Jan 10

Jan 10 NEW YEAR. NEW YOU. HOW TO BECOME A RUNNER

So I went for a run outside for the first time in MONTHS the other day (but now that its 2017 I can say I ran for the first time this year!..HA).

Um and I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF. I felt like I had a tumor taking over the right side of my stomach that was getting ready to explode.

And I work out...like I do HIIT and do cardio on the stair master a few times a week but running outside is a whole other ball game.

The worst part is? I used to play 90-minute soccer games and run the whole game. That was years ago BUT STILL! Then last year when I was living by the beach I got into running again and I noticed myself getting faster. I noticed my legs getting smaller but looking strong and lean and I even noticed my abs and arms toning up.

I started to CRAVE running. I would get off work around 3:30, sit in an hour to an hour and a half of traffic, it would be 90-degrees outside but I would still get home, throw on my shorts and a sports bra and run for my 30 minutes.

Seriously fell in love. I remember I was motived as soon as I read Cameron Diaz's "The Body Book". She explained how she stays in shape and that getting up and running first thing in the morning was part of it.

So, I channeled my inner Cameron Diaz and started running my ass off, or should I say on ;)

Okay so ANYWAYS - enough recap. Moral of the story is that I miss running and I'm trying to get back into it but HOLY SHIT that first run sucked ass.

I guess through this post I want to motivate you to pick up running if that's something that you want to do and remind you that it's not going to be easy but it will be worth it! And I suck right now so that might be motivating for you also! HA.

I want to give you some pointers on what to do as a new runner + I want to show you the app that I use every time I run!!

TIP 1: START SLOW

Meaning, don't be upset if you end up walking, because you should. Don't try to run yourself into the ground. You want to start with some low intensity cardio which could be walking, jogging or hiking. Even going for a run but breaking it up with some walking is good for newbie runners. This will start to build strength for those higher intensity cardio days.

TIP 2: GET SEXY...AND COMFY

I think that when you're picking up a new workout hobby that you donnnn't really want to be doing in the first place, it's important to feel good about the way you look. If I take a while off from something like yoga or cardio for example, I like to run to Marshall's and grab 1-2 new pieces of workout gear.

ALSO - especially when it comes to running you need to invest in some ACTUAL running shoes. This might also motivate you because they can be a little pricey so it will push you to at least get your money's worth.

But since running can be lots of impact you want to make sure you're protecting your joints with the right shoes. Look for something like these nikes with lots of cushion and support.

TIP 3: THIS APP

This running app is called "Run Keeper" and I've been using it for forever. I like it because before I found this app, I would look at my phone every 10 seconds to see how long I've been running for.

I didn't want to just run around a track for a certain amount of miles. I wanted to get in a 30 minute workout of running but I was so over checking to see if it was time to turn around yet.

Also, just by looking at my phone I wasn't able to see if I was making any progress so the whole thing was pretty UN-motivating.

This app allows me to set a timer for 30 minutes PLUS it alerts me when I've been running for 15 minutes so that I know when I need to turn around.

It also tracks my pace, incline and distance then records my personal best record for each.