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Dear New Runner, You Can’t Imagine What’s Ahead

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You’re not too slow.
You are a real runner.
You don’t need the fancy watch.
You do need the fancy shoes.

If I could wind back the clock, look my 20 year-old self in her big terrified blue eyes and give her a little wisdom before setting out on that first attempt at running…I’d say nothing.

She figured it out. She hit a lot of potholes, shed some tears, lost some weight, learned about food and ultimately, it all brought me here.New Runner Advice

BUT if you did want to save yourself some heart ache, I asked this question on Facebook and received some answers that I thought MUST be shared.

Advice to Your Beginner Running Self?

What I loved most about these notes is not that they recommend speed work or gels, but understanding that running is about so much more than losing weight or even marking a race off a bucket list. If you want those tips, read this post.

But if what you need is a kick in the pants or motivation that goes beyond the basics…read on. You will see life in a new light, embrace it. You will run amazing races that you never knew existed, remember them always. You will discover true mental toughness, be proud of it. What new runners need to know beyond how to fuel and paceAnd you will unlearn excuses to quit, no matter how tough the challenge that lay ahead of you. Self, you got this; I promise. — Tabatha Park

Getting in shape is a gradual thing–a crock pot, not a microwave experience. But if you stick with it, one day (about six weeks later) you’ll find yourself running faster and farther than ever before and feel happy doing it. The journey has begun. — David Ray Duncan

Not to worry what anyone else thinks of your running. The running community is super supportive, and non-runners are just amazed that you run. So the only person thinking you’re too slow is you. – Monica Deanne Taylor

At 62 which is my age when I started, I would tell myself to just run. You are a runner even if you only can run a 1/4 mile at a time, you are a runner. I would tell myself that there will come a day when you will feel better about your running, just run.

I would tell myself that age is something to consider, go slow, train differently than others much younger do, listen to your body, just run. — Dianne SmithGet more running affirmations to propel your runs!

And because we know I can’t stop without putting in my two cents, their words inspired me and I did in fact write a letter to my new runner self…which amusingly is fairly needed as I return from knee surgery too.

A letter to every new runner, what we wish you knew... #runchat Click To Tweet

Dear New Runner,

Don’t worry about the road ahead, it will come filled with potholes, mountains climbed and skinned knees.

You don’t have to cross the finish line first, though for some reason people may well ask you “did you win?”

You don’t need the fanciest gear or the most scenic trail. Those are bonuses that we find along the way by simply showing up and being willing to explore what’s available. They’re the things that enhance what we already love, but aren’t what make you love it.

Don’t worry if you don’t love it at first. That’s the dirty little secret long time runners keep locked away…most of us hated it too. But even in that loathing of the discomfort there was a tiny spark that caught our hearts or maybe our egos, who knows. But it reminded us that we could in fact do the hard thing.New runner advice

No one has to run. You certainly don’t. But every time you make you the choice to run, you’re choosing the harder path and for that you may not earn a gold star or ever stand on the podium (or maybe you will!), but you’re earning something far more rewarding.

Which is really the long game of running. The way it shapes you in to a different person. One that’s more confident despite the size of your body. One that’s more willing to stand up for the wrongs you see. One that can step in to his/her power, strength and courage to live a bigger life.

Here’s to all the good runs, the bad runs, the solo runs, the group runs, the road runs, the trail runs, the injuries, the comebacks and the moments in between. File each on away because you’re going to make some stellar crazy friends who will want to hear about them all.

Gotta run,
A

Is there anything you wish you’d known?

How has running surprised you?

Other ways to connect with Amanda
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Thanks for letting me Think Out Loud today.

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Posted by amanda Categories: Funny Running, running coach

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kerri Olkjer says

    October 27, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    PS It’s OK if you just WANT the fancy watch. They’re a lot of fun :)

    • amanda says

      October 27, 2017 at 3:39 pm

      hehe absolutely. I didn’t have one for years, but man did I celebrate when I got it!!

  2. Deryn | Running on Real Food says

    October 27, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    Love this. Super inspiring for new runners! Totally goes for all sports and fitness endeavours too.

  3. Kristina @ Love & Zest says

    October 27, 2017 at 8:12 pm

    This makes me want to get up and go run right now! I loved this!

  4. Aimee from Run Eat Drink Podcast @runeatdrinkpod says

    October 28, 2017 at 2:50 am

    Inspiring! It is hardest not to care about what others think, for me at least.

  5. Dianne Smith says

    October 28, 2017 at 7:45 am

    Just run. Thank you!

  6. Andy Parsons says

    October 28, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Hey, exactly! Nobody forces us to run, we all run because we love to and we want to be healthier :) I will be honest – I have just recently started to run, but I’ve already noticed a great improvement in my stamina wise :)

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Amanda Brooks is a Certified Running Coach, Certified Personal Trainer and long time distance runner with a passion for every facet of running, which leads her to do more reading, research and running than necessary. Find all the tips, tricks and tools you need from this running coach for your best injury free running. Read More…

