7 Beginner Running Tips

I am thrilled to be working with Zappos again, you may remember my fall fashion and holiday posts with them, and now they are helping me with another goal of mine – running. Running is never something I have been good in fact, when we ran the mile in fourth grade for presidential fitness. I still love swimming but it is incredibly difficult it is to find a pool in New York City. Running is one physical activity that is free, available every day, and doesn’t have opening and closing hours.

Almost every single one of my friends in New York City runs and I don’t like being left out and now, after numerous knee surgeries, I am finally cleared to run. I’ve started with baby steps, one minute walking, one minute jogging. I can now jog with for five minutes without stopping. For any runner, that might seem like a joke, but for me it is huge progress. I have signed up to run a 5K at the end of the summer and I’m excited to challenge myself in this way. 

It doesn’t hurt that my Upper East Side apartment is exactly one mile from Central Park and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is arguably one of the most picturesque places to run. 

After a number of weeks I bring you my seven beginner running tips: 

1.  Invest in the right attire. 

For me that means running shoes with great support, black capri pants, a supportive sports bra, and a workout tank.  Working out has never been my favorite and probably never will but cute clothes definitely help and Zappos has a great selection! 

2.  Stretch properly. 

My favorite are the calf stretches and quad stretches.  Even if you are 20-something and very flexible stretching before and after a run will not only help ward off injury but also make you feel much better the next day.  Trust me. 

3.  Distance over time. 

I learned this one the hard way.  Just because you only have 30 minutes to run does not mean you should try and sprint those thirty minutes.  A  longer, slower run is better for you and do not be afraid to walk, especially when you are starting out. 

4. Stay hydrated. 

I learned early in my swimming career that is very easy to get extremely dehydrating when working out and water is always important. 

 5. Find your groove. 

I personally love running in Central Park around the Reservoir, it is beautiful and a loop so the only time you have to slow down is when there are too many people in front of you. I have tried running on the sidewalk but stopping at crosswalks really throws me off.  Instead I run on a softer path (better for my knee) and jam out to an upbeat playlist. 

6.  Set small, achievable goals. 

My friends may be running marathons and half marathons but that is a bit of a stretch for me right now. I building towards my 5k at the end of August and that is an obtainable. 

7. Think positively. 

Regardless of your speed, you are definitely running faster than the guy on the coach. 

 Whether you are just getting started on your running journey or have been on the track for years Zappos has so much more than shoes!  Besides an array of sneakers they have clothing, including athletic wear from top name brands, and when you buy from them you know you are getting the full Zappos community, with 24/7 customer service. 

And speaking of running, if you are in San Francisco, or really anywhere on the West Coast you should consider signing up for the Bay to Breakers race on Sunday. It is a 12K run from the San Francisco Bay, a few blocks from The Embarcadero, to the Great Highway where breakers crash onto the Pacific Coast’s Ocean Beach. That sounds like a beautiful seven and a half miles to me and while I am not there yet on my running journey I highly encourage all of you to join! 

Happy Running!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.