Think you don’t fit the mould of a ‘real’ runner? You’re not alone. But what if you could redefine your running experience? What if I told you that being a runner has nothing to do with how fast you go or what you look like?
Running is more than just a race to the finish line; it’s a personal journey that can be reshaped at any time. Whether you are new to running or have been running for years, redefining your running experience starts with a mindset shift. Here are 5 ways to change your mindset and find the happiness in running:
How to redefine your running experience
- Comparison is the thief of joy. Your journey is unique. Therefore, you should focus on your progress, not someone else’s. By comparing yourself to others, you might miss out on the chance to redefine your running experience and, as a result, the fun that running has to offer. So, tell yourself its fun, go out with a positive mindset and see what happens.
- Define success on your terms. Success doesn’t always mean finishing a marathon – it can simply be lacing up your shoes and getting out the door. After all, progress counts, not perfection.
- Set goals that make sense for you. Forget the pros – setting realistic, personal goals help redefine your running experience. This makes it more fun and aligned with your abilities. Never run before? Set a goal of running a mile, pace is irrelevant. You’ve done Couch to 5K? What does a 10K running plan look like? Daunting? But, here’s the thing: if you can run 5K in 9 weeks, why wouldn’t you be able to run 10K in 18 weeks?
- Embrace the joy of running. Running is about happiness, not just numbers. Find joy in the process, whether that’s getting outside or hitting new milestones. For more fun, join a group for support, laughter and to achieve things you never thought possible.
- Reflect on why you run. Ask yourself: What does running mean to me? Finding your ‘why’ is key to staying motivated. But it doesn’t have to be fixed; you can continuously redefine your running experience. Write it down and put it somewhere you can see it all the time. Maybe it’s on the wine bottle so, when you sit down to a glass of wine in the evening, you postpone pouring it until you’ve been out and done your run.
My running experience
I found the joy in running when I discovered streaking and the streak community. Streaking changed my mindset from – Will I run today? to When will I run today? The addition of that 4-letter word changed my experience of running, it changed what running meant to me and over 1300 days later, I continue to develop my relationship with running.
What it means to mean has evolved and changed over the years. My goals have changed. I’ve learned a lot about running, my body, training and nutrition. And, I feel like I’m still at the start of my journey. I know that running has a lot more to teach me and there are hundreds of experiences and highs still to come. And I want to help you find that joy too. No matter where you are in your running journey, remember: it’s your journey. Enjoy every step and find what makes running fun for you. Ready to make running a habit? Let’s run.
In my experience, running has so much to offer and I’m here to help you discover the fun and happiness it can bring. This is just the beginning – I’ll be back with more tips and insights to keep you on track. Don’t want to wait? Book a call and let’s talk all things running.