- Like getting married, having a kid, or changing a job, there is no perfect time to start running—or to even just go for a run. The sports bra doesn’t hook itself, the shoes don’t walk themselves to you, the door doesn’t magically open to let you know that this.exact.moment is the perfect time to go.
- There is an important difference between good enough and good. Make the former your baseline goal for every outing, and enjoy the good—and delicious—runs when they decide to grace you with their magical powers.
- Running is never easy. But it definitely gets easier.
- There is very deep, direct relationship between how many excuses you’re making not to run and how much you truly need to simply just go.
- Similarly, there is a very deep, direct relationship between how much you’re dreading a tough, can-I-hack-it? workout and the elation you feel after not just hacking it, but slaying that thing.
- Run a distance that feels exciting and right for you; you’re a runner whether your normal run is 2 miles or 12. If the marathon seems like a big drag, the training will be one on your body and mind.
- There will always be another race to enter, but you will only have one body with which to run. Do your best to not be short-sighted.
- Thank your body, your mind, your mojo as you line up at every starting line and cross every finish line, regardless of how the race went. Whether it’s your first race or your fiftieth, put good running karma in the world by acknowledging that you get to do something many people, whether they’re sick, injured, or simply not in an accommodating life position, will never do.
- Nobody cares about your finishing times but you.
- Helping a friend cross her first finish line at a new-to-her distance will always trump crossing the finish line of familiar-to-you distance, no matter what the time on the clock reads.
- The exhausted patina that accompanies an early morning run is actually the perfect tool to help you cope with the annoying, minor afternoon hiccups thrown at you from kids, work, life. You simply don’t have the energy to care.
- More than any other sport, running has the ability to truly change your life. You can run away from depression, bad relationships, negative body images, frustration, anger and anything else that gets filed in the “con” column. You can run towards confidence, happiness, peace, patience, strength, contentment and optimism. All at a pace that makes sense for you.
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I am not posting my name because I really don’t want to be associated with this comment, even though it is totally, 100% me. Running, while it was at one point my downfall, has now ultimately become what has saved (or is saving) my life. I’ve has ups and downs with an eating disorder, and have gone from once not caring if I dropped (quite literally) after a run, to now making sure that I am fueled so I don’t lose my ability to not only complete my run, but to run it better than the last one. It’s still a huge struggle to fuel properly everyday, but I know that the 60 minutes of freedom I get is worth every last calorie it takes to get there. So, after my little ramble here, my commandment would have to be “Eat, Run (you better eat a little more), LIVE”.
This takes so much courage! Keep up the awesome work that has gotten you this far. Running will keep giving back to you as long as you prepare and give it your best. Stay healthy & rock on!!
Don’t be ashamed, that is a wonderful, honest comment. Many, many, happy (well fueled) miles.
Please don’t be ashamed. We are all human and working on our own journey. It sounds like your journey has been difficult, and even though I don’t know you, I’m proud of you for not only fighting your eating disorder, but also for sharing your story here.
Hey Runner–
Thank you very much for your comment and your wise words about eating; I was going to write you can run away from an eating disorder, but I didn’t think that would be appropriate You have shown me otherwise. Eat, Run, Live indeed. We would love to know more about your story (and we can keep it anonymous), if you’re interested. Please email us at runmother at gmail dot com.
Thanks and many more happy miles to you–
Dimity
thou shalt not covet thy BRF’s pace. or her shiny new kicks.
The number of miles run with a brf greatly multiplies the strength of the bond between the two :-)
Don’t think just go! Do it for you! – I woke to a dark house this morning to get my workout on and found this post in my in box. I LOVE these commandments! Such inspiration for every day. I feel so lucky to be a part of such an amazing group of women. Thank you BAMRs!!
Love this post! I say that running saved my life. I am less depressed, can get through the trying times, and keep more focused. I can’t imagine being without it now. Even though, each time I get out there it’s hard. I’m slow, but I say I never give up. That has to count for something.
Thank you for this post! It is what I needed to hear this morning!
I have a personal friend who is battling cancer. On days when I do not feel like going for a run either because I’m tired, busy, the weather isn’t “perfect” or I don’t have time I remember this friend. She doesn’t have the luxury of being able to make these excuses and I get off my butt and get out there. And when I don’t feel like I can run another mile I remember her and if she can get up every day and deal with what she has to deal with then I can run that extra mile. Running, life, everything is perspective!!
