Of course, like everything on this blog, this is according to me, and not what some super-running expert might say. However, I imagine most of you are more like me than you are like a super-running expert.
Point is, three years ago, I was a newbie to outdoor running. I used to log a few miles on the dreadmill...{ahem ahem}...treadmill, but hated every minute of it.
I aspired to enjoy running, since I heard it actually happens.
Fast forward three years, and I pretty much know that once March hits, it's go time, and I'm outdoor jog/running pretty much 2-4 times a week until November. (I give myself time off during Thanksgiving-December-January-February 'cause I freeze my chubby rump off.)
The beauty? I enjoy it!
I got to this point over time. I got to this point little by little. I got to this point by listening to my body's strengths and limitations. I got to this point by setting realistic goals.
I got to this point by figuring out there are a few key things I need to enjoy running. Essentials, if you will.
Those essentials can be read below:
I'll start by explaining the things in this picture you can see:
hat - I've adopted running with a hat because my hair is friggin' annoying. I have fly-aways by my face that tickle my cheek or stick to sweat. Not fun. You want your jogging to be all about YOU and the MOVEMENT. Nothing else. Note: any and all distractions will piss you off. Also, my hair is long, heavy, and often a mess, so the hat eliminates the over-bouncing of a ponytail or the annoying drooping of a high bun.
headphones - There is no way in heck I could run as far and for as long as I do without a good soundtrack. I've learned how to let a song pump me up, I know which songs can do it, and how to let a song take my body away from tired. I've jogged/ran many a mile that I didn't feel because the music led my mind away. I suppose it's like meditating. I used to use the iPhone's little bud headphones, but they fall out and aren't as loud as these mustard Urbanears Plattan headphones. The only drawback is I sweat under them, so I might have to get another pair for casual usage and make these my 'run pair'.
iPhone - Aside from being my iPod which supplies the awesome soundtrack, my darling iPhone has the app I use to track my run, and the camera I use to document my run (a la Zooey Deschanel in Yes Man). I was thinking just yesterday what a difference my iPhone makes in my run. I usually just hold it, or I can put it in my amphipod pocket. No biggie.
amphipod - Ahhh, my amphipod. I wrote a full-on post about it HERE that will answer any questions you might have about it, I hope. It's new as of Spring 2011, when my runs started getting longer, and I was in the market for some kind of portable waterbottle. It was annoying at first, because I mistakenly tried to wear it around my hips. I soon figured out that being a curvy girl, best placement with the least amount of bother was at the tiniest part of my waist (see above photo). Remember: any and all distractions will piss you off.
lip balm & water - The amphipod's got those covered, but a quick note about both: lip balm is pretty important because (remember what I said earlier) any and all distractions will piss you off. I've jogged with chapped lips and spent the whole time in my head wishing I had lip balm. That's the end of that story. Now, water is kind of silly. I usually never drink it. Haa haa! Carrying it is for peace of mind and insurance. However, if I must drink, I never CHUG mid-run. I allow myself 5 sips maximum if I'm thirsty. A bunch of water in your belly will just cause cramps. Hydrate, if necessary, but don't drown yourself.
stretch pants (not shorts) - For me, shorts are a nightmare. My thighs rub together in a fiery chaff, the shorts end up twisted or up my crack... Not. Cute. OR comfortable. You will almost always see me jog/running in stretchies that reach my knee or mid-calf. Okay, stretchies might show a little jiggle action, but I don't care. It's better than wearing looser pants, and risk getting 'em caught in a stride or twisted. Plus, people are NOT looking at you. They don't care. Only YOU care. That's all I have to say about that.
socks & sneaks - Self explanatory. I mean, as long as they're the right fit, and don't distract. Obviously, a bad fit, a pebble inside, a sliding down sock ALL will piss you off. Being pissed off at life will fuel your run. Getting pissed off at run-gear will corrupt your run. I also have special cushion inserts a salesperson from Lady FootLocker gave me once. I couldn't tell you the name or brand, but I like them. Also, for me, neon laces help. I've heard this from other runners too.
Okay, readers, you made it this far through my lengthy blah blah blah. Are you inspired yet?
On to the jog/run esstentials you can't see from the picture:
A good night's sleep is crazy essential. Take everything other essential away, and you could probably still have a pretty good run if just going on a good night's sleep. The opposite is also true: have every other essential on this list, and without a good night's sleep, a good day's run is NOT happening.
After a good night's sleep, I wake up and drink one good cup of coffee. I prefer to jog/run in the morning after my coffee just because. It fits better in my day. I'm fresh and energized to go in the morning, and that cup of coffee is the jolt I need to go farther and longer.
An empty stomach is essential. I usually injest nothing but that cup of coffee. Oh, and brush my teeth because huffing and puffing coffee breath is NOT cute...or hygenic.
I cannot stress good underwear enough. I take back what I said earlier. A good night's sleep and good underwear are the two most important essentials on the list. I jogged about a month ago with this lace thong that kept giving me a frontal wedgie. On top of that, the stretch pants I had on were all wrong, loose at the waist, and slipping down. After 15 minutes, I turned around and went back home. I was so aggravated, I squashed the run. It was a total fail. I kept hiking up my pants, and trying to pull down the thong. Ugh! Nightmare. As far as bras go, I'm not the best one to hear from. Obviously a good bra is key, but I have little boobies -- munchkins if you will -- and pretty much any bra will work. If you're jog/running with jelly doughnuts, then I can't offer you advice. The best advice I could offer is double-up. I suggest an older regular bra that you don't mind sweating up under a sports bra. Double protection, ho!
Last on the list of essentials is stretched and warmed up legs. This is a before and after run thing, to give yourself the best experience possible. If a muscle spasm happens mid-run or super-soreness happens after run, you might be compelled never to run again and that's not the point here. Stretching gives yourself an extra something and starts your run off right.
Finally finally and finally, something not on the list is attitude. You can't see it, but I think it's essential to have while outdoor jog/running. I don't think you start with it, but once adopting the activity, it'll develop. It's an attitude of fierceness. It's an attitude of fearlessness. It's an attitude of accomplishment, drive, and persistence. It's an attitude of one-ness and connectedness with your body. I always say that if anything is wrong with your body, running can tell you. If you need to poop, you'll feel it while running. If your tired, running will let you know. Running acts like a sifter to bullshit. It shakes all away with each pounding step, and leaves you with nothing but truth.
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Haa haa!
The End.
I hope some of the billions of words I typed here have inspired you to take up jog/running if you haven't already. ...and if you have, I hope this silly mountain of information will make your jog/running better.
xOxO,
