Tag Archive for: first half marathon

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6 Beneficial Exercises Runners Can Do Anywhere

Runners can complete these 6 beneficial exercises anytime, anywhere

More and more people are joining the running community. People are attracted by running’s simplicity and numerous health benefits. The best part is, you don’t need fancy equipment, weights, or elaborate training to get into the groove of running. All you need is a pair of shoes. Running is great, but you need to complement it with beneficial exercises that will help you get stronger and reduce the chance of injury. Check out our list of 6 beneficial exercises that will optimize your running workout and prevent injuries. You can do these exercises anywhere, anytime. Pro tip: complement all your exercising with a healthy diet. These 10 delicious recipes are ideal for busy runners.

6 beneficial exercises

  1. Squats

Squats strengthen your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and core. This will help your running form, especially if you recently started running.

How to do them

Stand up straight and keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your body while bending your knees. You can use your arms to balance your body. Or you can place your hands behind your head and interlock your fingers. This will make your core work harder. Make sure that your chest is lifted and you’re looking up. Try to go as low as possible and then rise up slowly, while keeping your back straight the entire time. Place your feet side-by-side if you want to increase the level of difficulty. 

  1. Lunges

Lunges are great for making your quads, hamstrings, and glutes stronger. They also help with flexibility and improving your range of motion which is important for long-distance running.

How to do them

Stand straight and take a step forward with one leg while bending both knees. The knee of the leg that took the step should bend at a 90-degree angle and your other knee should barely touch or hover just above the ground. You can then push back up, take another step with the opposite leg, and complete the entire process. If you don’t have much space, just return to a standing position and repeat with the other leg. 

  1. Single-leg deadlifts

One-legged deadlifts help with balance and strengthening your hamstrings and glutes. These are also great if you’re looking for a quick and effective pre-run warm-up.

How to do them

Stand straight keeping your body weight focused on one leg. Hold your core tight and lift one leg behind you, while pushing your upper body forward. Lower your body as far as you can, while keeping your back straight. Slowly return to a standing position and repeat with the other leg.

  1. Pushups

Pushups are great for working all upper body muscles and your core.

How to do them

Get down on all fours, while keeping your hands and toes wider than your shoulders. Move your legs back from this position so that your body weight is balanced on your hands and toes. Keep your back straight, hold your abs tight and engaged, and slowly lower yourself while bending your elbows. Push yourself back up, while straightening your elbows. 

  1. Planks

Planks help strengthen your core.

How to do them

First, enter a pushup position. Focus on keeping your core tight while bending your elbows. Lower your body from this position so that your weight is balanced on your forearms and toes. Try to keep your back straight without sinking. Engage your abs and hold this position for as long as possible. For beginners, 30 seconds is a great start.

  1. Burpees

Burpees help increase endurance and build aerobic capacity. They will work out your entire body. 

How to do them

Begin standing up, then squat and place your hands on the floor in front of you. From this position, kick your feet back to a pushup position. Keep your back straight, complete a pushup, and jump back into a squat by kicking your feet forward. Stand up straight and repeat the process. 

As you get stronger and become more comfortable with these beneficial exercises, try to increase the difficulty level. You can do more reps, more sets, or increase the amount of time spent doing an exercise. By adding these exercises to your routine, you reduce the chance you experience runner burnout.

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Inspire Yourself and Keep Chasing Your Running Goals

5 tips to inspire yourself, boost your motivation, and become a better runner

Let’s face it, there are days when you don’t want to wake up at the crack of dawn for a run. Similarly, no one really wants to leave work, get home, and head out for a run. No matter how much you love running there are going to be days when you don’t feel like it. This happens to all runners. There’s a secret ingredient that can help you overcome this: inspire yourself. This is helpful for every runner, especially if you’re training for your first half marathon.

Set smaller goals that lead to your large goal, like the finish line.

Inspiring yourself is easier said than done. The difference between those who give up and those who keep running is motivation. Running provides amazing benefits, but you can’t take advantage of them if you don’t run. There are many ways to inspire yourself no matter what level of runner you are. Even the most experienced runners will revert back to what they first learned when they started running. Whether you just started running or need a refresher, the 5 tips below will help you inspire yourself.

  1. Start small

The easiest way to scare yourself away from running daily is to choose large goals that you can’t yet reach. You can’t run ten miles on your first day, much less at the end of your first week. Creating larger long-term goals and smaller short-term goals is the key to success. 

