Just Start
Just Start
I’ve been humming and hawing over the last couple of weeks (nah, actually months) about starting a Substack. What should the theme be? What will folks want to read? Can I be consistent?
I love reading running journals and people’s escapades on the trails, and if there’s one thing I’m consistent with, it’s running! So I figured, rather than create something that will appeal to everyone, why not just write what interests me, and the readers will come?
At the start of this year, I read “Depression Hates A Moving Target” by Nita Sweeney. I 100% recommend it!
She details her struggles with getting into running, rebounding, how depression stifled her running capabilities and the impact of family deaths on her life. Her ability to recount every single one of her runs in excruciating detail amazed me. I thought to myself, “How does she remember what she wore on her first day back running for the millionth time?!” only for her to mention later on in the book that she’s a writer and keeps a running log of every single one of her runs.
Class.
I guess that’s the beauty of smartwatches and Strava to keep track of our runs, but I don’t detail them down to the shoes and leggings I wear, nor do I pay a lot of attention to my surroundings on every run.
This is partially why this newsletter has come about. Her book and insistence on running inspired me. I write for a living and want to become more mindful on my runs. Why not document my running and all my lovely musings while out hitting the tarmac?
In this newsletter, you can expect:
Running memos and musings from the week
I’m moving to Spain, so I’ll be using this Substack to document my move there
Running tips & my fave workout from that week
Life updates: what’s currently intriguing me and what I’ve learned or experienced that I want to explore more on my runs.
This week’s workout of the week:
Last week, I signed up for the Shreddy app workouts. €50 for a year’s access to various strength and pilates workouts is pretty good, with both gym and home workout options. Since the local gym here in Askeaton closed (big sad face), I have been too lazy to drive elsewhere to go to the gym, nor have I been hitting my home workouts. On downloading the app, I got my arse straight into gear and rewarded myself with a sweaty but simple sesh! Dumbbells and a resistance band, and away I go. There’s a lot more research coming out now showing that strength and resistance training goes a long way to help your running economy.
This week’s juicy tip:
My tip for this newsletter is to read the book “Depression Hates A Moving Target”! Whether you’re interested in running or not, it’s a great glimpse into someone living with depression and bipolar disorder, and it might inspire you to try something you’ve been putting off.
If you’re a seasoned runner getting back into the swing of things, it might be helpful to take the watch off and go for a chill run with no pressure on pace, heart rate or cadence. Go with your body and enjoy yourself as you ease back into it!
A brand new beginner (I’m jealous!)? Start super easy, easier than you think! I often see people who take off in a burst of speed, 100-metre sprint style and then 30 seconds into the run, they are wrecked. Start slow and easy; aim to keep that same pace or slower for around 20 minutes and build on that. Couch 2 5k training schedules are excellent to go from walking/running into a consistent non-stop run.
I’d love to hear from you!
Are you a runner? When did you start? Why do you continue to run?
I’d also love if you’d subscribe to my newsletter. I’ll send out a weekly running update and promise to always include a tip and my favourite workout of the week.