Starting to run can feel like jumping off of a boat into deep water. And, oh yeah, the water is actually the ocean. And it's definitely nighttime, so everything around you is pitch black. And did I mention that there are sharks, too? Fun, right?

My point is that running can be intimidating and scary, especially when you first start. I know that I was terrified half the time, and the other half I was most likely feeling really, really hangry. What can I say? I wasn't exactly the most joyful runner, but I definitely ran enough to work up an appetite.

If you are new to running, whether that means you're logging a few miles a week, have never even ran around the block, or are currently still in the "dreaming" phase of what it would be like to be a runner, then this list is for you. I have compiled 7 things that I wish I had known before I started my running journey. If you like, you can think of each item on this list as a life preserver, sailing through the salty night air, ready to give you a lift back onto the boat. Don't worry, I've got great aim. So here, catch!

#1 - It Will Hurt

I know, I know. This one probably doesn't come as much of a surprise, but it's still important. Running is uncomfortable, especially when your body isn't used to it. Muscles that you didn't even know you had are going to be sore. Seriously! The amount of times my shoulder has ached while out on a run is ridiculous. Who would think that a sport that appears to be so focused on one's legs could have an impact on the upper body? Well, it does. I could go on and on about the connectivity within the various parts of the body, but I will spare you, for now at least.

When I started running, everything felt sore and every muscle hummed the same tune. I swear I can still hear it, even now. I'd go for a run and my body would start singing, "Stop it. Stop it. This is dumb. If you run more, we'll go numb," to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Ridiculous? Yes. Painfully accurate? Also, yes.

In all seriousness, there are two things about this item that are extremely important to note. Firstly, that you know it is going to hurt. If you know that you are going to be sore, tired, and most likely a little grumpy because of being, well, sore and tired, then you can mentally prepare for that now. The element of surprise is gone. You just took that power away from the physical toll that running can take. Secondly, there is a massive difference between being sore and being injured. At first, it can be really difficult to distinguish when your body is simply protesting against doing something new and when your body is screaming at you, "Hey! I'm actually NOT kidding right now! This hurts!" Do your best to listen to your body every time you go out for a run. I like to do what I call "body scans." As I run, I will focus on different parts of my body, starting from my toes and traveling upwards, all the way to my head. Every time I reach a new body part, I take inventory. I check in with myself and how I'm feeling, taking note of anything that feels tight, sore, or downright painful. Over time and with practice, you will get better at deciphering the difference between soreness and injury. Do your best and, when in doubt, air on the side of caution.

#2 - You Will Want to Try Everything

Imagine being a kid and going to an amusement park for the very first time. Now, imagine that someone just handed you some cold hard cash and told you to go buy and do whatever you want. Want to ride the rollercoaster with the awesome loop de loop 15 times in a row? Go for it! How about some ice cream for lunch and dinner? Make sure you get an extra scoop so you can try the latest flavor, Cotton Candy Surprise!

Exciting, right? The options are endless and everything looks incredible. It can be hard to resist the temptation to go do everything all at once, but let's all take a moment to remember what always happens to the kid who rides the rollercoaster with the loop de loop 15 times, especially after having two ice cream cones. All I can say is, watch out!

Getting into running can be just like that. Suddenly a whole new world is open to you and there are thousands of incredible races to participate in, super cool high-tech gadgets that will definitely make you run faster (I've heard that it's in the fine print there somewhere, if you just look hard enough), and endless shoe options in every color possible. The running world is fantastic, but it is also enormous. It is so big, in fact, that it can easily swallow even the most seasoned runner in one swift gulp.

The beauty about running is that it can be a life-long activity. That means that you will have plenty of time to try all of those shiny new things, so there is no rush to do it all at once, right out of the gate. Take your time, ease into things, and start slow. Focus on the most important things first and start there. Find yourself a high-quality pair of running shoes, some socks that don't give you blisters, and a race that is of an appropriate distance for where you are in your running journey. As time goes on, you can test out new things, but do so gently. You don't want to end up like the kid at the amusement park. In the running world, that kid typically ends up broke, injured, and with a lot of chafing.

#3 - Celebrate the Small Victories

Many of us get into running because we have big goals of what we want to accomplish. Maybe you saw a video of someone running their first marathon and thought, "Hey, I'd like to do that, too." Or perhaps you saw a post on Instagram about the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days challenge and thought, "What a great way to see the world. Sign me up!" Whatever your goals might be, that's great. Make sure you keep them someplace safe, somewhere you can see them each day and remind yourself why you're lacing up your sneakers, yet again.

As wonderful as it is to have big dreams, it can also be a little discouraging. When you're out on your fourth run this week in a torrential downpour, that shiny goal of yours will probably feel pretty out of reach. This is why it's important to celebrate the small victories along the way. I'm not suggesting that you should change your target. Rather, I am encouraging you to stop and smell the roses as you get there. Sometimes the most rewarding moments in running are never captured in a photo, witnessed by a cheering crowd, announced over a loudspeaker, or rewarded with a medal around your neck. A lot of the time, the sweetest victories are woven into your training. Like the first time you run a mile without stopping to walk. That's a total victory! Or when you get up the courage to join your local running group for their weekend jog around town. Look at that, another victory! Celebrate the things that seem small. They will keep you motivated and oftentimes you'll look back and realize that these moments meant a lot more to you than you first realized.

#4 - Run Your Own Race

The internet can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be an absolute black hole of despair. And if that black hole had a name, I think it would be Comparison. Yes, with a capital letter, just for extra oomph!

