Teach Yourself How To Run: Part Five

I understand that if you have been following my ad-hock running lessons, that you may have already realised that finding time for training is very hard work. Recap - Part1, Part2, Part3, Part4.

You are going to find that life will generally crop up from time to time and divert your attention from grabbing your weekly fix of jogging. It happens. If you are sensing some sarcasm in my writing tone then...bingo - you got me!! I'm not one to harass people, so I'll be brief. You need to begin your lessons again - please refer to the previous posts above. Done.

OK! For those of you who have managed to stay with me to date and given my lessons a go... let's give you another one of my observations to practice.

I had noticed a few years back that during my runs, when I am struggling and in the back of my mind I feel slow... I tend to run close, very close to the edge of the path or trail, virtually hugging a hedge, wall or tree line. It makes me feel like I am running faster - when I am not. So, if you are just starting out and want to feel like you are running quick (for fun), try running real close to a fence. Alternatively, if you want to test your resolve - run away from the edge and physically pick up you pace for a little.

We want to be together!

Huge reminder: try not to time your runs for now. You have years of running against a clock ahead of you... let's not spoil the fun for now because your mind can play games on you ;-)

That's all I can offer you for Lesson 5, so please post up your comments and let me know how you are going!


Engine[er]

Teach Yourself How To Run: Part Three

Hi, and welcome back to my free lessons on how to put one foot in front of the other fast enough to be called running. Or jogging.

I have been getting quite a lot of running in recently and it has given me plenty of time to think of what I might talk to you about next. Todays lesson follows on nicely from the last session, and how to beat those mind controlling gremlins. YOU CAN DO THIS! It is easy.

Start with dampening down your lazy urges. Running along my normal route just last week, I reached a short sharp hilly lane ( I call it the 'gut freeze'), this horrendously steep lane is neatly halved by a kissing gate. On an average day I would run up to the gate and launch myself to the side and onto the adjacent fence, effectively jumping over the gate. It keeps me moving and makes me feel good. But last week as I began the climb up the lane.. I had this gut wrenching, nagging thought that I was too tired to jump over the fence, and that I would play it safe and walk through the gate. Just as I approached the gate I forced myself to change my mind. I upturned my belief that I was tired and made the jump.

Sailing through the air and landing on the other side I really felt empowered by doing this and realised that I had taken on a mini mind challenge... and beat it. When I run I continuously attempt to do the same thing but in slightly different ways... you try this. It may be that simply not stopping is your goal for your runs, but make sure that it is a challenge. Another challenge is when you take a turning on your run and you are faced with a tiny short cut across the grass instead of following the path... FORCE YOURSELF to follow the path around. You will know that you have done something special - because it will just happen to you, your gut will shrink and then BAM! You take on the challenge.  For me, I knew that I my change of mind made a big difference to me because the pit of my stomach cringed and heavily resisted the gate jump... I had changed my mind against all the odds.

This is what running does for you. You can see challenges, and obstacles - but they only represent another way to test your resolve, fitness and need to win. This is an exciting skill and mindset to experience - and trust me, you will need this in your life if you decide to run or start up your own business.

Tell me all about your experiences please...

Engine[er]