BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Everyone can be a Runner

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about something everyone has... excuses. Every running coach has heard them. And if I had a dollar for every time I heard this one.. "I wish I could run like you," let's just say I'd have enough money for at least an entry fee or two. But this is the deal... nearly everyone (barring a handicap of some sort) can be a runner. They just have to get over their laundry list of excuses--something fellow RRCA certified running coach, PJ Thompson, agreed with. This is what he had to say (with my two cents thrown in of course): 

Here’s a secret I’ll let you in on: Everyone can be a runner. All you have to do is start, and the person you are today will be a distant memory as you look back months later after taking up what you didn’t believe was possible.

This sport can enrich your life in so many ways: Science agrees that running will make you happier, improve your overall health, keep your mind sharper, and—in keeping with May being Mental Health Awareness Month—help you relieve stress and benefit your mental well-being.

Here’s a challenge for you for this month: Knowing all the benefits of running, I want you to take that friend or a family member—the one who’s curious about running but hasn’t started so far—on a very slow run. Lead by example. And if you’re faced with excuses, here are the most common misconceptions about running and how to address them.

“I’m not good at running.”

What does “good” even mean? This is an end-state mentality, instead of focusing on the process. Without ever starting, how can you establish what good means to you? We’ve been conditioned in our understanding of good by other runners instead of creating our own version of it. That’s my message to you: Just get started in creating version 1.0 of “good” for you.

“I don’t look like a runner.”

At any given race, one thing that all runners have in common is the distance they’re covering, and hopefully some sort of training they put in prior to it. Now think about all the differences: in height, weight, hair, complexion, gear, and clothing or hydration of choice. The sport does not have one single look. The person staring back at you in the mirror is exactly what a runner looks like.

“I don’t want to take time away from friends and family.”
We all only get 24 hours in a day, so yes, you’ll have to make some concessions. What could that look like for you? It could be missing some TV, running during your lunch break, or sacrificing some social media scrolling. All of those moments could be replaced with—for starters—a short run. “Me time” is a necessity, so try to balance your life demands with your partner as best as possible while providing them with the same time to take for themselves.

“Running hurts.”
Yes, your body will be tired as it adapts to the sport, but it will give you more than it takes. With shoes that properly fit, a consistent warmup and cooldown routine, and some strength training, you’ll notice your body’s ability to bounce back with less downtime and less exhaustion. (But if you feel any pain while running, please stop running and seek professional help.)

Now that we’ve addressed some of the most common excuses, let me tell you what running provides: 

Running friends: The diverse group of runners in the race I spoke about earlier? These people can become your friends. These accountability partners will be a reliable group of people with whom you’ll cover many miles.

Oh, the places you’ll go: Running has taken me to more places than I could have imagined, especially destinations I’m not sure I would have visited otherwise. There is something special about experiencing the world on your own two feet as you move your body through space.

Meeting your true self: During your running journey, you’ll find out many things about yourself. The space you hold to run will give you the time and freedom to explore your thoughts. Your love for running will grow as you treat running as an outlet, a notepad, a sandbox where you can make mistakes and rebuild while learning the most about yourself along the way.

There is no shortage of lines we’ll use to avoid ever going for the first run, and we’ll come up with more to avoid showing up in the future. Stack all of them and they’ll still not come even close to the positive experiences you’ll come to enjoy as a result of becoming a runner.

So there you have it friends. To whoever tells you, “I wish I could run like you,” tell them to put on some running shoes and then show them that they can. You may not convince them to run the Bass Pro Marathon but you'll get them out the door and on their way to that local 5k or 10k--something they'll no doubt thank you for later. 

Happy Running!