Running!

        In school, I compete each year on my cross country team. I have been running going on 2 years. I find myself enjoying running so much that I continue on my exercise throughout the year. I've studied up on all my fitness magazines and tips, and thought I might give some words of advice to all the beginning runners out there.

1. Develop a routine
       The most effective way to start your life as a runner is to train. Starting a weekly routine can train the body to handle a 2 mile run every once in a while. According to several doctors and specialists, running 3 times a week for 20 minutes is the usual starting point. Now, most of us can't just pick ourselves up off the couch and go run for 20 minutes straight. Again, training your body is the best, so starting out with a 5 minute run and a 2 minute walk cycle - (warp this to your own likeness) - is a really good starting point. Doing this 3 times a week for up to 4 months, says Fitness Magazine, starts the first phase. Over the course of the weeks, start to increase your speed, condition- hills or no hills - or time of day to effectively tone your body.

2. Distract yourselves
       Often times, even the best runners can become bored on a run. Most of us can't entertain our mind for a steady 2 mile run. I have a couple tricks that help me focus on other things than the fact that I'm running. Using an IPod or a IPhone to listen to music or podcasts can distract me very easily. Using lyrics and tunes to entertain and distract the mind makes it easier to run. Try running with a partner. A lot of the times, human presence and conversation makes it easier to run. Lastly, running with an animal such as a dog can provide company and motivation to keep going.

3. SLOW DOWN!!!
       New runners often start out too fast in an attempt to impress themselves. Eventually their steam dies down and they lose their energy. Try starting out at a slower pace. This often means that one can go on for a longer time. If you are starting out at a pace that you can't comfortably have a conversation with a partner, you are going to fast, especially as a beginning runner. Throughout the run, you can progressively speed up, but never push yourselves to hard at the beginning.

P.S. - this advice DOES NOT apply to races- in races you usually want to speed up at the beginning, then find your pace, and at the very end, sprint it out! :)

4. Don't compare
     Watching a more experienced runner is hard, because you can't help but compare where you are to where they are. I know exactly how it feels- trust me, watching my cross country couch run a 4:52 mile is hard, especially while I'm over in the back running a 10:38 mile. Now, almost a year later, I'm running a 7:25 mile, almost 4 minutes in improvement. NEVER compare yourselves to others, this can provide not only a terrible mindset about running, but a terrible self image.

I hope these tips helped you and inspired you to take up running. You could end up liking it as much as I do and as 13, 000 other women do. ( according again, to Fitness magazine! ) Please leave comments,

                                                                                                                - Olivia <3

Restart!

        Hey guys! So it has been about A YEAR since I posted last and now, I find myself "blossiming"- as my mother would say it - as a cross country runner, academic student, and big sister. Obviously my interests have changed, so I decided to rework my blog to give the world a little "youthful advice". I hope you enjoy!