I Wish I Knew Then...

Tonight's run had me chanting in my head that old saying:

Quote by Scott Tinley

It was steamy hot, a good 86 degrees, and still sunny. I had planned to go later but ended up being pushed out the door a bit early. My calves were the good kind of sore in the beginning, the anaerobic-exercise kind of sore, and I pushed to the end with an average 9:32 pace. Not too shabby.

Sun and heat are my Kryptonite, but I won this round.

I've been thinking lately that I'm in another growth stage, and while sometimes I feel I'm starting from zero, there are definitely things I benefit from knowing now that I didn't know when I first began.

When I began running, I wish I knew...

1. Every run is not going to be the epitome of freeing/awesome/spiritual. Conversely, every run is not going to be sluggish/painful/shuffling/draining. Running is 90% mental.

I wish I had known progress was slow-going, even once you've gotten some races and long runs under your belt. Running takes work.

2. Walk breaks are acceptable; planned intervals take the defeatist feeling out of walking.

3. Strength-training is so important! Even if you're just doing squats and leg lifts, keep your hips, butt, and core strong to avoid injuries, especially in the knees. On a related note: a foam roller will become your best friend and the best $24 you've ever spent.

To see more about my hip-strengthening routine, click here!

4. Don't overdo it. Rest days aren't a reason to feel ashamed. Smart runners let themselves rest and recover.

5. The right shoes are everything. Have your gait tested, check into the store's return policy, and don't settle for something that costs less if your feet protest the decision. Also, learn to lace your shoes in a way that's comfortable for you. Look into orthotics if necessary, and remember to track your miles, because depending on what surface you run on, you'll need new shoes every 300 to 600 miles.

I wear the Asics Kayano, but that doesn't mean they're right for everyone.

6. Baby powder, Vaseline, Blister Block...apply liberally. Chafing happens, and sometimes it's permanent.

7. Name brand running clothes are nice splurges, but Target sells some pretty awesome gear. Shoes should be expensive; the other stuff doesn't have to be.

8. Black bottoms are key, especially if you have a nervous race bladder.

9. Pee before you run. Scratch that. Pee multiple times before you run.

10. Neon socks, bras, tops, etc, make you faster. This is a proven scientific fact, people.

Someone should really do a study on that, but I guess it would be pointless since we all already know what the outcome would be.

11. Mix up your runs. Do some slow, some fast, some longer than others. Try new paths. Don't let yourself get bored.

12. The right music can change a run. Keep your playlist updated and mix up the order of the songs once in awhile to keep it from getting stale. And don't be afraid to run unplugged once in awhile, either.

13. Running before the sun comes up and running in the rain will make you feel super hardcore.

14. Learning to eat the right foods at the right time takes some trial and error. Running on empty can be just as terrible as running on a too-full stomach.

15. Running groups are usually less scary than they seem; they love to welcome new people, and the friendships you'll make with other runners are some of the most intimate you'll ever have.

Bonus: I wish I had known that running can become an addiction, a go-to cure for all that ails you, a spiritual and mental respite from your hard days, a way to celebrate your good days, and, simply put...a way of life.

What do you wish you had known when you were a new runner?

What valuable things have you learned?

ABK

Health Benefits

I have been studiously avoiding the scale for the last few months. Running has changed my body, but I can't trust the mirror and the longer I go without weighing in, the more nervous I get about what the numbers might read. It's a very freeing feeling, to not really care to keep tabs, but sometimes I look at the scale with fear. What if I stepped on? Would I have gained? Would it confirm the worries that stress and holiday eating have led to uncontrollable weight-gain? Better to avoid it and just go by how I feel and how my pants fit, which are pretty consistent measurements that keep me happy and relaxed.

Today, however, I had a wellness checkup. Our insurance company does these optional checkups, and people whose health rates well receive a discount on insurance costs. I was interested to see where I'd fall after all this training, months without seeing a doctor, and some time off and rich-food indulgence.

I won't break down BMI, waist size, etc, because it's silly to dwell on those factors. However, the true health indicators - blood pressure and fat percentage - were surprisingly good. My blood pressure is 102/60, and my fat percentage is at the low-end of the "athletic" measurement. Basically, no matter what the scale reads or what I think I see in the mirror, I can see the benefits of running. My body, at its core, is healthy.

And as the years tick by, I know these benefits will continue to accumulate. I don't take any kind of progress photos, I don't really monitor my physical body very much, and sometimes I worry I should be more careful if I want to look good in a bikini. But then results come in on the things that are important, the things that matter, and I'm reminded that health is about so much more than how we look.

I am very pleased with myself today; I'm healthier than I ever was in high school or college, and my self-worth is more wrapped up in knowing I'm strong and healthy than in how I look. Thank you, running, for once again shedding light on what really matters.

ABK