though for me because my balance was still off, and I was constantly catching the sides of the track. Luckily I never did a face plant, but there were some close calls.
I remember the first day I lasted 4 miles on the treadmill - all 4 of them being "jogging" miles. Then 6. Then 7. I was shocked to believe I could last an entire hour on the treadmill at a steady pace.
I bought one of the Nike+ trackers. That helped. For $30 I could have the distance calculator in my shoe and plugged into my iPod. It would encourage me with pre-programmed motivational sayings. It wasn't until later that I would invest in a Garmin Forerunner.
I knew eventually I'd need to take my running outside. I was signed up for a Sprint Triathlon, and I was nervous about running outdoors. I'd finally gotten to a comfort level of running inside on the treadmill. I knew what to expect. I knew how it felt. I was uncertain what the outdoors would bring.
But I loved it. The first day I took my running outside I fell in love. I felt so much freer. I could run anywhere, anytime.
Since that day I've been converted. I am now an outdoor runner. I hate running on the treadmill...but I'll still do it on occasion if I need to - if there's no other option.
It's not always easy. I still find myself in ruts. I still find myself not wanting to run, not wanting to go fast, not wanting to go long, not wanting to go far, not wanting to do hills. I go in cycles. It's normal. I'd expect that everyone experiences similar plateaus. But with some time off or changing things up a bit, you can overcome them.
I find that there are certain "must haves" for my runs. I don't know if they will help you, but they most certainly have helped me. Here is a short list of what's helped me enjoy my running:
iPod with a fresh playlist. Ideally I like to change it up every week. I find that the faster the music, the faster I run. I need a beat. I also need new music, so sometimes I'll actually load 1-2 hours worth of running music and then have a couple of different playlists, so I can alternate between the two for my runs.
Good shoes. It's so true. You need good shoes. If you haven't had your run tested, go to a real running store. Have them watch you run. They'll tell you how you land on your feet - whether it be the toe, arch, heal, inside, outside, who knows what. That all plays into how much you ultimately feel when you run. A good shoe store can hook you up with shoes that properly fit and support your entire foot. And if you wear a size 7 normally, there's a good chance you'll be wearing a size 8 or an 8 1/2 in running shoes. Your feet expand when you run, and they need extra space to move as you land and take off. It's also not a bad to invest in a couple of good pair running shoes at the same time. There's something to be said about alternating between shoes to give your feet a "fresh" feel every day. It also allows your shoes adequate time to stretch back to normal (the cushion in heel). My all-time favorites are Mizuno Wave Riders for every day running. Want to hear something crazy? I bought Sauconys the night before the St. George marathon at the expo and wore them for the race. Would I recommend doing that? Never. Luckily it worked for me; they felt great, and I had an incredible race, but there was a far greater chance that they could have given me bisters from you know where and my race could have suffered.
Gum. I'm a gum chewer when I run. I get cotton-mouth, so having something in my mouth really helps. Favorite all-time flavor? Orbit Maui Mint. I kid you not that I order 4 cases online at a time. My mom and hubby gave me it for Christmas too. It helps me all day every day - for my runs - and to keep my mouth busy and not eating something else less healthy. During contest prep it's an absolute must.
Magazines. I surround myself by my hobbies. During running season I read up on training, motivational runners, tips, healthy meals for runners, etc. It's good information and subliminally I know it helps motivate me. Knowledge is key. It helps you adapt in different situations because you'll know ahead of time what to do.
Gus. If you are running for more than 45 minutes it's important to have something to give you quick energy. Take something with you. For me I like gels. They work. They are little bursts of energy with lots of simple carbs that energize me almost immediately. Some people like jelly beans, others pretzels, others oranges, there are numerous things you can eat during your long runs that help. I like gels because they are small, portable, and designed specifically for endurance sports. They help.
There are a couple of things to remember both pre and post-run as well that are equally if not more important. I personally like to take a Thermogenic (fat burner and provide quick energy) 30-45 minutes before I run. This helps optimize my fat burning potential WHILE I run. If fat burning is important to you, this is definitely something you'd want to look into. TOPFORM offer awesome thermos. Burn Baby Burn is probably one of the best Thermogenics available on the market.
Equally as important is to feel your muscles post-run. So that your body doesn't start feeding on your hard-earned muscle, be sure to take in at least 30 grams of quick digesting protein following your cardio and training. After training your body is starved for nutrition. If you don't feed it what it wants, it WILL not only eat away at your fat (yeah!!) but also your muscle, and you don't want that. A protein shake is the perfect solution; it's quick, easy, portable, and affordable. With such a small window (most experts estimate you have under an hour after training to hydrate and feed your muscles) a protein shake does the trick. ISO Strong Whey Isolate Protein Powder is one of my current favorites. TopForm only uses the highest quality protein sources, and it doesn't hurt that their chocolate and vanilla flavors are amazing, mix well, and taste oh so good when mixed with fruits!
My list could go on and on. I've learned a lot since I started running. I'm still learning. Aren't we all?
Please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions; I'd love to hear from you
Jenny Grothe
jen.fit.training@gmail.com
