Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
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Now let's get started by talking about something that can totally improve your running and your outlook on running... choosing to run like a kid from time to time. This was something I was thinking about on Monday as I watched the elementary children I've been coaching all year as part of the ACTIVE Kids program run their last mile of the year. Once a week over the school year, the runners ran for 15 minutes (average time for a mile) around the track and received a charm to add to their necklaces (with special charms for the 5k, 10k, 13.1 and 26.2 mile distances) for each mile completed on their journey to finish a marathon.
For all their hard work, the young runners were rewarded with an "official" one mile run (pictured above) as a reward. They laughed as they applied their bibs and then lined up at the start for the national anthem. As you can imagine, some of the kids were super fidgety and anxious to start. And then they heard the song that tells runners that it’s about to go down... the Eye of the Tiger. A few bars in and the girls and boys were off for the first of four loops around the track!
When they were finished, they each grabbed a banana (or two or three to take home to their mom of course), a medal, and a bottle of water. They were all red-faced but smiling and laughing, which made me laugh too. "Thanks a lot Coach Mimi," one of them said to me before giving me a hug. "I'm glad you had fun," I replied. "See you next year!"
Can you feel the joy those young runners had? Adult running should be approached with the same joy and enthusiasm these children had because it can boost their mental and physical well-being, expand their social connections, and help to build their confidence. As kids demonstrate, running can be a fun, social, and enjoyable activity, rather than a sport solely focused on performance.
Without further ado then, here are a few more reasons why runners can benefit from adopting a child-like approach to running:
Focus on Fun and Joy:
Children naturally approach running with a sense of play and joy, making it an enjoyable activity. Runners can benefit from rediscovering this sense of fun, rather than being overly focused on performance or competition.
Embrace Social Connections:
Kids often enjoy running with friends and peers, finding motivation and support in group settings. Runners can replicate this by joining running clubs or groups, fostering a sense of camaraderie and making running more enjoyable.Social connections always make running more fun!
Build Confidence:
Like children, runners can build confidence by setting achievable goals, celebrating successes, and focusing on progress rather than perfection. This can lead to a more positive and rewarding running experience.
Appreciate the Natural Environment:
Kids often enjoy running in nature, exploring different terrains and environments. Runners can incorporate this by running in parks, trails, or forests, enhancing their running experience and connecting with nature. And I will tell you from years of coaching children, kids will stop often to marvel at the wonder and beauty of creation, not caring if it messes up their overall pace.
Learn from Children's Intuition:
Children often run intuitively, focusing on their breath and body's signals. Runners can learn from this by paying attention to their body's cues, modulating their effort, and listening to their breath.
Prioritize Regular Participation:
Just as these children celebrated their weekly wins, and regularly participated in the program, they highlighted the importance of consistent activity and enjoying the process. Runners can apply this principle by incorporating running into their regular routine and rewarding themselves for each run and/or each mile. These young runners received charms but feel free to treat yourself to coffee instead.
Children naturally approach running with a sense of play and joy, making it an enjoyable activity. Runners can benefit from rediscovering this sense of fun, rather than being overly focused on performance or competition.
Embrace Social Connections:
Kids often enjoy running with friends and peers, finding motivation and support in group settings. Runners can replicate this by joining running clubs or groups, fostering a sense of camaraderie and making running more enjoyable.Social connections always make running more fun!
Build Confidence:
Like children, runners can build confidence by setting achievable goals, celebrating successes, and focusing on progress rather than perfection. This can lead to a more positive and rewarding running experience.
Appreciate the Natural Environment:
Kids often enjoy running in nature, exploring different terrains and environments. Runners can incorporate this by running in parks, trails, or forests, enhancing their running experience and connecting with nature. And I will tell you from years of coaching children, kids will stop often to marvel at the wonder and beauty of creation, not caring if it messes up their overall pace.
Learn from Children's Intuition:
Children often run intuitively, focusing on their breath and body's signals. Runners can learn from this by paying attention to their body's cues, modulating their effort, and listening to their breath.
Prioritize Regular Participation:
Just as these children celebrated their weekly wins, and regularly participated in the program, they highlighted the importance of consistent activity and enjoying the process. Runners can apply this principle by incorporating running into their regular routine and rewarding themselves for each run and/or each mile. These young runners received charms but feel free to treat yourself to coffee instead.
And there you have it friends. There are so many reasons to run like a kid from time to time. The joy that they exhibit is not only contagious but not easily lost. They run simply for fun and slow down when they need a rest. They don't compare themselves to others but run for the sake of running. Although they do (like us) enjoy those free bananas they ran all the miles for, they will do it without any rewards. So get out there often, with no set agenda, no desired pace, and no goals, and just run like a kid. You'll be so glad you did. Happy Running!
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