Anyone have a story to share on how you became a runner for the first time or started again? I haven't been able to call myself even a 'casual jogger' in many years and desire to start again. On my days off I mainly ride bikes (duh if you know me), hike & snowboard which keeps me in decent enough shape but I really want to start running on overnights to complete my weekly goals. I lost some fitness with the job transition last year so it's time to step it up and keep going.
A little worried about overdoing it to start and I know it's wise walk/run/walk/run slowly stepping it up over time. Have a new pair of Brooks that fit great now just need a plan and commitment.
Definitely listen to your body, because running injuries from overdoing it can suck. My advice to you is to come up with a goal...not just running each night, but set something bigger like a Marathon or Half Marathon. Follow a training plan. Personally, I always liked Hal Higdon's paired with Jeff Galloway's intervals. I like plans focused on distance instead of time, because obviously, five miles is five miles, but your distance will vary with thirty minutes.
The only reason I started running was because I had the bright idea to start working on a bucket list and saw an ad for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. It seemed bucket list worthy, and a good excuse to go to Disney.
I had always hated running and because I have a shortened Achilles tendon on my left foot, it wasn't easy for me and doctors often discouraged that type of activity because they felt it was too difficult on my body. So, I guess the motivation was overcoming those obstacles. I ran (which my definition of running also includes run/walk and speed walking) my first Half Marathon at Disney, then was enticed by a shiny medal to run the Disneyland Half the same year to get the bonus third medal for the coast to coast challenge. I thought I was done but they had to release the Marathon medal which looked so cool, and I started to think a Marathon would be a much more worthy goal to have. So, next thing I knew, I had completed a Marathon and two Half Marathons.
People talk about catching a running bug, and I definitely did because there is something about achieving something that seemed so out of reach in the beginning. I don't do it for fun, or for exercise really. I do it for goals. I set a goal for a race and I do everything I can to achieve it. I am never going to run because I just feel like it. I went from three races that first year, to three additional Marathons and 32 Half Marathons the next year, then 10 Half Marathons the year after that. I have just dabbled ever since, mostly running local races and I pace a Half Marathon up north in April, but I have definitely curbed back. For a while there, I made goals for specific races. Disney is okay, but you will find some of the most inconsiderate and ill prepared runners ever there and they have gotten so crowded. I personally found the Marine Corps Marathon and Air Force Marathons to be pretty awesome, but there are so many races out there to choose from that fit an interest or cause that means something. A lot of runners aim for getting a qualifying time to run the Boston Marathon, some target running in every state. It is one of those few sports where anyone can do it, no matter the disability, if you are skinny, far from it, old, young, super fast or not so fast, it is for everyone. I have met so many great people through this "hobby" and visited places I would have never thought about because they just happened to have a race that worked for a weekend I had free. This is my favorite training program. He has an app, too, but this is free!
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program
Oh, and one side note, if you do start running races, set up an Athlinks profile. It keeps track of all of your races for free, and provides another layer of motivation.