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Quick fire tips for your new challenge!
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We just wanted to share some quick tips and a to-do list of all the things to consider before beginning your new training routine and setting your fitness goals. We know how daunting it can feel stepping out of your comfort zone, not knowing where to begin, and feeling overwhelmed by all of the expert advice. Hopefully, these few short tips and considerations will serve as inspiration and reassurance to anyone dipping their toes into the running field for the first time — and for those of you for whom it might have been a while since completing your last running challenge, a short reminder to help you smash your next goals!
Did you know?
A survey of over 13,000 people in England published by England Athletics in 2017 found that 74% of runners feel that running helps them with their mental health.
Here are a few things you might want to consider ahead of the big day:
Running shoes: You don’t need to have the latest top of the range trainers, but correctly fitting and supportive shoes are an absolute must.
Clothing: Finding what is most comfortable for you to feel good about yourself and able to take on your new fitness goals is essential. There’s nothing worse than feeling hot, sweaty, and completely restricted whilst trying to push yourself through those final few miles. We know, we’ve been there. 😅
Schedule running commitments in your diary/calendar: Fail to plan and plan to fail! Making appointments with yourself and holding yourself to account has been proven to result in fewer missed sessions.
Ask a friend to join you (or just for accountability): If we say we are going to do something, we are usually more likely to follow it through. A friendly reminder and check-in from a loved one can really help us keep on track.
Find a training programme that matches your fitness levels and can fit into your current lifestyle: Committing to a plan that is too ambitious to fit in around commitments is asking for disaster! Here is a link to some training programmes that can serve as a starting point.
Create a visual training calendar: A daily reminder on the fridge door or on your phone is pretty hard to ignore.
Create a reward for extra motivation: This can be anything at all, so long as it encourages you to get out there and work for it!
Tick all of these off, and now the only thing left to do is start — put on your trainers and get on out there. Happy training!