Just started running - looking for tips, techniques, and a bit of motivation

-Brilliant playlist and tell yourself you just need to run until the end of the track then the next and so on.
-Push through the bit where you think you might have to stop and it feels so good
-Also sometimes you have a bad run for no real reason and that’s ok

i Started about 10 years ago with C25K. I now run 5k 2-3 times a week for fun. I never thought I’d be that person. I’m slightly overweight stressed mid 40’s with a lot on my plate. I NEVER enjoy the thought to going for a run. But LOVE how I feel after a run. Like a pp I’d agree - in 10 years I have never regret a run.

tips:

1. Do c25k
2. read some Bryony Gordon
3. get a cracking playlist. Mine involves a couple of steps tunes that I’ve even been known to do the dance moves too in the middle of an empty footpath

good luck!

I run a lot, but I’m quite chunky. I used to be a lot more chunky.

You’ll never regret going for a run. You’ll almost always regret NOT going for a run.

You will be amazed at what you can do, even when you don’t feel like it.

Feel tired? Go for a tired run. Feel hungover? Go for a hungover run. Feeling meh isn’t a reason not to run. It’s only when you’re injured or have a fever or a chesty cough that you shouldn’t.

Try to do a couple of strength sessions a week, especially as a beginner runner. It will strengthen the muscles in your legs that keep you in good form as you run, making you less prone to injury. Things like your quads, hamstrings, hip flexors, etc. Plenty of info online to find.

Really good running bra. I wear two at once. Helps you feel comfortable keeping your shoulders in a good posture, upright.

When you run slow, don’t slow down the cadence of your steps. Try and aim for a fast tempo of steps but keep your strides short in length. Long slow strides increase the twisting motion through your joints and tendons and can make injuries more likely. I try to keep to 160 steps a minute (you can find tracks in spotify etc that are specific bpm to see what’s comfortable for you). Athletes tend to do much higher steps per minute cadence than casual runners.

Agree with banging playlist. There’s me plodding along cherry-faced at 5mph listening to acid techno

Another couch 2 5k vote. It really helps.
i did it with a friend, that helped too.
when I graduated from couch 2 5k and started running on my own a bit more I made a play list of songs I enjoyed but that wouldn’t encourage me to go too fast. The slower you go the easier it is. Work on going longer distances at a slow pace and the speed will come in its own time.

pick routes you enjoy, do parkruns, join a running club that caters for beginners.

as you improve sign up for a 10k race. It’s a good goal to work towards but not so far a distance that it’s not achievable in a reasonable tike frame.

it is hard at first and it does take quite a while to feel easier but if you stick at it one day it really will. I will run for hours on end with friends as a social day out. It’s such a big part of my life now and something I genuinely love to do. It takes a while but if you’re consistent you’ll get there.

Agree with C25K and also, however slow you’re running, run slower! It helps in the beginning.

And also good, properly fitted running shoes and a distraction, like music.

I don’t often respond to threads but I really can’t ignore this! I’m 20 months into running now and honestly can’t envision my week without it now.

tips to survive as a beginner are:

• do the couch to 5k - it’s slow progress but it works!
• make an absolutely banging playlist

as you get more confident in your running:

• sign up to a few local 5ks and get the runners high
• don’t get too obsessed with strava or the data - go off how you feel and celebrate the small wins as you improve
• lastly make an absolutely banging playlist!