I know there are a lot of  us that run, I also know that there are a lot of you that hate it! Those of us that love running have learned to love it, much like you learn to love drinking water, eating your vegetables, working out or getting to bed on time. It is a good habit to run, does this make it good for you? Well that remains a topic of discussion for a later blog. All I will tell you is that long distant running without proper diet is comparable to smoking while running. It will cancel the good that running does real quick.

All that aside, if you are out there and wondering how anyone could love running think of it this way. Running can be relaxing if you let yourself relax, like paying for a really good massage and then being all uptight and stiff because you don’t like to be touched. The parallel is you get what you put into it, if you can find something to take your mind of the pain in running you will become more relaxed and find success in it. What keeps me going is the feeling that I am mastering the technic, this allows me to focus on anything other than the pain. Starting with the thought of “I am going to have fun” or “remember to breath” even “let’s kill these 5 miles!”

Whatever it takes to bring yourself to something positive. Yes positive thinking and even meditation can be a great thing to work on, I prefer prayer or a good conversation with a great friend. But whatever that is for you find that place and visit it as often as it takes.

Change up your scenery!

Find a new route or go a different way on the same route, trail run, track run or run hard all these can be something to mix up the mundane task of running. If you feel like running is a chore than I invite you to choose one of these things to mix it up. Remember there is great power in the mind, you will get through it just stop apologizing and remember your form.

Form?

Of course! Shoulders back, relax your back, kick at the knees not the hips, arms relaxed and not held up at your chest, swing them forward and not side to side. This is just the start, there is a little bit to think about but don’t let that discourage you, let it motivate you and maybe even distract you. Shut the ipod off and listen to your breathing, find some good conversation or maybe just some alone time with the stillness of this great world that we have been blessed with.

Go! Do it! And do it now!