What You May Not Know

There are a lot of benefits to running that are both physical and mental. Running can overall make you happier, whether it’s from the perceived benefits or just obtaining that “runners high”. It can also help you live longer by strengthening your knees/joints, reducing risks of cancer, and helping lose or maintain your weight.

Finding the Right Equipment

One thing when you pick up running is to make sure you have a nice running shoe. Running shoes don’t need to be expensive or flashy. The criteria in a good running shoe involve the right size and fit. You can have the right size shoe, but it may not fit correctly. Things to feel for when checking if a shoe is the right fit would be making sure your heel is anchored and comfortable in the shoe, the width of the shoe fits snug to your foot, and the arch of your foot is comfortable on the saddle of the shoe. Improper shoes are typically the cause to most injuries like tendonitis, and shin splints.

Extra Tips and Local Events

Once you start getting into running you need to understand some things, especially if you aren’t experienced. When you first start running, you’re going to want to focus on distance rather than your time/pace. This should be your focus because it is important to push yourself on further runs to gain experience and build endurance to make your future runs even more efficient. You also need to know that rest days are very necessary but not an excuse to get lazy overall. You need to be able to stay on schedule between resting and running, any in-balance can result in a shift in an unhealthier lifestyle. Making running a habit and being able to balance your off days with consistent runs will lead to you getting in a groove and being able to up your distance and endurance in runs. Keeping a log of these days will also help increase motivation and be able to help your tack your progress. If you are passionate enough about this hobby or feel as you need some company, there are groups out there you are able to find if you search on Facebook. For example, click here to check out a cool local group in the Fox Valley area. If you are a little more competitive you can find different events being hosted in you area such as Rethink! runs and 5k’s.

One final thing to keep in mind is that once you go for a run, you are a runner. Bart Yasso once said, “I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.” I find this quote quite comical and very true.