Welcome again to Rockstar Runners! We are thrilled about the response we’ve already had in just the first few days of getting this club started. It seems that many of you are quite interested but still a bit tentative about how to go about this whole thing of running.
In my last post I mentioned how just getting off the couch and getting yourself outside a few times a week makes you a Rockstar. So, if you are just starting, or just wanting to start, that’s exactly how to begin.
To get your running habit started the best thing to do is to take it slow and actually create the habit. To do this, set aside 30-60 minutes at least 3 times a week to get outside and go for a walk. No matter the weather, make sure you get outside and walk. Reacquaint yourself with your neighbourhood or maybe even just the outdoors. We were made to walk not sit around for hours on end! Take a loved one with you or a pet and you suddenly have some new quality time to spend together. Do your best not to miss a day even if it means a late night or early morning walk. Remember, you are establishing a habit here.
A great motivational tool for me is to log my exercise. I hate to see days with zeros in them and I love to see days and weeks that are full of high numbers. So grab an old calendar, schedule the days and approximate times you’ll be walking then when you get back from your walk write in your time or distance or just put a big “X” through it. You need to find what motivates you the best. A sophisticated spreadsheet works great for some people and a scrap of paper nailed to the wall works just as well for others.
Logging your distance works great as you can see the accumulation of all your excursions. You could also look at your watch whenever you pass a certain landmark and write that time down when you are finished. By noting your distance or landmark times you’ll be able to see how you are progressing and whether or not you are ready to step it up!
During the weeks you are doing your walks it’s time to think about getting a proper pair of running shoes which I’ll talk more about in my next post. So until then, be a Rockstar and get yourself outside and enjoy that beautiful crisp fall air!
Moving forward,
Glenn
