Stay The Path {the bike path}

(image via pinterest)

If I've learnt anything over the last couple of years on my running journey it's this: your head will always give up long before your legs do.

Some things that help me to stay the path, literally.

*Get your clothes out the night before, if you plan to run in the morning. I am not a morning person. At all. Morning runs are my least favourite to start but my most favourite to end. It puts me in a fantastic mood and I am way more efficient on the mornings I run...if I get out of bed. To combat this I have been known to sleep in my run clothes, put my alarm on the other side of the room so I have to get out of bed to turn it off and to put super motivating songs as my alarm ring tone.

*Sometimes if I'm toying with the idea of not wanting to run, I tell myself that I only have to run for 5mins and if I'm still not feeling it I can come home. I am yet to come home. 

*Once you're out there your brain will bombard you with all the reasons that you should stop. You have to find a way to switch these off. Try not to get ahead of yourself and your planned run distance. Don't be thinking about how far you still have to go but instead break it into manageable chunks. Sometimes I tell myself I just need to get to the next light pole/driveway/big tree etc. I often find that once I get there I'll try to get to the next one. You can usually go further than what your mind will tell you that you can.  Another option is to find a couple of good running quotes that help to motivate you. I love "I Am Healthy, I Am Strong. I Can Do This All Day Long". Dorky & rhyming; what's not to love! Repeating them over and over when you're wanting to chuck in the towel might be all it takes to get you through. Other suggestions include counting your steps or listening to a podcast. Anything that takes your focus off how your body feels.

*New run clothes, shoes or even a few new songs on your playlist can do wonders in keeping you running or getting you back out there. Music is pretty key for me. Some runners, like Josh, prefer not to use music so they can listen to their breathing etc. Frankly, I'd prefer to to listen to anything other than my haggard, laboured respiration, but each to their own.

*Be accountable. The main reason for this challenge. Recruit a friend. Log your workouts on an app such a runkeeper, mapmyrun or strava. Having said that, a watch or timer on your phone will definitely help and should be one of your first purchases (along with a well fitting sports bra). If you know that someone is going to ask you how your runs have gone this week then you are more likely to do them. Sometimes this also helps me when I am on the path. If I'm out there and really struggling and considering stopping, I think about when Josh asks me how my run went. It helps me round up my time. If I'm at 17mins then I'd much prefer to tell Josh I did a full 20min run than say 17 so I struggle through to make it a whole number. Just sounds better.

*Surround yourself with people who are encouraging and supportive of your run journey. 

*Take it slow and progress incrementally. The danger when starting a challenge is to go all out and get frustrated when things aren't happening as quickly as you wanted. I literally started running for 30sec and then walking until I felt I could do another 30sec and built from there. If I ran continuously for 3mins last run then I'm going to aim for 3mins30sec next run.

It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned runner or a newbie, at one time or another you will definitely 'hit the wall'. Don't let a bad run side track you. Just get back out there and keep going. Let's #getourrunon today.