Running Late III- Street Lights

After thinking and reading about running you want to start, you really do. You would start but you're just not sure what is the best way, so that becomes the sticking point. Because you don't want to tie the shoes and run out the door. You've done that a few times throughout the years and it didn't end well. This time you want to start the right way. Deep down you want to be a runner. You want it bad.

What makes some runners keep running for years while so many others start and stop, start and stop, until they finally just quit? One of the hardest things to convince a non runner of is the mental aspect of running. Almost everyone knows of the soreness, pain and blisters first hand. How can that be mental? Does this sound familiar: You finally decide to run. You set your goal at 2 miles. You go and somehow finish the whole 2 miles, and the next day you can barely walk. No amount of preaching will persuade you of the mental aspect of distance running.

Let's try it this way. First, of course, see your doctor. Always, no exceptions. Second, buy a pair of moderately priced running shoes. On your first day, set aside 30 minutes. Go out on the street in front of your house and start walking. Walk for about 5-10 minutes. Now, look at that street light in the distance. Street lights are good because of their spacing, but you can just as well use houses, poles, whatever. With your target in sight, start to run very slowly, not much faster than you were walking. At your street light finish line, start walking again. Walk 2 street lights, then start running again to the next one. Remember, run slowly. Try not to get out of breath. If you're huffing and puffing, you're going way too fast. So now you've got the routine. Walk 2 lights, run 1.

Continue for 10-15 minutes. If you get tired, just stop the running portions and walk home. The whole session shouldn't last longer than 20 minutes. This is your emergence as a runner. You should repeat this exercise for a total of 3-4 times a week. After a couple of weeks, try extending the running from 1 light to 2. Gradual increases over a 6 week period will have you running more and walking less.

Soreness, blisters and all the bad stuff should be at a minimum. Be patient. You've waited years to start running. The street lights will transform into quarter miles and the quarters into halves. Sooner than you think, you'll run an entire mile without stopping. I didn't say without effort. Running is always harder than walking. That's another reason we're so proud to call ourselves runners.

After the first mile, multiple miles will come. How many miles is up to you, because for you, running has now become mental. When will you be able to call yourself a runner? My friend, when you reach your first street light, you are a runner.