Everyone is a first time runner at some point.
I remember when I was. It was hell. Torture. I would feel so positive and motivated to go – then 200-300 meters down the road I would be dying. How the hell did people run so far. Mum ran though. She loved it – so surely it wasn’t that bad.
It took discipline babe. So. Much. Discipline. I set out to run 5km. I was going to do the Mother’s Day Classic. Every time I got a little bit further – ran a little bit more I felt so flipping proud – but by golly it was gross. It got easier. Every time – it got easier. Not just that – I started to feel so good afterwards. The endorphin rush, the feeling of accomplishment, the excitement it was over. The bloody pumping around my body.
So I set little goals. Little steps further each time. I remember when I decided to do the 10km Mother’s Day Classic. It seem like such a long way. Discipline prevailed. I surpassed that 5km distance and remembered how that used to feel so hard – yet now I was reaching for 10km. Because babe – that’s the thing- things do get easier if you keep going. When I never thought how I could do it – now I was smashing it. Run 200 meters – Ill sprint it. Before – I would die.
Then came the day I thought – ok I’m going to do it. All these people around me were running marathons, half marathons. If they could do it – surely I could. It seem soooooo far. Run 21km are you mad? 15km seemed impossible. But I set the goal – and off I went. It was hard. I won’t lie. Those long runs were horrible. At the time I wasn’t in tune with what my body needed to run such a distance, I wasn’t conditioning my body or looking after it. I was just running. I completed that half – falling over the finish line. My goal – 1 hour 45. I did it in 1 hour 49. Gutted. But complete.
I then did something stupid – I signed up for a full marathon. 42km. This was madness. The training was horrendous. Near the end I got a 1st degree calf tear, then a stress fracture in my metatarsal. The last 2-3 weeks consisted of long bike rides to try and rest my feet and calves. The longest run I achieved was 30km. It wasn’t enough – I wasn’t going to make another 12km. But I was determined to do it.
Race day came – I took a nurofen plus, a Panadol, stuck on down my bra and prayed my foot and strength would take me to the end.
It did. But not without a lot of pain, and super duper slowly. But I finished it. Tick done. That old me – the one who couldn’t run 200 metres – would never have thought I’d be able to do that – and I did. Accomplished.
So you want to run too? Or maybe you’re already running and want to push further. I hear all the time that “I can’t run” or “I’ve tried so many times”. Girlfriend – maybe you just need a better pan, a better goal and to dig deep and find that GRIT. If you want to run a certain distance or a certain time – or just be consistent first and foremost ask yourself WHY. You need to be strong on the WHY – otherwise you won’t keep going.
Along with a good plan – you need good conditioning. I’m going to pop my top tips below to get running and keep running.
So you’re set. 5km plan, 10km plan, half mara plan.
- If you’ve never run a distance before – get a plan. Its important to gradually make your way up so to avoid injury. Go too hard too fast – and you may be paying for it later.
- If you’re wanting to increase in distance – running 3 times a week is a good start.
- Strength training – is a must. Having strong glutes and quads is essential so start doing leg day. The Figure Babes leg day is Tuesday – just saying. Most knee problems occur because your ITB’s (the muscle down the side of your thigh) are too tight – and your VMO’s (the muscle on the inside of your knee) are too weak. So roll out the ITB’s and strengthen those VMO’s.
- Get a good pair shoes. Don’t just grab the ones at the back of the closet that you haven’t seeing months – go and investing a good pair. This will help prevent injuries and will either hinder to help your running
- Conditioning – get yourself a roller babe. Roll out those thighs, glutes, calves, back. The whole shebang. Don’t be afraid to get deep. 15-20 of rolling almost every day.
- Fortnightly/monthly massages. I know it’s a hit on the back pocket but they will be a huge help – and if you don’t look after your body you won’t be running
- Nutrition & Water. 3-4 Litres a day babe – especially the day before a run. 500ml within an hour of a run too. Carbs, Carbs, carbs. The day before and especially dinner the night before you need some good carbohydrates. My go to is a chicken pasta dish, or a good rice dish. Nothing too heavy. I would avoid beef. Breaky the morning of a run is also super important for long distance. My go to is my porridge made with 40g of oats, banana, flax seeds, almond milk and honey. I have this 1.5 hours before the run.
- A good play list. Nothing like be bored AF on a run – or listening to some slow tunes. My Spotify playlist is Danni’s runs if you want to join. I mix it up – some old some new.
Tag me in your runs, share the love – I love seeing you get out there.
