When you first get into running, you might find that it feels like it’s always going to be hard. You might find yourself running out of energy quickly, and getting too tired even if you’ve only been running for a really short amount of time.
The good news is that running does get easier, but you have to be willing to put in the work to get to that stage. As long as you are patient, determined, and motivated, you will start to feel better and the days when running felt hard will be a thing of the past.
In this article, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks that will help you get to a point where running feels a lot easier.
1. Consider Your Age
You can run at any age, but it is important that you understand that your age is a contributing factor when you run.
As we get older, our bodies will need more time to recover, so if you are running regularly, you will need to make sure that you have regular rest periods in between your runs.
Though it is technically harder to run as you get older, that really doesn’t mean that it’s impossible or that you can’t do it. You just need to keep patient and stay motivated. Once you get into a rhythm and routine with your running, it will get easier for you. Consistency is key!
2. Practice Mindfulness
This might seem a bit silly at first, but once you get into the habit of practicing mindfulness when you run, you’ll start to see that it’s actually a huge benefit.
Train your brain to remember some positive and mindful phrases such as “I’ve got this!”, or “I can do this”.
It will feel a bit unnatural to begin with, but once you really get into the habit of telling yourself these positive affirmations you will just naturally put yourself in a better mindset which will have a very positive effect on your running.
3. You Will Always Have Your Off Days
Even when running becomes second nature to you, it is important that you remember you will still have your off days, and that’s completely ok!
There are absolutely loads of contributing factors that can cause these off days and they have quite a range.
Poor weather conditions can be a massive reason that you might have an off day. You can still go out for a run in poor weather conditions, but the way you run will be impacted.
Lack of sleep is another contributing factor that could cause one of these off days. If you go for a run the day after you’ve had a bad night’s sleep, your performance is likely going to suffer. You need to make sure that you are well rested and energized ready for your run.
Other reasons you might be having an off day include dehydration, poor nutrition, and not enough recovery time between your runs.
4. Find Ways To Move Past The Boredom
When you first start running, it’s no secret that it can become quite boring, in the sense that your mind might wander and you might not stay as focused.
This is just something that happens when you first start running though, once you build up a routine and ways to stay focused, you won’t find yourself being as bored so much.
Some great ways to fight off the initial boredom include listening to music and audiobooks.
Music is a great motivator that can really pump you up on your runs. Listening to upbeat and inspiring music can make you feel like you’re in a movie, or you’re on an epic quest, and by the time your mind drifts back to that boredom, your run is practically done!
If you love to read, then get into audiobooks! Running and listening to audiobooks really go hand in hand with each other. You can get so many books finished while you’re running and they are a great distraction from that creeping boredom.
5. Don’t Push Yourself Beyond Your Limits Too Soon
When you first start out with anything, you just want to be the best you can be, as soon as you possibly can. This can cause you to rush through the different milestones and steps that you need to take before you are actually ready to take them.
Improving on anything requires you to take your time and really understand each step you take. There is no easy way to get good at something, even if you have the natural ability already.
Lots of running is actually quite an internal and mental practice. In order to move through the steps and acquire the skills you need, you have to be in a good place mentally to truely achieve them.
Listen to your body and mind and learn to take things a bit slower. Slow and steady wins the race after all! When you take your time and know where your limits are, you can work to improve them.
6. Make Sure You Are Fueling Your Body
It is so, so important to keep your body fueled and fed when you are consistently running. You want to make sure you’re introducing a decent amount of carbs to your diet and lots of foods that are rich in iron.
Carbohydrates and iron really help when you’re running a lot. Carbohydrates give your body lots of energy to run for longer and iron helps with regulating the oxygen flowing through your body. Both are incredibly important to keep balanced when you want to run.
If you are keeping your body fueled properly, you will find that running just gets easier.
Conclusion
A lot of running becomes easier will come when you have been practicing it more. If you follow the tips we have provided in this article, you will find that running will naturally become easier.
Don’t be discouraged if it takes a little while, you cannot become a master overnight!
