Running TIps! Fill free to add your own!

So we all decided to get up and get moving with the C25K program. Some tips I've come along with, and if you have any feel free to add your own!

1. Start out  taking the same route everytime you run. When you get to your half way point (if you are using the program and have the voice tell you your at the half way point that's great) find a "way point" something that will help you remember the exact spot each time you run past this way point. I know that the first time I ran my C25K program that a bench on the curve right before the incline was my half way point. I can't tell you how fun it is to be able to see that bench get farther and farther each week of the C25K!

2.  Be prepared to expand your running area. I love to run in the little beltway park we have (basically a park built for walking along the creek) however, I didn't think about the fact that one day I would need MORE SPACE! WOW!! I had to add road space to the beginning and the end of my run as I got further into the program. It never occured to me that I would actually get to the point I would out run the park!

3. If you are like me and don't necessarily have a GPS that will track how far you went etc. A great program (either online on your computer or an app you can download) is map my run (or map my fitness). You can go on, and map out the route you took. Write down somewhere a name for your route, how far you got and how long you were running. The first week I ran I was dying to try and get a full mile in. I was doing about .7 to .8 miles. It was great being able to see an improvement on how far I was going. You can also keep a log of weather/how you felt/road conditions/etc. Track it. The differences from week one to week nine are astronomical not just in how far and or fast you are running but in how you feel during your run! You can also use an app called Running log (free) to keep track of all the above and it will also tell you how fast you are doing a mile. It will add up a total of how many times you ran each month and the distance you did for the month as well!

I guess those are the ones on the top of my head right now. I'll add more as I think about it. Please fill free to add your own tips or tricks!!

4. WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE! If you start the first week and don't think your ready to move on to week 2 then don't. Do another week of week 1. Then move up if your feeling better about where you are. If you start week one and find you can't do all of the running, then do what you can. The point is not to kill yourself, it's to get  you up and moving and feeling better about yourself and what you can accomplish! Now if you start week 1 and find it's just way to easy, move ahead one week (I don't recommend moving up more than a week at a time). This isn't a race, you aren't really competing with anyone but yourself. So if you do better on the 2nd run than you did on the first run, Be proud of yourself!