Leave it to shopping to inspire a lifestyle change. I just discovered these running pants by Lorna Jane, an Aussie brand new to the States, and lo and behold, they made me feel like I could try out for American Ninja Warrior and win. They hold everything in, gave my legs definition, and are incredibly comfortable. They made me want to...run. Run? The last time I ran was when I tripped in my flatforms and had to break into a slow jog to cover it up.
It was time to get back into running. But how? Here are some tips:
1) Start Slow: If the most running you've ever done is chasing Mr. Frosty wtih a dollar bill in your hand, now's not the time to sign up for your first 10k. We like this schedule from Fit Sugar - interval training breaks up the monotony of running for 30 minutes straight and burns more calories.
2) Accessorize: Ok, so maybe not essential to running, but doesn't hurt to look cute. The FlipBelt is a streamlined and good looking way to keep your key, cards, phone, etc in one place.
3) Music: Some people like to run without music. I am not some people. Running without music is like going one day without checking Instagram. Really hard to do. Sign up for Run Hundred, a free service that sends you monthly top ten songs submitted and voted by 40,000 people.
4) Running Apps: Yup, there's an app for that. We used Couch to 5K to turn us from potatoes to broccoli. Er...you get the picture.
5) Let the Benefits Motivate: According to this article, every system in our bodies benefits from running, including your brain. Not only does it release endorphins, when your body falls into a rhythm, all the excess noise in life fall away.
Are you up for the challenge?