If you have been on the site recently, you would see that Getting to Zen’s design is undergoing changes as it transitions from a pure personal development blog to a personal development, lifestyle by design and running blog. :-)
I don’t mean to give you whiplash with the back and forth of my changes (more are to come), but I don’t have a tech person and am making the changes myself through trial and error.
And so in honor of the direction of the blog, I thought I would post an article about getting in shape; because that is where running starts.
Keep on keeping on
Getting in shape is the process of adapting to physiological and mental stress. When you first start running, expect to be sore in places that you did not know you could be sore in. It is not supposed to feel good for the first several weeks. Too many people feel the aches and pains of getting in shape, think something is wrong or it is too hard and give up.
They give up before they breakthrough to the next fitness level. Based on the thinking that there are different levels of getting in shape, the first is to get the blood flowing and the body used to moving. The first day of exercise after a planned or unplanned break due to injury can be quite uncomfortable, but after a few weeks or less, your body will adapt and running will become more comfortable.
Train the brain
Not only are you training your body to run, you are also training your mind to endure the discomfort that can come with running. For example, have you ever noticed that the first run after a lengthy break always seems to take forever, no matter how far it is.
It is funny how things work that way–that a 4 mile run when I am out of shape can feel like it takes longer than a 10 mile run when I am in shape.
Set a goal
Having a goal will make it easier for you to lace up your shoes and head out the door. Your goal can be anything from completing your first 5k or marathon to setting a personal best. Or maybe it is a weight goal that you want to achieve. It doesn’t matter, the point here is to set a goal to keep you going. You may even want to join a group to keep your motivation up or bring your ipod along so that you are not just listening to the voices in your head.
Follow a schedule
Knowing what you need to do the next day to accomplish your goal, helps in the realization of it. I am a big proponent of following a schedule to achieve a goal. There are many running programs on the internet (I will go into these in more in another article) for distances from the 5k to the marathon, but I prefer books.
I used Advanced Marathoning
Give yourself a pep talk
The thought of giving yourself a pep-talk may sound silly, but it is not. Sometimes we are the only ones around to encourage ourselves. For example, I went out for a four mile run this morning, felt like stopping after the first mile and pep-talked myself through the other three. On days like this, it is hard to imagine that I have run the last mile of a marathon faster than the first 800 meters of this run. Aaaaaaaahhhh, the joys of getting in shape.
Reward yourself
Do something nice for yourself at the end of the run. Get a massage, take an ice-bath, stretch, relax, curl up with a good book, enjoy your family. In the summer, I will often look forward to a homemade ice-cold smoothie chocked full of blueberries, bananas, orange juice; Sometimes I will add flax seeds, whey protein or a veggie green powder to give me an extra boost. But, if you want to go with ice-cream, that’s fine too–sometimes I do that.
Getting in shape is a process and should be looked at that way. It is not something that happens over night. What you put into it, you will directly get out if.
Have a happy run.
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Hi, My name is Lisa. I am a mother, girlfriend, blogger, runner and happiness seeker.
I started blogging in March 2010 as a way for me to grow and help others by sharing what I learned.
My personal development journey began about 15 years ago.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
It was only a couple years ago when I ran and trained for my first half marathon. I trained so hard that before it was said and done…I could run over that 12 mile mark, but I was in pain in the hip area. You are so right about setting realistic goals…that doesn’t mean going along with everyone elses flow, but doing what feels right for you. :)
Hi Kenya, congratulations on your accomplishment. I remember the fist time I did a half marathon. Interestingly, that has become my favorite distance. Setting realistic goals makes it easier to train for them. It is best to set a series of small goals that lead up to a larger one. After all, our bodies can only perform to the extent of our training. Always run your own race in everything that you are doing. Use others for motivation and inspiration but ultimately do what works for you. :-)
Great tips. I like your easy approach and attitude, Lisa. Separating action into manageable steps and not taking on too much is essential for reaching goals in any domain. Simply envision that first chunk of activity and move into it.
Thanks Rob. Making things as easy as possible is what it is all about. When you break a task down into its smallest actionable steps, it doesn’t appear insurmountable. I use this approach when getting in shape all the time. :-)
As simple as it sounds, I’ve found that “keep on keeping on” is one of those mantras that stuck with me for life.
Hi J.D. Thanks for stopping by. Putting one foot in front of the other figuratively and literally is the only way to continue to move forward. And as momentum is gained, it becomes easier. To further assist your momentum, gather support from family, friends and a community of people who are striving for the same goal.