running lessons

My first finish line photo.

Ten years ago, I enjoyed a few too many mojitos at a dinner party and announced I was training for a half-marathon. (I was not.) Nevertheless, the next day I decided in a carb-induced hangover to make good on that announcement.

Since then, I’ve crossed dozens of finish lines, often at the back of the pack. Along the way, I’ve discovered a few tips and running lessons that I wish I had known starting out. While these 10 tips will not help you finish first, they might help you cross that finish line.

Lesson 1: Just start.

It really is that simple. There will be many days ahead of you to research the perfect training plan, discover the best shoe, and master hydrating. But the only way to get better at the actual act of running is to go out and run. It doesn’t have to be far or long, but you do have to start. To this day, the hardest part of running for me is starting.

Lesson 2: Define your why, not your what.

Sounds simple. It isn’t. There are a million reasons and ways to run a race. Defining your why helps you pick the right plan, people and races to run. As someone who still doesn’t even like running but loves being a runner, this has meant everything to me. I started as someone who ran on a dare. After becoming a mom, it was an opportunity to do something just for me. Now, it is more for the camaraderie and cocktails afterwards—and, of course, the cool shoes.

Lesson 3: Invest.

I’m a plus-size gal both in my hips and chest. Early on, I didn’t understand the impact a good pair of running shoes and sports bra could have on my overall experience. I cannot stress the value of going to a real running store and getting a gait analysis and investing in a pair of shoes that’ll save your knees and a sports bra that’ll compress the ladies. It’ll cost a small fortune but is worth every cent.

Today, my go-to road shoes are Brooks Glycerin and my off-road favorites are the Saucony Peregrine. On the top half, Glamorise has a high impact bra that is my go-to with SheFit a close second.

Lesson 4: Hills suck.

You know what sucks more? A hilly race you didn’t bother to train for properly. I’m not talking about the occasional Saturday where you miss your long run. I’m talking about training on a treadmill at a zero incline and then thinking you could do a trail run at a ski resort in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Bad idea. Bad, bad, bad idea. Although I technically finished the 2018 race after doing some serious mental self-sabotage, it wasn’t pretty.

Which leads me to my next tip.

Lesson 5: Listen to your gut.

If there is a deep nagging feeling in your gut that tells you that you should call it quits, ask yourself why. There’s probably a good reason. As gut wrenching as it is to train for a race and then not even get to the starting line, it is a lot less painful that injuring yourself (see previous lesson). After my crazy trail experience in 2018, I listened to my legs and doctor and sat out a half-marathon in May 2019.

The silver lining? I went on to run Grandma’s Half-Marathon the following month where I set my PR. Still slow? Absolutely. But I was healthy and uninjured; at my age, that’s what matters.

Lesson 6: What goes in comes out.

Literally. If you make bad food choices before a long run (like say a Jack’s high-rise pepperoni pizza), plan to pay the consequences. Even if you don’t, just know that at some point gravity will not be your friend. Every runner has been there. Enough said.

Lesson 7: Grace is not a four-letter word.

Seriously. Life is hard enough without taking something that should be fun and beating yourself up over it. You will have good runs and bad run, good streaks and bad streaks. You will love it and hate it. But hating yourself in the process serves nobody.

running lessons

Sometimes, even for an introvert, running with an incredible group of gals makes the finish line (and cocktails afterwards) a bit sweeter.

Lesson 8: Find your tribe.

That’s an odd one to type, given I’m the world’s largest introvert. But here’s the thing: social media makes it really easy to connect with like-minded folks and be inspired by phenomenal women. As we approach the Olympics, how can you not fall in love with the Emma Coburn’s of the world? Alexi Pappas, Kara Goucher and Jessie Diggins (not a runner but impressive just the same) demonstrate greatness with a side of balance. Equally as inspiring are my girlfriend’s and other area runners who I message regularly for support. Their post-run selfies on the local race or their trail report about the intensity of black flies is equally informative and inspiring. Sometimes, I even push myself and find myself running by their side.

Bottom line: find your people and embrace them. As solo as running is, the community is what makes it so amazing.

Lesson 9: Pump up the volume.

Music matters. Invest time and energy finding tunes and podcasts that’ll keep you moving. I’ll share some of my favorite lyrics next month, but my best investment (next to shoes and a bra) was Spotify Premium and the magical shuffle button. It isn’t uncommon for me to warm-up to Taylor Swift, crank up my speed to some Kesha and and then cooldown to the mind-challenging podcasts UnF*uck your Brain, Super Soul Sunday and We Can Do Hard Things.

Lesson 10: Identify as a runner.

I spent years trying to decide when I could call myself a runner. Despite finishing multiple half-marathons and having the medal rack to prove it, I considered myself a fraud because I was slow. Here’s the thing: you’re a runner as soon as you identify as a runner. I still struggle with this mindset but I will say, the time I crapped my pants but went running the following day was a major turning point. A close second? When a girlfriend reached out to me on Facebook and told me she was looking for advice from me because my posts had inspired her to give running a try.

Now, when I start to doubt myself, I remind myself of the last finish line I crossed and say I’m the gal that finishes races. It works.

Don’t believe me? Read Atomic Habits by James Clear. He does an incredible job highlighting the layers of behavior change. If you’re like me, the long-term goal the day I laced up wasn’t to finish a race. It was to become a runner. It was about more than the medal. It was about changing my own narrative and the best way to do that is to start. It really is that simple. (See Lesson 1.)

What running lessons have you learned? We’d love to hear them!