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Amanda Brooks : Run Coach
A NEW PLAN DOESN’T FIX EVERYTHING. You might alr A NEW PLAN DOESN’T FIX EVERYTHING. You might already know what’s best for you, but aren’t doing it consistently. That’s the only way we really make changes.
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A PLAN can help, but I often don’t think that’s step one to making lasting change.
//
HABITS AND ROUTINES✴️
-Eliminate the need to make decisions.
-Which reduces brain fatigue.
-Which increases your chance of success.
//
TINY HABITS✴️
This is the smallest step you can take towards your goal. Often so small it seems insignificant, but is easy to make it a habit.
🌟
That leads you to another tiny habit, then another and suddenly it’s just your lifestyle.
👆👆👆
When people ask how I easily kept off 35lbs for over 15 years, while enjoying pizza, taking rest days and not obsessing about food.
👇👇👇👇
When people ask how I stay motivated to run year round and rarely race. Tiny habits.
//
Day one isn’t eat perfect or run for an hour.
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Day one IS drink a glass of water when I wake up. Put on my running clothes.
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Day 30 is then more like after I drink my glass of water, I do 5 push ups. After I put on my running clothes, I do a 5 minute warm up.
//
SLOW PROGRESS IS BETTER THAN NO PROGRESS, it builds momentum and is sustainable.
❔❔❔
Have you ever practiced creating tiny habits???
1️⃣ WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR RUNNING THIS YEAR? M 1️⃣ WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR RUNNING THIS YEAR?
Mine... satisfying.
😊
1900 miles blows away previous years.
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(swipe to see...because yes I love tracking.) Unfortunately I’m not positive what it was 2001-2007 because I wrote it on calendars.
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SATISFYING
🥰I needed the long miles early on to process my business being thrown for a loop. Bye bye book tour and partnerships.
😊I needed it after that to get away from the news and pretend I wasn’t spending all day alone. Then as my business shifted again to keep ideas flowing.
🌲I loved the time outside to think, get lost in a comedy podcast or audiobook. Otherwise I’m at home working!
🤩Without a single race, I still checked a big goal off my list of running an ultra distance (solo was very interesting!).
//
I’ve seen some posts that make it seem like we’re wrong for talking about what we achieved this year.
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It was a HARD FCKIN year for everyone, but guess what lots of years are. And not every year is great even without a pandemic.
//
For all the lows this year, I also worked my ass off to make some really good things happen. And I’m extra proud of that.
//
So let’s hear your word for fitness in 2020??
⬇️
Hard, easy, strong, powerful, consistent, cleansing, relaxing, nature, grace, grit, grind, triumph, building...
HAIR EMOJI POLL!!! Seriously hair...it’s a lot r HAIR EMOJI POLL!!! Seriously hair...it’s a lot right?! Figuring out what to do with it, color it don’t color it, keep it healthy, breakage from ponytails, long, short. And yet a good hair day😃 🔥 🌟
//
POLL:
🥰Love your hair
🤪Frustrated with your hair
1️⃣Natural curls
2️⃣Stick straight
👇👇👇
Curly friends: share your favorite tips!!
Long hair friends: what helps you keep it healthy?
👆👆👆
//
At 7 I could sit in my hair it was so long.
At 10 we started perms.
At 16 I had a full mane of hair I loved.
At 20 I learned I have naturally curly hair 😂after years of perms as a kid.
At 25 I was going blonde blonde blonde.
At 29 I began losing hair and it got so brittle I had to chop it off, due to the hormone issues.😭
At 35 my hair started to recover (as did my body), but never like that mane I loved as a teen.
At 39 I got my first curly haircut! I’m still figuring it out, but was amazed at how it looked.
//
I don’t wear much make up, but I do admit to really caring about my hair and it was a tough time when it felt so unhealthy.
//
I’m still struggling to figure out this new curly style 😂but keep hearing from other curly girls ya just gotta stick it out. So we’ll see.
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#curlygirlmethod #hairtalk
ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO RUN? Why don’t you just ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO RUN? Why don’t you just enjoy a day off? Don’t you feel guilty about the time apart?
//
Yes.
It makes me happy.
No, if I’m happy our time together is better.
👇👇👇
MY VIEW IS THIS...
❌If you aren’t working out because of food guilt
❌If you aren’t missing big moments because you must workout
✅If you enjoy it and it improves your day
✅THEN GO FORTH and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for improving your mental and physical health.
//
❓Do you have guilt or get guilted about workouts for n holidays?❓
//
This has been my lifestyle so long that our families just know to expect that I’m gonna sweat. And of course, I’m lucky David wants this lifestyle too.
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BUTTTTT I remember those first trips to David’s family, where it really threw them for a loop. They still find it weird, but I sneak out before everyone gets up or have gotten them to do family things like the rec center.
//
My best advice when asked has always been to try and calmly explain why it matters to you and then just go. They get over it or used to it.
🎁 🎄🕎
TAKE ANOTHER LITTLE PIZZA MY HEART 😂a reminder TAKE ANOTHER LITTLE PIZZA MY HEART 😂a reminder this holiday season that we all need to be loved differently...and pizza transcends all.
//
🍕Do you have a favorite local pizza place?🍕🍕
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Yes, I knead to know for when we can travel again.
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Here we fell in love in love with @saucyspizza and I wouldn’t be sad if I got it as a gift 😆
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#pizzamemes #eatlocal #denvercolorado #ilovepizza #lovememes #pizzagram #digiorno #papajohns #foodisfuel #longrun #womenwhoeat #carbsarelife
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Website written, managed and maintained by Amanda Brooks, a certified running coach and personal trainer. Any advice should be taken as general information and not a personalized plan. All opinions, tips and reviews are based upon her personal life experience and the experiences of those she has coached. View our full privacy and review policy.

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