Its not just that I dislikedrunningwhen I was a kid.
I loathed it, even.
And not being good at it meant that it also stressed me the eff out.
Lydia Hill/Adobe Stock
When I was in junior high, part of our P.E.
Testing day brought mesomuch anxiety, most of it produced by that dreaded timed mile.
So what did I do?
Not quite, or, better said, absolutely not.
I wrote extra-credit reports to make up for those points I wasnt getting on test day.
Yep, thats right.
So, yeah, I hated running.
And, to be fair, Im pretty sure running hated me too.
This story is one of my lifes most iconic ironies given that I nowloverunning.
I dont do any of that.
Im not a running expert or coach.
This love I have for running is deeply personal.
I say this all because maybe you, too, used to hate running.
Maybe you still hate it.
I also know that spring has a way ofdrawing us outdoors, perhaps this year even more so.
These are all things that Ive lived by ever since I started to run for enjoyment.
Change the metrics (or take them out completely).
One thing that changed running for me is the simple fact that Im not being graded on it anymore.
Nothing changes your mentality about something more than releasing all the pressure out of it.
It was all up to me.
I was accountable only to myself.
Thats why tweaking the metrics available to it’s possible for you to be so helpful.
As I mentioned, for me it was originally pace, the infamous timed mile.
So I dont really pay attention to it.
When I first started running, I ran without a watch.
It was also pre-smartphones, watches, etc., so I just picked a route and I ran it.
Its not worth it, especially in the beginning.
Let all of that go.
Take it literally one step at a time.
When I say take it one step at a time, I mean it.
Find something that is mentally and physically doable.
For instance, try running for a minute and then walking.
Finding something that is doable is crucial for you to feel confident in your ability.
Then maybe you move to running an extra 10 seconds or 30 seconds or a minute.
How you progress will depend on how your body feels.
Note that I am not giving you a running program here.
I am giving you some suggestions to break down the mental and emotional barriers.
you might worry about actual programming later.
Pick an environment that appeals to you.
To this day I have a hard time running on a track.
Instead I choose to run in places that are visually stimulating.
These places have become sacred to me.
Just even thinking about them puts me into a different mental and emotional space.
Theres beauty all around, nature, life, and fewer people and cars.
I crave these places just as much as I crave the runners high.
Sneaky, I know.
Get yourself a soundtrack.
Movement and music are inherently linked in my world.
Ive been a hip-hop head for as long as I can remember.
Nothing gets me up a hill better than a little Busta Rhymes.
Im very purposeful about myplaylists, but just know that doesnt mean your soundtrack has to be music.
Over the last few years, Ive also really come to appreciate podcasts and audiobooks while running.
The most enjoyable experience is one that is full body; think about all your senses.
Eliminate anything else that might interfere with your experience.
Give yourself the best chance to truly enjoy your experience.
And let it be an actual experience.
Meet yourself where you are.
You might just learn to love what you thought you never could.
