It’s taken me years to like running! When I started, I couldn’t even get through a mile, so finishing two half marathons is a big deal for me. Running has done wonders for my body and spirit. And it’s one practice that helped me reach my goal of losing more than 100 pounds. I have learned so much about myself through running… and I wanted to share some of those life lessons and strategies to help you pick up the habit!
- A RUN IS BETTER THAN NO RUN:Just do it! Commit to running. If you’re a beginner, here’s a running trick that’s worked for me: Walk for 1-minute and then run for two minutes and repeat until you can’t anymore. I listen to a podcast or great music and play this mind-game with myself– “I say keep running until this song ends.” The average song is usually 2-minutes, so the timing is perfect. Here’s a breathing trick to help you run longer: Breathe in twice and then breath out twice and sync with your steps. Be as persistent as you can. There will be days you won’t want to run but do it, even if it’s a short run. Make running a habit by rewarding yourself after, preferably with something healthy!
- MOVEMENT BOOSTS CREATIVITY:There’s so much science out there on this! Every time I must make a major decision or have doubts or anxiety about anything– I go for a run! The mind-body connection is so powerful and always gives me the clarity I need to solve problems and create new ideas. Running is alone time that lets my brain untangle all that’s stuck in my head!
- PERSISTANCE GETS YOU FAR:I haven’t been as consistent with my running as I am now, but it fascinates me that each time I start again– it takes me less time to get my fitness and pace back. Your body is an amazing machine and I love seeing mine do what I need it to do to get back on track. If you’ve given up on your fitness goals… START and KEEP GOING. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve if you don’t give up.
What are your fitness goals? Comment below.
Check out my video of these tips on TIKTOK
And get inspired by my running transformation VIDEO
And for more motivation and running tips– listen to EPISODE 6 of “America’s Dreamers” Podcast Episode with Olympic runner Brenda Martinez (@bmartrun). You’ll love her morning routine to help you start your day like an Olympian.
Written by: America Arias
