The 5 Most Important Things You Need To Know About Running

As sports go, running is one of the most accessible sports there is. All you need is a decent pair of trainers and you are ready to go, wherever you are. Whether you are thinking of starting running, or you’ve been running for a while, here are 5 important messages you need to know about the sport. 

It’s not easy, but it’s not meant to be. 
Running is hard. There is no denying or avoiding that. Don’t get me wrong, once you get to a certain level of fitness, you can go for an easy run and keep it feeling easy, but for as long as you are looking to improve, it will never become easy, but this is the way it is meant to be. As soon as you accept this, you stop waiting for the moment it will become easier, and you start embracing the challenge it poses. You stop looking elsewhere and hoping it can be as easy for you as it is for someone else, as that will never happen. Running offers us the chance to show up constantly, no matter how we’re feeling, and take a step forward in life, but it won’t come easily.

You will have ups and downs.
Running is like a rollercoaster. Its unpredictable; you never know if you’re going to go up or down and the direction is constantly changing. You can never predict how things might unfold but this is also what keeps you coming back. No matter how many bad days you have, the good ones WILL come and the hard work WILL pay off. This is what keeps us coming back day on day, because even if luck hasn’t been going your way, it will, and even just one good day is enough yo boost you to the next one. 

You will experience a happiness like no other.
For me personally, running has brought a lot of heartbreak into my life, but it has also been the source of some of my happiest moments. There is nothing quite like the joy and contentment I feel when out running on a beautiful day. It doesn’t need to be with others, or a run that is of any significance, but moving my body outside in nature, creates such a buzz that I cannot explain fully until you have experienced it. Some of the most enjoyable runs I have done have been on a random weekday at a random time. 

You won’t want to stop. 
One thing I can hand on heart say, is, once you get the running bug, you can’t get rid of it and you won’t want to stop. Of course, some days will test you, but the satisfaction and enjoyment it brings will keep you coming back for more. Once you embrace the sport, you realise how it can so easily be part of your lifestyle. It is a sport you can take with you anywhere, bond with people over, and one that will make you feel positive about yourself. 

You won’t regret a single run. 
The incredible thing about running is that you never regret doing it. I have never been on a run and regretted doing so. Even if it was perhaps one run too many and caused an injury, or wasn’t the best thing for my health, I still don’t regret the run. Every time you slip those trainers on and head out the door for however long it might be, you are transported somewhere else. You can escape whatever is going on in your life and clear the mind for free. I am frequently asked what I think about when I’m running, and honestly, I don’t think anything, but I love this. Running completely clears my head and allows me to return in a more rational state, able to tackle whatever challenges may come my way, and I am confident it will do this to you too. 

Having read this blog, I hope you feel the urge to take up running if you haven’t already, or if you already run, you remember, it will be a journey of highs and lows, but you will never wish it away