If you had told me a year ago that I was going to start running again, I would have laughed. But lo and behold, I am a runner. And I love it. I went from running 3 times a week over the summer to build up to 3 miles, to running with the Kent State Running Club, to running on a regular basis at Mount Vernon, running a half marathon (which I still can't believe I did), and now I'm a member of Mount Vernon Nazarene University's cross country team. Crazy.
If you're looking to start a running program, begin slowly. Don't just go out and try to run a 5k right off the bat. Work your way up. Most running programs have you running for a few minutes and then walking for a few minutes until you work up to running 30 minutes straight. Once you hit that, you can slowly start to increase it. I think the program I used was called Couch Potato to 5k, but you can find other programs online. If you're training for a half marathon like I did, make sure you get in some good mileage. It's important to incorporate long runs into your training at least twice a week. I usually do anywhere from 7 all the way up to 10 miles. Go at a pace that feels good and don't try to race it.
Rule 1: Stretch! I cannot stress this enough, especially if you don't have good flexibility, like me. I can't even touch my toes. I know, it's a little sad. Some people say you should stretch before and after you run, others say stretch after. I stretch after I run. It helps keep my muscles loose and it helps with soreness. It's really important after long runs.
Rule 2: HYDRATE. If you read my post about the incident on the side of the highway, you'll understand the importance of hydration. If you're preparing for a race, make sure you hydrate well the day before. Don't drink a ton of water right before you run. It will slow you down and it probably won't feel very good on your stomach. And whatever you do, do not have any dairy before you run! However, chocolate milk is one of the best things to drink after you run. It helps with muscle recovery and hey, it's delicious. One of my favorite beverages.
Rule 3: Food. There's a joke among runners that we can eat whatever we want because we'll burn it all off on our next run. Which, not going to lie, it is kind of true. I eat pretty healthy, but I do love a good burger. Although I stay away from fast food as much as possible. I'm proud to say I haven't set foot in a McDonald's in 5 years. One thing that I absolutely love (and I have a theory that this is common among runners) is ice cream. When I was at school I would eat ice cream every day. And yes, I love pasta. Carbs are a runner's best friend.
It's not uncommon for runners to have stomach issues sometimes. It doesn't happen to everyone, but unfortunately, it happens to me. If you find you are having problems, start taking a daily fiber supplement. I drink Metamucil every day. Yes, it's a weird texture and it doesn't taste that great and if you don't drink it fast enough it gets thick and gritty. But I haven't had any stomach problems since I started taking it. It actually works! So I chug it down and go on with the rest of my day.
I hope you found this interesting even if you aren't a runner. Don't be surprised if you read a post in the future about some of my cross country adventures. Until then, lace up your shoes and happy running!
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