I know you've heard this a million times by now, but comparison is a thief. Please, whatever you do, don't let that thief steal your joy as a runner. It is great to find people that motivate you, encourage you, and make you want to stay involved in the running community. Just remember that most of what you see online is someone else's highlight reel. It is pretty rare that you'll come across a photo of someone crying as they sit on a curb alongside the road because their stomach is barking in protest every time they take a step. That's real, but it's not glamorous, therefore it rarely makes it online.

When starting your running journey, and honestly even after you've been running for many, many decades, make sure to run your own race. Be inspired, congratulate others, comment about how you're impressed with someone else's accomplishment, and then move right along. All you need to worry about is doing the best you can do for the you that you are in this very moment. Everyone starts somewhere and we are all scattered along this insanely long spectrum of running experience. Appreciate the fact that you are standing on that continuum at all, because that is a gift in it of itself.

#5 - Patience Is Your Friend, Not Your Enemy

Okay, this one I take a little bit personally. I am not a particularly patient person. At the very least, I am not patient person when it comes to myself. This is something that I am very well aware of and I promise that I'm working on it. Growth is not linear, but I've actually gotten better about this in recent years, though I do still have setbacks sometimes.

It can be really tempting to rush things, especially when you first start running. There are two ways that impatience typically presents in runners. First, as runners, we often have big goals and want to reach said goals as quickly as possible. Most of the time, this leads to running too fast, too far, and too often, which ultimately can lead to injury. When you start running, start slow and build gradually. It can help to follow a training plan or hire a coach. These things can assist in guiding you towards your goals at a responsible cadence, one with your current fitness and experience level in mind. Second, as runners, we often like to get from Point A to Point B as fast as possible, especially when we are running a race. We've all seen that person take off sprinting when the starting gun goes off, hightailing it down the first straightaway and around the first corner, to then fade into a slow shuffle for the rest of the race, a look of regret etched across their face as they cross the finish line. I am ashamed to admit that this is one of my trademark moves, at least it definitely was in years past. Running too fast at the beginning of a race can make for a really painful journey to the finish line. Take it from someone who had to make this mistake over and over and over again before the lesson started to sink in. Be patient. You will thank me, and yourself, later.

#6 - Learn the Rules of the Road (or Trail)

Ahhh, the logistics of running in a world where other people exist. I never really realized how many people aren't aware of road (or trail) etiquette until I started running. There is an unspoken code out there on the sidewalks, bike paths, trails, and countryside lanes of the big bad world. Please, for your safety and the safety of others, take the time to learn that code before heading out for a run. Those rules exist to keep everyone safe and help with the flow of traffic, for both pedestrians and vehicles. I promise you, it is not complicated. Honestly, you probably already follow these rules intuitively, but a refresher never hurt. A quick Google search and you will be all set!

#7 - Running With a Friend Can Make the Time Fly

Running alone can be an extremely peaceful, some even say meditative, experience. Others find it to be downright lonely. When you first start running, you may not know anyone else that is a runner. That means you are going to have a lot of miles to spend with your three new best friends named Me, Myself, and I. If you enjoy running solo, then great! I am one of those runners too, so I totally get it.

But if you aren't looking forward to the premise of being a lone wolf out there, slogging away on a Saturday morning long run, then I've got good news for you. Finding a running buddy can make those miles absolutely fly by! You'll get so wrapped up in talking, laughing, and singing along to whatever music is playing quietly in your headphones, that you'll charge past mile marker after mile marker, hardly even noticing how far you've gone.

If you are in search of a running buddy, of course you should always use proper safety precautions. Please do not go meet someone you met on a subreddit for runners that claims to live in your area and has a username like "catchyouifican27." That would be what we refer to as an extremely poor (and dangerous) life choice. However, there are countless local running groups available to runners on a national, and international, level. I recommend searching Facebook for a running group near you, since they will often have a page that posts about the times and locations of their meet-ups for group runs. You can also go to your local running store and ask the employees there. People that work in running stores often 1) have lots of inside information about the local running scene and 2) love to talk to people about running. It's a win-win!

Welcome Aboard

Phew! It looks like you grabbed onto a life preserver, or two, or seven, and made it safely back onto the boat. And without any nibbles from a shark, I see. Well done! Just for that, here is a bonus item.

#8 (AKA The Bonus Item) - You Have to Train Your Gut, Too

As you get deeper and deeper into the running world, you will learn that runners like to talk about a lot of things that aren't necessarily common in traditional day-to-day conversation. Let's just say runners will share things that you would NEVER tell your boss about. One of those things is, well, "the gut" and all of its various personality traits.

When you start to run longer and farther, you will eventually reach a point where it will be recommended that you consume some form of calories while running. This is pretty typical for distances of a half marathon and longer, though everyone is different and needs to do what works best for them and their body. Taking in calories while exercising will likely be a new experience for your stomach and that can cause...complications. Be sure to gradually introduce the consumption of calories mid-run and be open to trying a variety of foods and sports nutrition products. Again, everyone is different, so what works great for that person you met at the race expo may turn your stomach into a lead weight or a boiling cauldron of hot lava. As someone who has experienced both, proceed with caution and take your time when training your gut. If you get your stomach on your side, your running experience will be infinitely more enjoyable.

Ready to Run

Well, now that you are safely aboard the boat and have received your bonus tip, I'd say that you are well prepared to dive deeper into your running journey. At the very least, you are more prepared than I was when I started. Enjoy it and I hope to see you out there!

Wishing you all the best!

Hailey

Subscribe to our newsletter! Click the button to sign up now!

Follow us on social media!