“If I only knew then, what I know now…”
What words of advice would you go back in time and tell your new runner self? That’s our topic for today’s Tuesdays on the Run. What things have you learned in your years of running that would have made your past running better? Maybe your words of advice will help someone who is just starting out.
My number one piece of advice? Listen to your body.
I don’t get injured often (thankfully!) but when I do, I always make it worse by continuing to train. I’m pretty sure that a few days of rest at the first sign of pain would prevent the numerous visits to the chiropractor over the years. Even if I still ended up at the chiropractor, hopefully listening to my body would have made the down time shorter.
Other random pieces of advice I’d share:
- Minimalist shoes + all pavement running + half marathon training do not mix.
- Marathon training does not mean you can eat all the things.
- Remember to pick up some weights occasionally. Running may be your happy place, but weight lifting will make you a stronger runner.
- It’s ok to run slowly.
- Walking is not the enemy.
- Compression shorts and an oversized shirt don’t make you look skinnier. They just make you look sloppy.
- Never feel guilty about taking a rest day.
- Run without a time or distance goal occasionally.
- Start slow, finish fast.
- Buy a better jogging stroller.
- Don’t buy the Bia.
- You are stronger and more capable than you ever thought you could be.
I’m not sure my younger self would have listened to all of the above (heck, some of it I still ignore now), but maybe some it would sink in.
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Such great advice here! I wish I would have never ran in the drop zero shoes because of all the pain it caused me, but hey, that’s something I would have never known if I didn’t make that mistake!
In the end, I’m glad I did because I love my Altra’s, but I did a lot of damage to my feet with the zero cushioning before I found the Altra shoes.
Haha compression shorts and oversized shirts! That made me laugh! So true.
Yeah, I have some lovely race pictures to prove it.
I know my younger self would ignore advice, even if it came from future me. I’d recommend yoga, but my younger self didn’t appreciate yoga, at all.
My older self still does not appreciate yoga LOL.
I’ve been lucky to have never gotten seriously injured but listening to my body more is something I’m still striving for. Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants, even if it goes against what the body needs, and it can be hard to say no. But I’m working on it!
I hear you, but yes, sometimes you just have to say no.
Yes to all of this!! I’m having to listen to my body right now as I’m teetering on the overtraining side of things. It’s hard to take it easy some times but you have to listen to your body when it’s telling you it needs rest!
Yep – better to under train than to over train.
Great advice! I still need to remind myself of some of those things today.
Me too. LOL.
I made so many mistakes as a new runner. I’ve since learned that compression shorts and capris are great and definitely help to avoid chaffing.
I love compression shorts or capris – under my skirts. ;o)
Really great advice! I think after going through some injuries, listening to your body is SO important! You really start to learn when you need to rest and when you can keep going, but it takes time. And yes, it is okay to run slowly or to walk!
Yep. Sometimes you just need to shut a run down so you can run again another day.
Love this! I especially like- Walking is not the enemy.
Yes, letting go of feeling bad about walking made a huge difference in my love of long distance running.
Ha! Marathon training doesn’t mean eat all the things. Love it. 😉
Trust me, I learned the hard way…
I really wish that Marathon training meant we can eat EVERYTHING, because this runger is a killer!!
Thanks for the advice!
Oh, yeah. I’m ALWAYS hungry.
I legit snorted out loud:
Don’t buy the Bia.
I was thisclose… and then stuck with Garmin. And now I’m so glad. lol
I hated it. And then they failed. Such a waste of money that could have been used on races LOL.
I agree with all your advice especially listening to your body which is not always easy.
Yes, listen to your body and schedule your rest day. They are both important!
Love these! For me, I had no idea as a new runner how ESSENTIAL weight training would be to improving my run game. It’s been less than a year since I first saw the light and I can’t even believe how much my race times have improved!
I need to get back at this.
Great advice!!
YES!!!-Remember to pick up some weights occasionally. Running may be your happy place, but weight lifting will make you a stronger runner….Lesson learned!! I think my injuries from last year were because I stopped making my muscles stronger!
I used to lift weights a LOT before kids. Now I almost never do. I need to get back at it.
Those are some great tips! Hard to remember you can’t eat all the things 🙂
I know.
I love the last one–very true. And you can’t eat all the things…well, at least all of the time.
I’m so sad about the eating all the things. I’m always so hungry LOL.
Great list – and I completely echo all of the sentiments, especially about running slowly, still having to be careful of what we eat, negative splitting, and rest days. What is the Bia? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it (and maybe that’s a good thing)?
Bia was a kickstarter GPS watch. I hated it and then they stopped supporting it. Big waste of money.
“Marathon training does not mean you can eat all the things.”
I have learned that one as well… Happy Tuesday Erika!
I wish I’d learned that one earlier – still trying to get rid of a few “marathon” pounds.
Compression capris and a giant cotton tee were my uniform (not a runner then) before I lost weight. You mean it’s not a good look?? : D
Not judging by the pictures of me from a lot of races LOL.
Bia? What is that?
Otherwise, all great advice!
Bia was a kickstarter GPS watch that just didn’t work out and was a waste of money.
Not sure what the Bia is, but I agree with all of the other recc’s!!
Bia was a kickstarter GPS watch that just didn’t work out and was a waste of money.
You cracked me up with the no compression shorts and oversized shirt…and not buying the Bia! So true to both!
I just posted a link to my very first half marathon on FB – I was totally in the compression and big shirt phase then.
Great list. I especially like the rest day comment because we tend to think we’re weak if we take a break. Or is that just me? 😉
No, I’m totally the same way. I need to plan in rest breaks or I sometimes don’t take them.
I so thought I commented but here goes again. I wished I had listened about the weight gain during marathon training, why is this? I just don’t understand, lol
Thank you for the link up Erika!
start slow, finish strong is a motto i live by! Its so easy to get caught up in the vibe and run too fast in the beginning but if you can block it out and just focus on you, it really makes the race more enjoyable!