3 Ways To A More Resolute Running (Part 3)

1. Consistency vs. Mileage

2. Eating Healthy vs. A Weight Loss Diet Plan

3. Habit vs. Hobby

I did not run today because…

A.  “I’m too tired!”

B.  “I’m too busy.”

C.  “It’s too hard.”

If your answer is A, of course running will get you even more tired. But remember, running will also improve your aerobic capacity which will increase your endurance for your day’s activities. Eventually you will feel more energetic like at work and less tired at the end of the day.

If your answer is B, then it shows that running is not in the higher rungs of your ladder of priorities.  Your resolve to take on running this New Year will soon fade away. If you consider running only when you have some spare time, like a hobby or special interest, your running resolve will not get very far.

If your answer is C, then you’re off to a good start towards a more resolute running this year.

For your running resolution to lift off this New Year, you need to bump it up higher in your list of important things. In addition, it is also essential to recognize that this will take a very personal and internal desire to do it and do it repeatedly.  You want to make running a habit in your life.

Sometimes, starting a new habit means breaking old ones. Old habits are deeply imbedded in our routine.  It will take tremendous willpower to break out of the pull of old tendencies like making excuses, procrastination, and impatience. Starting a habit is like flying a space shuttle according to Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." It takes a lot of energy in launching it in the beginning. In fact more exertion is spent in the first few miles of lift-off than in the next thousands of miles of journey around the earth. Once you break out of the gravity pull, soaring in the sky takes less effort.  This New Year, as you start running, expect some challenges but persevere. Eventually, like looking at the earth from space, your view on running will take on a whole new dimension.

My wish for you this New Year is to find that new perspective on running.  Discover your reason/s for running. If you don’t mind, write to me about it.

And if you are so inspired to take on running as a resolution this New Year but unsure of a reason, I like to suggest and share mine:  Praying.

3 Ways To A More Resolute Running (Part 2)

1. Consistency vs. Mileage

2. Eating Healthy vs. A Weight Loss Diet Plan

Running has everything to do about eating. A runner runs on food like a car runs on gas. When you decide to take on running, it is important to also start watching what you eat.

The most common resolution tied up with running is dieting to lose weight. The problem with following a weight-loss diet plan, especially the low-carb diet, is that you lose weight fast, but gain them right back as soon as you stop dieting. Yes, dieting results in immediate weight loss. However, it shouldn't be your primary mindset towards a new you. Even before you start thinking of shedding the pounds, you need to start thinking eating healthy first.

Here are a few general tips to eating healthy. First, follow an old adage of eating only until you are 80% full. Never heard of it? It is also called eating in moderation. Unfortunately, our modern media has influenced our appetite to eat as much as you can and to supersize your portion. Studies have shown that portion sizes in fast food stores have increased by as much as five times larger than what it was 30 to 40 years ago. In other words, our idea of the right portion meal has also changed. People ask me as a runner if I have a special diet. I say, "I watch my portion size and I watch what I eat."

Secondly, limit your intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods. Examples are fried foods, processed foods, and full-fat dairy products. These foods can lead to heart problems. On the other hand, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. These rich-fiber foods regulate blood sugar and promote a sense of fullness. Not only do they reduce the risk of heart disease, they also help you lose weight.

Yes, weight loss is the desired tangible result but that shouldn't be your goal. This new year, start eating healthy. Moderate your portion size and be smart about choosing your food. But let me gently remind you that like running, the results you want to see will take some work. You can't replace your body like you can replace your old car with a brand new one. However, you can always do a tune-up to keep it running smoothly. The sooner you make up your mind to eat healthy, the better off you'll be.

3. Habit vs. Hobby

3 Ways To A More Resolute Running (Part 1)

'Tis the time of the year for resolutions. Why not? I still personally believe in New Year's Resolutions. Life goes in cycles and it does gives us opportunities to renew, reset, and recharge our lives. The start of a new year is one of those times where we could set new resolves for ourselves.

When it comes to your running resolution, here are 3 ways you could approach it to increase the likelihood of a more  enduring and resolute running.

1. Consistency vs. Mileage

Forget about mileage. Don't worry about the total distance covered in a week. Don't set a number of miles as a goal. What you ought to count is the number of times you get out the door to do a running workout. Measure your rate of consistency in running as your bar for success more than you do the amount in miles you ran. With all the available running gadgets and GPS apps, it is so easy to record your running in miles and use the data as your measure of progress. This is not so bad; but as a caveat, setting mileage as a goal to launch your running resolution is not sustainable. Increasing your mileage unnecessarily can lead to injuries. Running is a simple one-motion exercise but a high impact workout. Running too much too soon can overstress your bones and joints. This can make your next running workout painful and may discourage you from running again.

To ensure more success with your running resolution, set a frequency rate. The goal is to develop consistency and establish a solid running routine.  Most successful runners, from average to elite levels, are creatures of habit. Set the number of times over a week to do running workouts then stick with it. Using your old, reliable wall calendar, desk or notebook planner, draw a smiley face on each day you run in a week as planned. Keep it gadget-free and simply tally the number of times you successfully followed through with your commitment to run. As you see progress, feel free to brag about it to your friends and say "Hey, I ran 3x this week!"  Just in case any smarty runner asks you how long do you run in a day, simply tell them, "Long enough to enjoy running."  Just remember that even if you are new to running, it will give you a similar experience as a veteran runner would after a run. To build consistency in running, you need to see its benefits to you versus the standards other people set onto it.

2. Eating Healthy vs. A Weight Loss Diet Plan