Ashamed, I salute you! You are brave and strong and I wish you many many happy, healthy miles!
I was a smoker for almost 20 years. My children begged me to quit, so I finally made up my mind that I didn’t need them. My son was on the cross country team at the time, and was such an inspiration to me. I admired the way he and his teammates encouraged each other and offered constant support, from the fasted to the slowest. I decided to trade my bad habit for a good one, and running became my new way of life. That will be 4 years ago on March 2nd. I just ran my first marathon in November and finished strong, smiling and feeling like a champion. My commandment would be: To get the most out of running, make it your new way of life.
Karen, You rock!
I love #9! – Nobody cares about your finishing times but you. (I need to remember this!)
A bad run (especially if it’s with a good friend) is better than lying in bed thinking you should have gotten up to run.
I loved getting up early to run this morning and seeing this post before I ran out the door. #5…woooo, that one’s definitely mine lately. But thankfully, I stick by my other rule, which is: Do not ever bail on a tough run, because you your BRF will be out there. Waiting for you. And you don’t bail on your BRF. :D
Love this post. I wanna print it out real big & hang it up somewhere so I’ll see all the time!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Definitely different truths for various days/parts of the week…Today, I am so into #3 with running and any core workouts. I hear Jillian Michaels saying, “You’re not going to die” in her videos and pounding that in, truly helps me be and push more. Today I did some treadmill speed work and played back “You have more to give.” Sorry, I am still on a runner’s high right now…first negative split all the way down to 8:49 for me in a loooooong time.
but then again, nobody cares about my time but me…ha!
Awesome post! Thank you!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!
Always bring toilet paper!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My friend forwarded me this post after reading my blog post on my marathon Sunday (http://runstilletos.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/i-can-and-i-will/).
#9 and #12 are EXACTLY what I need to keep in the forefront of my mind :).
*LOVE*
This is great. I just wrote a post focusing on #9 – among other things! Right ON.
I love this so much. I immediately forwarded it to my friend that has just started running. Thought of her “This is the day” and “You are not going to die”. Running is so tough sometimes, especially when you first start, or are coming back from an injury. This is a good reminder for all of us of some basic running “rules” and guidelines. Thanks for posting this!
So well said & every word is true!!! When in doubt, RUN! :)
Love it. Thank you.
Trust your training. I kept repeating this during my first race and it worked!
Love this!
#12 is probably my number one reason for running; it helps to keep at bay the negative thoughts, body image issues, and depression/anxiety that can creep into my life.
I love these! I’m printing out and posting the note from Running assuring me she won’t kill me. As a science teacher, numbers 4 and 5 are bothering me a bit, though. The MORE excuses you make, the MORE you need to run, yes? And, the MORE you are dreading a run, the MORE elation you will feel when you get it done, right? Those are not inverse relationships, but DIRECT relationships. You know, just to be scientifically accurate and give your commandments maximum impact. Love you ladies.
thanks for the attention to detail and correction, Nikki…fixing it now. (not science whizzes around here.)
I really like #10…My running pal is one of my biggest motivators!
Don’t think, just GO!!!
#7 bears repeating. I get so caught up in whatever is right in front of me.
I love this. #1 is my mantra right now. Just go already. #2 – it just has to be good enough! And thank the Lord for #3. :-)
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Running is really secondary to everything else in your life, but you need to do it first to have the remainder of your day/life fall into place.
Amen to all of them, esp #8. When I started running, right before I turned 30, I did it partially because my then husband couldn’t. He had been paralyzed from the neck down from a car accident. So every sucky run where I couldn’t even go two minutes straight without stopping to my first half marathon where I cursed my foot when I got injured, I still reminded myself how grateful I was that I had legs that worked, arms that swung, fresh air that I could breathe. I ran for him bc he was trapped in a hospital or a nursing home and could only stare out a window. And now, years after he’s passed, I still remind myself how lucky I am that I discovered running and what a gift it is to use my body in that way. It’s a celebration…not a punishment!
Love all of them.
I run after work. No matter how bad you day went or how tired you are, after a run, you will feel BETTER (and even energized). So always bring running clothes with you even if you have no plans to run. You never know.
Wow, I burst into tears when I read the top poster. Amen