Six lessons I’ve learned from running:

1. It’s always better to start small. We tend to get these ideas that we can or should tackle five miles on the first day out. This usually leads to nothing good. Instead, start small. Try attempting to run one mile by running one minute and walking one minute until you’ve completed the one mile. Then, STOP! Increase your running by 10% every week.
2. It’s ok to WALK during your run. Why do we think that running the entire time is superior to walking some of the time? I don’t know – machismo?
3. That all said, there is also a need to push yourself to YOUR limit. Knowing exactly what that limit is becomes the “yoga of running.” It’s going to be different for everyone and sometimes we get caught up in a competition with other people or with what we think we ought to be able to do. Try listening to your body.
4. Running creates endorphins, which can fool you into thinking you can do more. So does this conflict with point #3? In a way, yes, and in a way no. It’s a challenge to listen to your body but know when it’s really the endorphins talking. To be a strong and HEALTHY runner you have to REALLY be in touch with your body. Learn to read the signs and hear what it is truly saying to you, and then HONOR it. Practicing yoga can help with this
5. Sometimes you won’t feel like running, but you’ll be glad later that you did. Sometimes you feel like sitting on the couch, but you won’t be glad later that you did. Going running often means putting your indulgences on hold. It may mean doing something you don’t feel like doing, but you’ll be better off later.
6. Running will feel much harder when you are going up hill. Acknowledge that you are going up hill and allow yourself to slow down or even – gasp! – walk! It’s OK, you won’t get a ticket. Sometimes we need to slow down in order to have enough energy to finish the run.