For runners, opinions are like socks: there are a lot of them, and there are always going to be several that don’t match

About once a month, I receive questions either in email or comments asking my opinion on some running-related topic. As I’m no expert coach or medical professional, I am much more comfortable with opinions rather than advice. Advice means something. Opinions, it turns out, are not like those, ummm, other things (ahem!). They are more like socks, there are lots of choices. If this applies to nothing else, it applies to running, because though I am hardly a veteran or even close, I’ve learned this much: runners are some researching kind of folk.

It seems, though, that instead of just responding in email it would be even better and more fun to post these questions. That way, we can open up the question to even more advice and opinions, advice and opinions that we’re actually asking for (as opposed to those when we’re not, but we get them anyway. Well-meaning, of course). Great, right?So here we go, the JustRunJustLiveJustBe: Opinions Are Like Socks.

Hi,

I read your blog all the time. It is one of the reasons I want to start running. I have the shoes, and I even bought some clothes but I just don’t know where to start. I have read every book at Barnes and Noble and I’m so overwhelmed! What would you do? Where would you begin? I don’t want to calculate my way through every run, I just want to get out and see the world for miles and miles.

Thanks,

Julie

Hi Julie,

First of all, thanks! And yay! New runner! New blood! Ha. Welcome to the fun!

Second, I will spare you the I-really-think-you-should-like-running-to-get-into-miles-and-miles-because-that-takes-a-lot-of-your-time thing because you sound like you’re already motivated. Woohoo! You newbies are so good about that. I will also save the shoe lecture, because I’m going to assume that by “I have the shoes” you meant I went to a quality running store and had my gait analyzed at least just this once. So the next logical step that comes to mind for me is this: Start. Assuming you are healthy and cleared by your doctor to “participate in rigorous exercise,” get out there and start. I don’t care if you run ten steps and then walk ten, just start. It’s okay if you do laps around the gym, or if you’re on a treadmill set at 3.5. Just start. See what you can do. Put one foot in front of the other and see how that feels. Swing your arms, watch your stride, and run a little. Speed up, slow down, make sure your shoes stay tied, make sure your shorts/pants/tights/underwear/bra won’t ride up or rub or fall down. Basically, get comfortable.

After about a week of that, maybe a bit less, you’ll probably be ready for some kind of structure. I’ll say this now- and probably again—resist the urge to rush! Hear me? Don’t worry about time and miles and speed right now. Don’t even think about it. Set your goals small, there is always room for more. So start by walking one minute, and then go to running one minute, alternating between the two. Do this for maybe twenty or thirty minutes, and pay attention to how you feel. Did you run two blocks and then feel like your lungs were going to freeze, burst, or both (or was that just me on my first run?)? Do your calves burn? Does your back get tense? Pay attention to all of this, and start now. You will need to do this throughout your running career, train yourself to pay attention now. Being in tune with and knowing your body is one of the best tools you can have as a runner.

Since you didn’t mention any goal other than to “run for miles and miles” I’ll assume just that. Again, no need to rush. When you’re comfortable running for a full five minutes, increase it to seven, then eight, then nine… you see where I’m going. Or maybe you like to measure in distance. Don’t worry about miles, measure your run in lamp posts, or blocks. When you can run twenty lamp posts in a row without stopping, or something that was equally impossible before you started all this, then increase your goal. I’m sure you get what I’m saying, small goals. We won’t call them baby steps, ‘cause, baby, this is HUGE, but we can call them small goals. That’s all you need right now.

Before long, the training bug, and then maybe the race bug, will bite. It might just bite once, and it might open its mouth and swallow you whole for the rest of your life, but it will come. Then you’ll be interested in a plan. Two of my choice directions to point new runners that want a plan is to Hal Higdon’s site or the FIRST site. This is not especially because I’ve personally had remarkable experiences with either, but a) because I’ve known so very many runners that have and 2) they have great beginner plans and are free! Free is a good word at this stage in the running game, because (mmwaa! hahahaha!) you thought it was just a matter of buying shoes and hitting the road. Oh, if only. Not that you have to spend your kid’s college fund on the sport, but boy howdy, believe me when I tell you that you sure could. In one store, in one day. Easily. So for now, for someone that just wants “to see the world for miles and miles” go with the free. Heck, test out everything you can. All those books and magazines you pored over before? This is where they will come in handy. Find out what works for you.

Finally, although this is the longest answer ever, I want to say this: enjoy it. I know starting can be difficult, but running will never be like this again. You will never run your first mile without stopping more than once. Take it in. One day you’re going to miss that new feeling. You’ll never be so entertained by all the people that roll their eyes and think you’re crazy than you are right now. This is a big thing you’re doing, choosing to get out and do something for yourself. Choosing to, in your words, “see the world” this way. Our bodies are capable of so much, often more than we ever thought or gave them credit for. Enjoy that. Enjoy the fact that each new distance is cause for celebration. Revel in the fact that you did something today that was better, tougher, or longer than what you did yesterday. Train yourself to run, yes, but train yourself to enjoy it, too.

Anyone else?

(And, if you happen to have a question, go ahead and email it to me. (justrunjustlivejustbe [at] gmail [dot] com) I don’t expect a barrage, but you know, just in case.)