You need to understand your body and your limits. How much are you comfortable with running in a day? Start small and when you get used to that, increase the distance. Eventually, you’ll reach your goal of running ten miles a day. You can inspire yourself along the journey by setting small, accomplishable goals and achieving them.

  1. Mix it up

Mixing it up can help you keep it fresh and avoid runner burnout.

Running along the same route can become boring and routine. Mix it up and change your routes every few days. You can explore new areas (just make sure they’re safe places to run), enjoy new parts of your city, and most importantly, find reasons to keep running. You could even meet other runners and make new friends along the way. Allow yourself to use running as a way to unwind and explore, instead of seeing it as a chore. This strategy will also help you avoid runner burnout.

  1. Tell your friends and family

There’s no better way to stay motivated than to tell the people you know about your running goals. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment, hold yourself accountable, and you’ll have one less excuse to give up. Share photos from your run on Instagram or Twitter. Use relevant hashtags so other runners can see what you did. You can see what they’ve done and might get inspired by them. Sharing your fitness goals makes you accountable for your success. You just might inspire someone else along the way.

  1. Expect failure

Failure will help you achieve your goals.

No one has ever succeeded 100% of the time. Failure can be a key factor that demotivates people from continuing running. The secret is to know about this ahead of time so you can be prepared for it. If you miss out on a day of running, that’s fine. If you catch a cold and can’t run for a week, that’s fine. Running is all about taking care of yourself, understanding your limits, and doing your best. Not someone else’s best.

Expect to fail, and know that even if you fail to meet your goal, you will have another chance to succeed. It’s also important to learn why you failed. Were you not paying attention to your stride and did you land awkwardly? Did you not hydrate enough or eat before your run? Perhaps you started your long run too fast. Everything that could lead to failure is a teachable moment from which you can learn.

  1. Just do it

You’ve probably heard this one plenty of times before, but it works! If you’re procrastinating and don’t feel like running, just get up and run. Once you’re actually running, there’s a good chance you’ll keep going. There’s an old saying that getting your shoes on is the hardest part of the run. So lace up those shoes and go. If you need more motivation, add a small reward at the end of your run. Something that you’ll look forward to. Remember, running can reduce stress and anxiety. You’ll feel much better at the end of your run, even if it’s a short one.

There are going to be days when you don’t feel like running and there are going to be days when you fail to reach your goals. If you inspire yourself, then that’s like having a personal coach who completely understands you and is there to help you on your running journey. Stay motivated, keep running, and pretty soon you’ll reach your long-term goals.

Runner Burnout: Indicators and Recovery Advice

How to identify runner burnout and advice on how to handle it

When you run, you feel free and can escape to your happy place. All runners can relate to the sheer joy that running brings anytime, anywhere. It is a great opportunity to prepare for the day ahead or relax after a tiring day. What if you lose the desire to run? You no longer experience the thrill of running. You miss the runner’s high. It’s now a chore to get out your door. Learn about runner burnout and how you can overcome this tough phase to keep enjoying what you love.

Runner burnout causes

Your purpose for running should not be guided by perceived pressures or mismatched goals. When you train more with less time for recovery, you are at risk for runner burnout. If this happens, the running you loved will no longer feel the same. If you don’t want this to impede your running journey, it is essential to minimize overtraining and maximize your recovery time. Whether you are an everyday runner or a professional, a well-rested body can help you handle physical and mental fatigue.

Indicators

Struggling with runner burnout is not easy. It never was. An enjoyable activity can even turn into an unsatisfying chore. Watch for the following indicators. They’ll provide the clues you need to assess runner burnout and act accordingly.

  • feel exhausted all the time
  • don’t eat or sleep well
  • lose the motivation to run
  • avoid meeting your running friends
  • experience more stress and negative emotions
  • unable to complete your workouts

Recovery advice

Pushing harder and not slowing down could make the issue worse. Once you identify a few indicators, you need to act quickly. Here are several ways to overcome runner burnout and get back to pounding the pavement.

If running is a part of your fitness routine, you need to tackle runner burnout at the right time to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is possible to regain your energy and renew your enthusiasm. You can recover faster with a flexible approach and proper healing. When you are ready to go for a run, nothing can get in the way.