5 Running tips: From a beginner to a beginner

I know you might think who am I to be giving running tips when I've only just started out myself but trust me, I have already made a lot of mistakes. Here are my list of running tips if you are just getting started like me.

1) Buy the right clothes. Definitely wear a sports bra if you are a lady, like myself. Mine is just a cheap one from M and S and it does the trick just fine. Also, get some good leggings. Mine are only from primark but they are so comfortable. At first I was running in yoga pants but the cotton made me feel uncomfortable and the weird maternity style waistband kept falling down.

2) Buy some decent trainers. This is a must. My nike flyknit free runs are so unbelievably comfortable. They fit like a glove and are bouncy so they make you want to run from the second you put them on. Cheap tennis type trainers are not as good a fit in my opinion. You should really go for a gait test to determine what shoe to buy but I didn't do that.

3) Stretch. I learned this today. When I read Runners World, there seemed to be a debate about this. Some people seemed to not be that bothered about stretching whereas others swore by it. I didn't stretch and as a consequence, I got a spasm in my right thigh not far into my run and both my legs seized up. I think a good stretch beforehand definitely would have prevented these.

4) Don't push yourself too hard. You might be like me and have a race to train for but if you train too hard, you will end up injuring yourself and thus hinder your training schedule. Pace yourself and only do what you can manage and then build it up. Obviously you need to push yourself so that you get better at running just don't do more than you are capable of without hurting yourself. 

5) Don't be worried what other people think. I am still struggling with this. I stop running everytime I pass someone. But seriously, no one is watching you run. No one cares how slow you are or what you look like. But even if they did, so what? At least you ARE running. I just keep reminding myself that I am becoming fitter and have raised about £800 so far for charity so I honestly don't care what people think about my running. As they say, 'you might be slow but you are lapping everybody on the couch'. Cheesy but definitely true. 

Good luck in your running journey. Don't stop just because of other people. The first run I went on, my flat mates laughed at me. Probably because they didn't believe that I would actually go out running. Once they realised I was serious and got used to the idea, they stopped. The hardest thing about running is not caring what other people think. Once you get past that, you're good to go. Forcing yourself out on a run can also be difficult but you feel amazing for it afterwards. Especially when you can feel your muscles burning. 

I hope my tips help you. Obviously I am by no means and expert, these are just things I think are helping me become better at running.

First Run

Today, I ran my first run for my Great North Run training. 

I had planned to do it today then at about 9 o'clock decided I'd put it off until tomorrow. Then I thought, I'm always doing that, why not just bite the bullet and start today? So I shocked myself, put on my trainers, and went running.

I say running, but the first run on the plan was run 1 minute, walk 2 minutes and repeat 6 times. But, I did it and it wasn't too bad. I kind of liked it. 

I'm immensly proud of myself for managing to actually do it. 

Here's to me actually training then successfully running the Great North Run 2015!

Running

For 2015, I only have one New Years resolution. And it's one that I actually have to do anyway. It's to get to a decent level of fitness to successfully complete the Great North Run in September. So far, my training has been dire, not organised, not consistent and just really rubbish. Tonight I have downloaded and printed off two training schedules. The first is a Bupa 5km run. As I have zero experience in running, I thought I'd better not jump into a half marathon training schedule straight away (they're advertised for 'experienced runners'). The second is a Bupa 13.1mile training program. Altogether the training program is 20 weeks long giving me plenty time to get prepared for my run. 

I'm not sure if I've bitten off more than I can chew. No one actually believes that I can do it but I am really determined so all I need now is the motivation to get running. Wish me luck!

Losing Mum

It is with a heavy heart for me to say that a few weeks ago on Wednesday 1st October, my Mum passed away. We don't yet know why and it was very sudden. 

I am finding this all very very difficult.

The funeral was on Thursday so this week is where my life begins again.
I'm now trying to piece my life back together. I am going back to Manchester this week for uni. I will be going back to work, socialising again and just generally living again. 

With all this in mind, this whole situation has made me realise that life really is too short. My Mum was only 49 years old. There was so many things she wanted to do but never did get round to doing, So I have decided that I really want to live. I want to do things that I have always wanted to do. 
Next year I am running the Great North Run for MIND charity. This is a charity that supports people with mental health issues. I want to get rid of the taboo surrounding mental health issues and raise awareness that ANYONE can get a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, bipolar or anything. I have so far raised £875 which I am absolutely thrilled about especially as I only initially aimed to raise £300 which was particularly ambitious in itself. So my training for that needs to start.

I also want to blog again, I don't know how often I'll blog or what about but I think it may be therapeutic to me. I think writing about my feelings, little life projects and whatever else I can think of will help me to vent my feelings on this little corner of the internet. 

Hopefully my life will piece together again eventually although I know that I will always have a bit of me missing in my life where my mum should be.