Tips for Starting Out: Running

 

Good morning from the Beach Club! It’s our last full day in Disney, so we will be hitting the parks enjoying it. here is a sneak peek picture of our room.

Today, I want to share a guest post with you from Vanessa at http://www.confessionsofacrazymom.net be sure to read her words of wisdom and then go visit her blog!

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Most mornings I hit the ground about 4:20. From that moment I do not slow down. I workout and then come home and get my son ready for school and get myself ready for work. After driving 45 minutes each way to work and working all day as a CFO, I come home and help my son, who is dyslectic, with his homework. During all of this I try to put some sort of supper on the table and do some laundry. On the weekends I try to get in a few runs and catch up on my housework. At 40 years old, I am currently training for my first half marathon.

People ask me why I do it. I do it for myself, for husband, for my son, and for the challenge. I hear many people say they would never get up that early to workout. I remind them that it is not about how early you get up. It is about scheduling your workouts and keeping your schedule regardless of the time of day. I workout in the mornings because my family is asleep and I am not taking any time away from them. Plus, I haven’t had all day to think about all of the laundry I need to be home doing instead of working out.  That is just how I prefer to do it and it is not for everyone.

Honestly, it is not always easy. Truthfully, sometimes it is down right hard. I have cried, laughed, prayed, and even cussed on this journey, but I have kept my eye on the goal.

So if I could give any tips to people just starting out:

-Realize some of the friends you have now will not be your friends once you seriously start this journey. If family members are negative, let that be your encouragement. Just because you failed before, does not mean you will fail this time. You will find a whole new group of friends that want to be there to encourage you along the way.

-Search for groups of people who will encourage you. I was involved in starting a running group in our small town called GRITS (Girls Running In The South). We are all newbie runners. This group helps motivate me.

-Make your goals known publicly. Once you know people are watching, you are less likely to quit.

-If you feel self conscience exercising in public, look around. You are probably not the only one. The truth is people are probably in awe of your courage to get up and start.

-Find an app on your phone that will help you achieve your goals. There are lots of great Couch to 5K programs out there.  There are other workout journal apps if you don’t run. If you are not into technology, get a cheap spiral. Just log!

-If you trying to lose weight, log everything you put in your mouth.  I mean everything! I personally use an app of my phone called My Fitness Pal.  I would be happy to share with anyone and add them as a friend on my app. However, you can just write it in a spiral. Again, just log!

-Don’t stop because of one bad meal or bad day or one missed workout.

-Eat for goodness sake! Don’t skip meals or you will never have the energy to workout. Just watch what you eat.

Obviously, these are things you have heard before.  I read somewhere that every 1 woman that starts her fitness journey encourages 20 other people. Even if you only encourage 5, and they encourage 5, and so on, we are doing great!

Best Wishes in 2013,

Crazy Mom

QOTD: What would you add to this list?