Beginner Running Tip - stuff it's useful to know when you start running

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Stella L'Eclaire's Beginner Running Tip

"Best beginner running tip: As running becomes a habit the pain will stop, says Stella L'Eclaire."

Stella L'Eclaire is a dedicated runner. Here she shares her beginner running tip with you:

It's not very long ago since I started running - see my log and I definitely still have a vivid picture of the pain and fight I went through. Some things are good to know when you start to run. Here are my beginner running tip:

Follow a program that combines walking and running. If it hadn't been for Karey's walk to run program at Real Women Running I doubt I'd never have started running. Or rather, I would have started, again, and given up in frustration, again. The woman runner inside me has tried to get out several times over the years, but been discouraged over and over again. Finally, by going from walking to running and by slowly increasing running time and decreasing walking time I became a runner. Running Made Easy is a book that contains a great walk to run program. It also gives fabulous advice to anyone who wants to run.

It hurts, but don't worry! In the beginning my body hurt absolutely everywhere, except maybe on the tip of my nose. It's OK, it's not going to be like this forever. It's like your body is getting used to being used this way. When running become a habit that pain will go.

Use a clock! Get a good clock with big numbers - and use it every time you run. This is how you best monitor your progress and push yourself. I'm lazy and don't push myself too hard, but with the clock I'd at least push myself for an extra 30 seconds or even a minute. For a while I ran without the clock, and, who would have thought so (!!!), I went backwards. That is, I ran shorter distances and for a less time total. The work out that was supposed to be 30 minutes became only 27 minutes and then 23 minutes and then 19 minutes...

You'll stop looking at the clock and get into the flow! I remember clearly the day I for the first time was thinking about something else than "just another few seconds and then I can walk". I had reached that week of the walk to run program where I should run for three minutes before I should walk. Suddenly I realized those three minutes had gone by and my mind had been somewhere else! Now, getting into that meditative flow where my mind can enjoy its freedom is one of the things I look most forward to before every run.

Book your training sessions! This doesn't only count for running, but for any exercise. I had read and heard that thousands of times, before I finally realized that it actually is a smart thing to do. A week starts on Monday and finishes on Sunday. When and at what time are you going for a run? Write it down in your calendar and don't reschedule unless you absolutely have to. And remember it takes some time to get used to - but eventually you will take this appointment with yourself as serious as with anyone else. Be realistic - don't schedule training early in the morning if you hate mornings or in the week end if you absolutely love hanging around the house in your pjamas Saturday and Sunday. See here on ideas on finding time to exercise.

Always bring water! Not only do you need water because you sweat, but nothing is more annoying than getting so thirsty that you feel like you'll die from it - and having to break off your run to go somewhere you can get something to drink.

Stretch! In the beginning, it can ease the pain to do a bit of stretching during your walking "breaks". Always do a gooooood stretch when you finish - or you'll pay for it later with pain and stiff muscles.

Feel guilty because you miss a session? Go for a run! Whether you follow a running program or just have decided to run three times a week, it's easy to feel guilty if you miss a session. Best way to deal with it is to get out and run!

The start is the most difficult part! Many runners claim that the first ten minutes are really hard - and it's true! Once your muscles are warm and getting used to running it gets easier.

Remember to rest! Your body needs it.

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