Hi.
I've not written a blog for a while, I'm afraid I've been on the wagon as far as Burgers are concerned and putting miles beneath my running shoes instead.
I've now been running with a degree of consistency since Christmas 2011 and I've come to some realizations about the whole activity. I'll outline them here in "10 truths about running". It is highly subjective and may not be true of your own running efforts but that's the most important thing.
1. Reading about running. Watching videos about running. Telling anyone who will listen about your intention to begin running. These are all examples of not running.
Put on your running shoes and move at pace outside for extended periods of time. Well done, you are a runner.
2. It is possible to improve at running. When I started at the beginning of the year, every run was a gargantuan effort to get out the door. Also, I was easily frustrated at how tired I felt, and how ridiculous I looked in my swimming shorts and jumper.
This is of course rubbish, every moment you are out on the pavment, in your local park or running track, is an improvement on the last one. Your body learns very quickly what you are up to, and works with you. It is impossible to imagine what I am on about until you give it a try, but when you start to be able to run for more than 30 minutes you begin to listen to what your body needs, and get better at serving it. This leads immediately to improvement in stamina, speed, recovery and most importantly of all: Enjoyment!
Here are some examples of ways I listen to my body these days:
Stretching: I walk/jog slowly to the park to begin my run, and on the way I give myself a full evaluation. Literally. I start with my toes; how do they feel in the trainers? Are my ankles relaxed, are my calves stiff? Am I hungry? Are my shoulders loose? Do I have any niggles anywhere which might become dangerous/annoying after a mile or two? Then it is also perfectly acceptable for me to take a quick spiritual check, how am I feeling? Am I stressed or relaxed? Am I pumped with adrenaline or am I doing this because I feel I have to?
Answer all these questions honestly and then adapt your run accordingly! Don't fight your body, listen to it.
3. Running is not boring. This is a tricky one to disprove, because it is such a common complaint. I do not find it boring, for the following reasons:
a) It allows me to spend an hour or two listening to albums which I do not give myself time to listen to in my spare time.
b) Running allows you to physically exhaust your body, leaving your mind revitalised. If you too, work at a desk, you will know the feeling of working a day feeling mentally drained - while all your body has done is go from sleeping position, to seated position to sleeping position. Running allows you to see what your body is really capable of - you should be proud that your body can carry you around a park at pace. Now give it a burger. Good body.
c) Running can be very intense - as you become tired, and your steps become more and more laboured, you may find that your mind drifts to negative thoughts. Whether this is in the form of a familiar song chorus, or an embarrassing moment with a work colleague, the thought repeats and replays and sucks all the energy from you leaving you tired and depressed.
Get out of this rut by listening to music you love, and imagine yourself doing what you love to do. I imagine myself on stage at Glastonbury, and delivering an awesome pitch to a publisher of a book I've written.
4. Competing is easy and fun. It is easy to think that if you are running then your only proof of worth is the half marathon, or the full 26.2 mile marathon. No. In fact there are races from 5k all the way up to 100 mile ultra-marathons happening all around you - there are races for all abilities and most are well organised and fun. In west London I ran in the BBC Running Club 10k, a few quid to participate, a number on the shirt and a medal at the end - masses of motivation and enjoyment and the chance to watch some real runners in action.
5. Running is not a surefire way to lose weight on its own. If there is one thing that I have not had to sacrifice during my short time as a runner, it is my belly.
Despite a steadily increasing weekly mileage, I am not shifting the beer from my belly. And, this is mainly because I haven't stopped drinking the stuff. My brother, a national swimmer and now a body builder told me the other day: you get a six-pack in the kitchen. Too bloody right. If your goal is weight-loss do not be surprised if after 6 months of running with your current diet you are not ripped like Beckham. Diet on its own can leave you thin, but not running alone. A golden combo of the two will leave you strong, healthy and lean as a walking stick. But I'll confirm this once I get there.
6. Running is addictive. Falling against the door to my flat after an hours running is an act of joy. Joy at finishing what was invariably very tiring, but also with pride at having not given up and got the bus. You will want that again and again. I find myself thinking about the route at work, and then google-mapping the distance, chucking pasta into my face to give me the carb boost I want to get round Regents Park twice.
7. You get out what you put in. I am a lover of food, and a complete control freak when it comes to portion sizes or eating times. I want it when I feel like it and not a moment later. Unfortunately, if ou believe some of the runners' diets online you'd be mistaken for thinking you had to adopt a monk-like stance to cuisine and give up the sauce completely.
If you are like me then I will not try to tell you about eating breakfast being key to my evening runs, or about eating pasta, missing out on cheese, making me feel lighter and faster. So I will just say that you are an engine, and you will work out through trial and error what is the right fuel for you.
8. Resting keeps you going. Search the internet and you will find sofaloads of runners asking things like "I run every day but it doesn't get easier! Why?", or "can I train for a half marathon in two weeks?". Look, we live in a culture where we want to see results fast, and show them off immediately. However, running is just one of those things from which your achievements take a little longer to show. I mean, you will improve after every run you do, but don't forget that you are still burning calories and repairing torn muscles the day after your last run!
Don't run every day for three weeks and then spend six months on the couch with tendonitis and damaged knees!
9. Walking is not cheating. Noone who runs will judge you for taking some time to work up to running, if you are unfit. Ultra-runners know that when they are competing over 100 miles, you walk the hills. Walking is a part of running, I use a long walk to warm down a bit after a run!
10. Finally, as I mentioned at the beginning. We are all different, what works for you may not work for me.
