Hi there, and welcome back to the Mohsin Salya blog.
If you’re thinking about starting running for leisure, to keep fit or to take part in that marathon you’ve always wanted to, there are definitely a few things you need to know beforehand. Today I’ll be sharing some of these with you, as this will ensure a smooth and safe transition to becoming a true runner.
It may sound like a cliché people throw around at you when you first start running, but this truly is one of the most profound lessons you ever learn when you are just starting out. When you start out, the high impact nature of the sport can take a toll on your body, which can lead to soreness, cramps and blisters. Even mentally it can take a toll, and it isn’t uncommon to suffer from burnout or mental fatigue.
However, as you get stronger and fitter, your body will adjust. The quickest way this will happen is to run at least 3 times a week when you first start out, sticking to a routine and scheduling your sessions just as you would a work meeting or family event. Don’t go running long distances from the start, build up to them realistically and gradually increase your mileage.
It is true what they say – you are what you eat. It’s very easy to put on any weight that you have lost from running, and there is no amount of running you can do that balances out a bad diet. Your body needs the right kind of nutrition to run at its best, whatever your fitness goals.
If you don’t fuel yourself with the right food, the chances are you will struggle when running. As a result, you’ll blame it on the running when it’s your diet choices that are the culprit. Ideally you want to be eating complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fat. Stick to these food groups and you’ll find it a lot easier.
If you don’t train your mind the same as you train your body, you will definitely find the whole process a lot harder, and in turn fall short of achieving your personal goals. To become the best runner you can be, you need to accept the fact that your inner state (thoughts, feelings and emotions) and your outer state are related, and one has an impact on the other.
It’s important to believe that you can go the extra mile, and that all of the discomfort you are feeling during your run won’t last forever. Once you build up enough mental and physical endurance, that discomfort will become less and less.
This is possible one of the toughest lessons you’ll learn throughout your running journey. If you’re going to become an all year round runner, you will have to learn how to keep your runs consistent under all sorts of weather. You can’t afford to believe that it’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.
You have to try and remember that running in bad weather won’t kill you. Once you have the right attitude, it’s completely possible to run when the weather isn’t perfect. And once you start truly believing that, the run will be over before you know it.
Until next time,
Mohsin Salya