A Real Life guide to becoming a Runner (Part 1)

I remember when I was a child and I started running for the first time.  It was like no other experience that I had ever come across.    I’m still looking for something similar but there is no feeling that you get from running; especially when it is outside.  Running on the treadmill is for the birds.  No offense to the people who like running on the treadmill but I often find that my 6’2 inch frame doesn’t allow me to run with my normal running stride and It always makes me feel like the hamster that runs on that wheel over and over and over again.  I’ll trade you the treadmill for a nice run outdoors on a city street or a trail run through trees with leaves turning color.

Let’s keep it honest.  Everyone isn’t built to be a world class runner.  We don’t need to do scientific research to find that out, however, everyone can be get better at running.  Look at me for example, I’m about 4-6 inches taller than what the height is of the average elite distance runner.  I’m also about 30 to 40 pounds heavier.  I had a dysfunctional heart that I was born with and had corrected through laser surgery when I was eighteen, a lower back that aligns in and out from a car accident when I was 20 years old and a right foot that has a tendency to play peek-a-boo by sticking out to the far right.  So how is it that I was able to run at the NCAA level, finish marathon running distances and coach others to do the same?  One word: LOVE.  I love to run.  I love how it feels.  I love the health benefits that come along with running.  It may be because your company has a Corporate 5k run that you would like to run a respectable time in.  It may be to run with your children, and to do something productive as a family. It may be to go on your personal journey and escape in the process, or you may want to appear to be the speedster in your immediate circle of friends.  So if you want to go out there and run but are not sure if running is made for you, here are 10 great tips to help you get out there and run.  Individuals turn to running for a multitude of reasons. 

1.   Find a good shoe that you feel comfortable in.  Your shoe should fit like a glove.  While running your foot will take a lot of steps.   Make sure your foot is protected with the right shoe.

2.  Drink plenty of water – drinking lots of water will keep you hydrated ensuring that you receive adequate blood flow throughout the muscles, and are not put at risk to dehydration or dry mouth.

3.  Get a good warm up before you run -  the facts are that warm muscles perform better than cold muscles.  Warm muscles are able to produce greater force with less impact on the joints are less likely to be injured.  Part of enjoying this running thing is being able to know that you won’t pull a hamstring doing this.

4.  Run with rhythm -  Rhythm makes it easier to remember things, makes your day to day a little less mundane and it allows you to run better.  Try running to the beat of a fast song, or one of your favorite songs.  It will help you to get during the challenging parts of your run.

5.  Run with people and run by yourself.

Running with people provides the stage for great social interaction and to help one another push toward their fitness goals.   Running by yourself is a great way to enjoy solitude, let the mind roam and to be one with thyself.  We are constantly having our personal space invaded at work, at home and in public so it is great to be able to have that alone time to yourself.

Stay tuned for the next  five things that you can do to make you a Runner!

Maxim Nazaire is the author of the book Real Fitness, Real Nutrition.  He is a nationally recognized fitness expert.  Nazaire currently acts as a Corporate wellness Consultant for Fit2DMax incorporated.  He has consulted and managed wellness programs for The American Diabetes Association, Parson’s Engineering group, Gwinnett Technical College, and the Team Challenge program for the Crohns and Colitis Foundation.