The life of a runner requires a daily dose of motivation. While veteran runners may sometimes struggle, beginner runners more frequently find their mojo is missing, and they need running inspiration. Coach Deb provides insight into the running mindset every beginner runner needs in order to maintain the motivation to get out there and put in the miles, day in and day out.

The last episode answered the listener question, "How many days should I run?" That answered the question for someone at the very beginning of their running journey, but the answer is different for a beginner who is six months along. This episode answers the same question for that runner but also explains how to build running mileage even at three miles a week. It explains the strategy of how to safely and efficiently build mileage, how many miles to build up your running mileage base, and how and why to incorporate the once-weekly long run.

Getting this right will make the beginner runner's journey much easier, much more comfortable, and lead to health instead of injuries.

In this episode Deb explains how often a beginner runner should run while also providing the reasoning behind the plan. Understanding this reasoning is key to any runner's long-term success.

As we finish 2020, we need to do the right things to prepare to make 2021 a powerful, positive year, despite the pandemic.

2020 has been dreadful, but it doesn't have to beat you up. It's easy to let goals slide when struggling with such a crazy year, but this is just exactly when you need to double down and focus on the things within your control, and your fitness is just that.

In this episode, I provide advice and introduce a challenge that everyone can do to finish the year, strong; it's the 1 + 1 Holiday challenge.

Listen and join the challenge. Participation in the challenge is free. 

A beginner runner's success or failure often hinges on just being able to manage several key aspects of running training.

In this episode Coach Deb addresses several struggles common to new runners.

Preparedness is everything. Seeing the big picture and being prepared for these inevitable challenges may make the critical difference between success and failure for anyone at the beginning of their running journey. .

This is it! You’ve been learning about what to do for nine days. Think of this as graduation day, the day you get the last, but most critical, piece of the puzzle. Today, you find out exactly what you should do, and I mean you, personally, should do on Day 1 of your running journey. Today, is your diagnostic run.

In this podcast, I explain what to do to find out how far you should run during each running segment of your walk to run mile, which is the distance you should start with. 

I also explain how to progress from there, the three variables, and the details regarding the decisions you’ll be making in deciding what to change and when. 

I’m excited for you because this is, of all the secrets I’ve imparted, perhaps the most crucial one, because if you try to start your running training with too much running, you’ll likely never succeed.

Walk to Run to 5k Program

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I’ve been hearing the phrase, ‘turtle power,’ for years, always from slower runners, usually in an upbeat, positive way, an “I’m fine with that” way, but sometimes they utter the words apologetically, and that makes me sad.

Often, these are beginner runners, but not always. It is my hope that after listening to this podcast, no one listening will ever feel bad, in any way, about being a slower runner.

What is slow, anyway? It’s all relative, isn’t it? When an Olympian runs a 6 minute mile, it’s an off day. Most runners will never see the faster side of 9 minutes, and some will always run 12 minute miles, and I sure hope those people don’t apologize for that because there is no reason to be the least bit apologetic. To me, that’s like apologizing because you have brown hair.

If anyone ever makes you feel like your pace is too slow, then that person is just being unkind and isn’t worth worrying about. In fact, they probably feel inferior in some other way. You have as much right to go your own pace and be happy with it as any other runner has a right to go the pace that is comfortable to them.

After all, running is an individual sport. One of the most enjoyable elements of running is that anyone can do it; you don’t need to be a gifted athlete, but I sure hope you do realize that anyone at any pace is an athlete.

Turtle Power is the mantra of slower runners everywhere, and so it should be. I hope it’s empowering. If you’re a slower runner, and since you’re a beginner, you probably are, own it; don’t apologize for it. Turtle runners unite!

Below is the link to my beginner runner program. It includes beginner running schedules for six months.

Walk to Run to 5k Program

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Weight loss – or management – plays a role in the life of virtually every runner. Either they start running to lose weight or they’ve already lost weight, and they want to become a runner to help them maintain that weight loss. Too, some runners run because they’re worried that their weight will gradually creep up if they don’t get lots of exercise to offset the calories of the food they consume.

Even the most fit-looking, slender runners will often say that maintaining a desirable weight is one of the key reasons why they run.

Bottom line, many runners are running to lose weight.

It works. Running can, without a doubt, facilitate these goals, but for some, it doesn’t work. It’s not a given that you’ll lose weight by starting to run. Rather, it’s a great part of a weight loss strategy. Some people become runners and never lose weight, or even gain weight. I’ve seen it enough times that, now, I can explain why that happens and how to avoid it.

I’ve got some guidelines for nutrition as well. I want you to succeed in reaching your weight loss goals, and I’m sure this information will help you do that.

Michael Pollan

The Gut Balance Revolution

Eat the Yolks

Grain Brain by Dr David Perlmutter

Real Food Liz (Liz Wolfe) author of Eat the Yolks

Your Personal Paleo Code by Chris Kresser

The Whole30

Walk to Run to 5k Program

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The post Beginner Runner Class, Day 8: Running for Weight Loss – BRV 043 appeared first on Mojo for Running.