Hate running? Try these three things.

I have what can be described as a love-hate relationship with running.

It’s something I’ve been doing for more than ten years now and I’ve experienced pretty much every high and low that comes with the territory, from finishing a half marathon and beating my PR at my penultimate high school cross country race to running myself sick trying to keep up with first-graders in a local 5K. I won’t go into detail about my fitness situation during college – basically, I was pretty lazy – but now I make it a point to get enough exercise for the sake of my physical and mental health.

Running, to me, as always been an extremely personal sport. Everyone is different and feels different from day to day. A run that seems easy one week might have you clutching your side in pain the next. You guzzled a milkshake and felt great during your run one time? Maybe don’t tempt fate again. What works for one person might not work for someone else. In a nutshell, running is all about monitoring your body to see what works for you and what doesn’t.

That said, there are three tips I’ve come to learn myself that I think could benefit everyone, if you haven’t already discovered them on your own. If you, too, could describe your relationship with running as “it’s complicated”, see if these three things don’t help even the score a little.

1. Figure out how you need to fuel. There have been more magazine articles, books, Internet forum posts and blogs written about this topic than I care to guess at. Yes, the basics are the same: Your body needs energy to run. But how you go about doing that is all up to you. Some people can run on an empty stomach; some can’t. Some people never seem to drink Gatorade; others swear by it. I’m not a nutritionist, so I can’t tell you exactly what to eat and when. But I can tell you that figuring out what works for your own body is crucial. Finally, just this past year, I figured out the magic formula for me: Eating a small amount of carbs, protein and a hit of sugar before I run. This could be some peanut butter and jam on crackers, or a yogurt and nuts. Heck, I’ve eaten a few spoonfuls of Graeter’s black raspberry chip before running and felt excellent (although I’m not sure I’ll try that every day). The point is, through experience and trial and error, if you can figure out what works for you, you’ll be a lot better off.
2. Stretch a little. I was anti-stretching for a long time, convinced it didn’t help me. While I didn’t get injured running, it always took awhile for my muscles to feel recovered afterward. A few months ago, I started stretching a little before and after I run. Sometimes I do more or less, depending on how I feel, but I try to get my arms, legs, back and ankles a little loose. It’s helped me get into a pace more quickly when I run and has pretty much eliminated soreness the next day from a regular workout – both wins in my book.
3. Scrutinize your shoes. My footwear revelation occurred when I realized that, despite the trend of shoes getting lighter and thinner, I really felt better running in thicker shoes with more support. I stopped marveling at the newest, sleekest models and went back to a conservative shoe with plenty of heel cushioning. Again, I’m not a podiatrist or physical therapist, but figuring out what shoes work best for you is a good idea – it’s definitely helped me feel better and more comfortable running. Oh, and I’ve never worn anything but New Balance.

There you have it: my three best secrets for getting back in the swing of things with running. Whether you’re a newbie or an old pro, I don’t think it could ever hurt to re-evaluate these things from time and time and make sure everything is still working for you.

Do you like to run? What are your tips for enjoying it more? Let me know!