50 Ways To Run Your Best In 2014

Let’s face it. While there are some people who could run the same distance over the same route everyday for the rest of their lives and never tire of it, most of us need something more to our running.

In my opinion, there are three elements to make sure running is fresh and alive in your life: running for a reason, seeing progress (whatever that looks like to you), and having variety. With that said, here are a few simple ways to be your best running self this upcoming year and for years to come:

1. Stay injury free (find hints HERE)
2. Run in honor of someone
3. Run without a watch
4. Make a new playlist
5. Run with your dog (best running dogs HERE)
6. Sign up for a race distance you’ve never done before
7. Run on the trails
8. Join a running club (find one HERE). Or start your own!
9. Train with a heart rate monitor (more info HERE)
10. Volunteer at a race
11. Run for a charity (find yours HERE)
12. Run your favorite route in reverse
13. Create a running blog
14. Sign up for a race in a state or country you’ve always wanted to travel to
15. Volunteer for Girls on the Run
16. Watch an inspiring movie like “Spirit of the Marathon”
17. Read Matt Long’s “The Long Run” and remember you have no excuses
18. Go early, really early, before your brain realizes what you are doing
19. Run with your kid
20. Run with a friend beside you on his/her bike
21. Get a friend or family member to run their first 5K
22. Run an errand – literally!
23. Run in the snow
24. Run in the rain
25. Run in the wind and know the resistance makes you stronger
26. Do a triathlon
27. Try a trail race (find some good ones HERE)
28. Find a ruddy (a running buddy, get it?)
29. Keep your goals attainable
30. Use a training plan
31. Run with good form
32. Have a pre-run routine
33. Start a streak
34. Don’t obsess – life goes on if you miss a run.
35. Sleep more (find out why and how HERE)
36. Count your steps (180 per minute is optimal)
37. Lose weight (if you need to) to get faster and run easier (good article HERE)
38. Run without music
39. Keep a running journal
40. Run on vacation
41. Run to work (someone can always drive you home)
42. Try water running (more info HERE)
43. Try a track workout (ideas HERE)
44. Set a monthly mileage goal
45. Keep your easy runs easy
46. Run hills
47. Run in a spot meaningful to you such as a cemetery or on the streets of the town where you grew up
48. Never think you are too old
49. Sign up for daily running motivation HERE
50. Have fun with it or why do it?

Now go run your best!

SUAR