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Ten Golden Rules of Running

1/21/2014

 
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With the arrival of another New Year, comes the perennial vow to get into shape, and with this comes the decision to finally take your running seriously.    Motivated by the desire to shed some extra pounds, reduce work or family-life stress, or merely the opportunity to make new friends, more and more people flock to their closest athletic store and join a running group to train for their first big race.  As a veteran of more than 75 marathons and quite a few ultra marathons, I thought it might be worthwhile to share some of the Ten Golden Rules of Running to help with the transition from “weekend warrior” to “avid runner”.

1.  There’s only one bad word when it comes to our sport, and that’s “jogging”.  Unless you’re comfortable getting the death stare from a member of the running community, don’t use the word: “jog”—and I mean not in its verb form, gerund form, or noun form!  

2.  There are no shortcuts in this sport.  If you show up for your race having done only half the training, be prepared to pay the price.  One of the most beautiful qualities of running is that you get back what you put in.  Dragging your butt out of bed and showing up for your running group or solo run pays dividends in terms of not only improved performance but also a general feeling of well-being.

3.  Brace yourself for this inevitable question from your aunt, neighbour, or a total stranger:  “How far is your marathon?”  Believe me when I say this, you may not think this is a big deal now, but this question will start to drive you bananas like nails scraping across a blackboard.

4.  If you sign up for a race, and you get a race shirt, it’s not “cool” to wear it in the race, or even to wear it before the race.  If for some reason you don’t end up doing the race, I believe the proper protocol is to quietly bury the shirt in your backyard.  There is one exemption to this rule—It’s acceptable, and sometimes even enviable to wear a shirt for the same race given on a previous year.  

5.  Our sport has become so popular that in many races, we are herded like unruly animals into race corrals.  If this is the case, don’t lie about your pace just to get assigned a higher seeding.  You’re not going to win the race, so there’s no sense in causing unneeded congestion in the first 500 meters of the race.      

6.  If you’re embarrassed about bodily functions, this sport may not be for you.  Get used to lining up for porta-potties and marking your neighbourhood trees, buildings, and bushes like a stray dog.  Before you know it, you’ll be able to identify all of the public washrooms along your running route—You’ll also have a few faves!

7.  Remember the 10% rule is a Cardinal Rule!  Increase your weekly milage by more than 10% at your peril.  This rule is closely associated with “Rule Number Two”—There are no shortcuts in our sport.  

8.  There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.  Dress appropriately and you’ll have a much better run regardless of the weather conditions.  As a side note, when shopping for running apparel, it’s never a good idea to drag along your spouse or partner.  Trust me…It’s worse than shopping for back to school clothes with your mom.

9.  Be safe out there!  Wear reflective clothing, slow down if the traction is poor, inform someone of your running route, buy a RoadID, run facing the oncoming traffic, and hydrate and fuel your body appropriately.

10.  Finally, don’t be a running snob.  If you pass another runner while you’re out on your run, smile and wave.  If a colleague or a family member asks you about your new addiction, fly your freak flag high!   You’re a runner, and you’ve joined the best tribe on the planet!

Melissa link
1/21/2014 07:51:44 am

I love this post. I am a new wannabe runner. I am just curious about not using the word jog. Is "wog" acceptable because that is pretty much what I do.....walk and then jog at a pace that is slower than most people's walking pace.

Katina
1/21/2014 09:55:24 am

This was both intelligent, helpful and hilarious!!

Tyson
2/6/2014 04:17:22 am

We all start somewhere and if you try it and stick with it, no matter the speed you are one of us runners!

JP
1/21/2014 08:01:26 am

Melissa.... welcome to the "tribe"..... You can call it whatever you want, just as long as you keep coming back for more! Remember....there will be plenty of time for "walking" when the Zombie Apocalypse arrives. :)

Natalie
1/21/2014 10:49:00 am

Great advice JP!

Dave Jack
1/21/2014 08:16:08 pm

Well done. I hope they listen to you. Best advice I have seen in a long time

Joanne Lynn
1/21/2014 09:24:40 pm

A great article and some good advice, No 6 made me laugh as I have 3 places I use for loo stops, currently training for London Marathon and don't know how many times I've been asked how long is the marathon

Alasdair Veitch
1/21/2014 09:57:56 pm

As a runner just starting 33rd year of running - I love this list!!! Great job and will share with my running friends :-) I'd add to #10 that when you encounter other runners - and just people on your trail or daily route - smile and say Hi. I used to live in a small town in the Canadian western Arctic and I'd wave at all the vehicles passing - and they'd wave back at me. Good job and happy running!

Laurie
1/22/2014 10:36:31 am

Ha Ha! I've only been running for a little over 5 years ... I loved this & am sharing it with my friends ~ Thanks! :)

Darryl
1/22/2014 12:18:56 pm

Nice article, but what is the deal with number 4? It sounds like some pointless hipster rule. The way I see it, we should be judged on our running.

blurfus
1/22/2014 03:50:34 pm

The reasoning goes that one should not try anything new during race day that you had not tried before (ie.during training). Things like drinking a new sports-drink (different brand, flavour, etc) can upset your stomach during the race and, since you have not had it before, you don't know how your body will react to it.

The same goes for race day shirt. Chances are you have not trained with it so, if you choose to wear it during race day you risk the chance that it rubs you in the wrong spots and you develop a rash (or, worse, a blister) potentially making the race a nightmare.

Wearing the race shirt on race day tells others that you have not trained long enough to know, or learned from others, this very commonly-known rookie mistake. Thus, labelling you a rookie/newbie, thus not cool (to some people, I suppose).

I would change the wording to say not that it's not 'cool' but to say that it is foolish to wear it (since past experience, or experience from the community, indicates that trouble may lie ahead)

Seriousgyrl
1/23/2014 08:05:24 am

Spoken like someone who has definitely worn his race shirt on race day!

liz
1/22/2014 01:12:54 pm

Jean-Paul Bedard
1/22/2014 11:35:49 pm

Good point Blurfus.... I was just speaking tongue in cheek, but your reasoning is what I was thinking. It's all fun if we run.

Jean-Paul Bedard
1/23/2014 08:07:11 am

Amen to that Seriousgyrl ..... been there done that.

ismail
10/3/2014 06:34:38 pm

Thanx for a nice article, great tips and good advice. I am guilty of no.8 Always use the word BAD WEATHER as an excuse to drag my ass out of bed because I don't have the appropriote winter running clothing and I feel very uncomfortable running in tracksuits.


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