8 Things Running Has Taught Me

I ran today! First one in a week. I don't know about you lot but all these bank holidays are great but they don't half kill any semblance of routine! But before the Sunday wait Monday no wait, Tuesday night blues set in for good, here it is... Because everyone loves a listicle.

1. Just because it's raining doesn't mean it's cold

In fact running in the rain has become one of my favourite things. I love the smell of wet leaves, the noise of trainers on wet ground is satisfying and there are far fewer dog walkers etc. clogging up the paths I run on. But I must learn that rain does  not equal cold, and I can leave my jacket behind, which leads me to...

2. Gear is genuinely important

I can't tell you the delight I felt when I set out on my first run wearing proper running shoes. General purpose trainers are heavy and not cushioned right. You don't need to spend hundreds on clothing and gadgets (you may *want* to...) but wearing stuff designed for running will make a difference to your enjoyment - you need to be able to ignore your clothes, because the slightest irritation will  become an excuse to stop, turn around and come home when you're pushing yourself.

3. Support really does help

No running mates? Use technology! This can be really simple - a friend who says 'well done' when you report your latest mileage (however modest). Or it can be very modern - like the support from a virtual running club on Twitter/ Even just seeing others Runkeeper/Nike+/MapMyRun times popping up in my social feed helps motivate me to get out there too.

4. It is not JUST about the numbers

If I just looked at my pace/distance/calories blah blah blah I wouldn't run. Some people are goal motivated like this but I'm not one of them. I'm far too easily disheartened. Running for me is about the fresh air, and the feeling of belonging - when I see other runners I always give them a big smile (or a grimace if I'm more than a mile into my run...)

5. BUT some numbers are good

I'm a recent convert to the concept of a training plan. With the GNR looming I am in the phase of the year when I actually use a plan. Being able to say 'yes I have run today AND at the distance and pace required by my plan' is so good. Although I may dispute my plan's definition of 'comfortable' pace!

6. Technology, technology, technology 
There's lots written by people who know lots more than I do about gadgets to help you track your running, I'll let you Google that one yourself, but I love MapMyRun for tracking runs as well as planning (and checking the distance of) new routes.

7. The road is boring

I hate the noise of a car going past me when I'm running. For some its being seen/leered at/heckled (FWIW I find a good old white van man honk quite motivating! Don't tell my inner feminist). For others it's the smell of the endless row of takeaways on the route. For whatever reason, for many runners, getting off road is great. I use MapMyRun's OpenStreet map and Google satellite images to plot new routes near me that are mostly not on the road. Bridleways and waggonways (one of the bonuses of living in an area with a lot of mining history) are now the bulk of my routes. I read somewhere that the slightly more uneven, slightly less hard surfaces are good for your legs too. It's the birdsong for me. And the chance to see some non-city sights for a change.

new friends from my halfway-point stretch break. 

8. Running is good for the mind

This is one of the main reasons I took up running - because I needed to do something that was simultaneously going to make me stop DOING things endlessly (I can't just relax at home, if there's ANYTHING at all needs doing I battle on endlessly), and give me a boost of endorphins. I periodically struggle with low mood, generalised anxiety, and a negative cycle of lists and procrastination, and feeling bad about the procrastination and the long list. I needed something that was just for me and that offered a sense of achievement for a relatively low investment in time or money. I was skeptical at first but running helps. It gives me some mental space to myself,  it's hard to put into words but I am genuinely still surprised and delighted every time I run at the noticeable difference it makes to my ability to get things done and to feel happy, calm and positive in the face of the world.