That's what
being an Ordinary Runner is all about!
Go racing! Getting ready for a
race is one of the most motivating aspects of running.
Hydration.
Drink, drink, drink. Your body is mostly water! Keep it
that way!
Increase mileage slowly.
When you're adding mileage, never increase more than 10% a
week. This helps to avoid injury.
Just keep moving!
This is the theme song of the Ordinary Runner. We may not
be the fastest or sleekest, but we keep moving forward.
Keep a journal.
You'll be amazed what you'll learn about yourself, and how
quickly you learn what works and what doesn't work... just by writing it down.
Limping is bad.
If something is hurting bad enough to make you change your
stride, you need to rest. Remember RICE for injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
Make friends!
Some of your best friends will be people you meet at races
or training groups.
Notice the world around you.
Don't develop the bad habit of simply watching the ground
in front of your shoes. Don't forget to look around and see the world while you're
running!
Only for running!
Only wear your running shoes to run in, not to wear around
during the day. You've got to keep those midsoles springy! This avoids injury.
Pounds!
Watch the pounds come off! If you just keep moving and
stay consistent in your running, you WILL lose weight!
Quilt frequently.
Just seeing if you're still paying attention. (I bet you
think I don't know a running tip that starts with a "Q"!)
Rotate shoes.
Use 2 pairs of shoes to keep the midsoles fresh. Use the
shoe with lower miles for longer runs, and the high mileage shoe for shorter ones. This
avoids injuries.
Shoes!
They are your MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment. Buy
quality, and take care of them. I can't stress this enough. Quality shoes are a must!
Trim your toenails.
Long toenails are a surefire way to get "black
toe." (That's when your toenail turns solid black from pounding on the end of your
shoe!)
Use a heart rate monitor.
Not only will you learn quickly about your heart rate
info, but you'll have a lot of fun. A great piece of technology!
Vacation!
Yes, you need a vacation occasionally, even from running.
A week long break once a year will do wonders for your muscles AND your mind.
Wicking materials!
Especially your socks! Keeping sweat away from your feet
avoids blisters and Athlete's Foot. Keeping it away from your torso avoids getting too hot
in summer, and too cold in winter.
X-Ray it!
If an injury keeps you from running, and persists, see a
doctor! You don't want to develop a stress fracture!
Yikes! Don't run from dogs.
Face a dog, make yourself as big as you can, use a big
voice. Back away slowly until he loses interest. If he doesn't lose interest, zig when he
zags!
Zero calories in liquids.
If you're trying to lose weight in general, or training
for a race, this is one of the quickest ways to lose it! Don't drink anything that has
calories!
And that's the Running Tip, from A to Z!
