I Caught the Runner’s Bug
Written By : Grace Wedienhamer
It seems like everyone and their mother are running these days. As a former (washed-up) college athlete, I said I would NEVER, and I mean never, run for pleasure once I finished my soccer career. Now, here I am, exactly two years after graduation, running for “pleasure”.
Maybe it’s a pre-quarter-life-crisis or the need to relive the glory days, but running has become a popular hobby amongst twenty-somethings in the past few years. As much as I hated running, it does feel good to have a fitness goal to work towards that isn’t aesthetics. Growing up in competitive sports, you grow hungry for the game, meet, or race. I think a lot of us long for the feeling of arriving victorious at the finish line after weeks, months, or even years of hard blood, sweat, and tears (literally and figuratively). So maybe running isn’t just the trendy thing to do. Maybe it’s fulfilling a deep-rooted need to compete, even with just yourself.
Since January, I’ve been knee-deep in half-marathon training. Although I could do without the Saturday morning long runs, it does bring structure into my otherwise unstructured life. I get to meet up with my friends, push my body further than I thought it could go, and see myself improving week after week. I hate to admit it, but it’s kind of cool to turn something you used to hate into something you conquer. I was never the best runner, and I seldom ran for enjoyment purposes, but now I sort of look forward to my little runs. Even when it gets tough, it’s a good feeling to accomplish another milestone that I never thought I would reach.
If you are thinking about getting into running, here’s my message to you: if you run, you’re a runner - no matter how long or how fast you go. Even as a former athlete, I started my training program running for ten minutes at a time. Now, I just hit a PR of 10 miles! You don’t need to commit to a marathon from the jump. Start by setting a realistic goal, like running for one mile straight, or running it in under a certain time. You can do way more than you think you can, and it’s so cool to see how your body adapts when you take on new challenges.
If you are new to running but are intimidated to get started, here are a few tips:
1. You don’t need to go out and buy all the equipment you see on your feed. Wear something comfortable that makes you feel confident. If you’re starting small, a good pair of shoes and a goof attitude is all you need.
2. Stretch, stretch, stretch! I’m writing this as I am currently sitting here with a tiny overuse injury. Even if you’re body feels good, you probably still need to stretch.
3. It’s not as boring as you may think. If you’re playlist is getting stale and you can’t bear another silent moment in your head, try turning on a podcast, put on some faux ocean noises, take this time to chat with a friend on the phone (if they can put up with your huffing and puffing), or, better yet, bring a friend along with you!
No one is going to judge you for bettering yourself. Remember, if you run, you’re a runner. Get out there and run!