Numerous studies have shown that when you do those pre-running static stretches, you’re really just wasting your time. These stretches don’t help prevent injury and they might actually hurt your running performance. Just stretch after your workout, or try dynamic stretching prior to hitting the pavement.
Take Walking Breaks
There are some people who already have taken this tip to the next level by competing entire marathons this way. Taking brisk walking breaks in between running is a great way to lengthen your total time you spend running which is particularly helpful for beginners who haven’t built up their stamina yet. If you want to follow a specific method, try the Galloway method.
If you don’t have the time to run or the stamina to run a full 45 minutes, consider upping the intensity level of your workout and cutting down the time. A 20-minute, high intensity workout can actually burn as many calories as a 45-minute, low intensity workout, so there’s no excuse for a lack of time when it comes to running.
Pick the Right Music
Most people know that listening to music can help you feel more motivated and run harder and longer. But, what is more important than having music on is choosing the right music. That means finding music that have at least 120 beats per minute (BPM). You can search on SongBPM to search for your favorite songs, or look for running playlists that already have songs with high BPMs.
Stay Hydrated
Drink water before, during, and after a run. Aim for 16 ounces (2 cups) of water at about two hours before you run.
One way to keep things interesting and to get in your strength training is to alternate between running and doing strength training exercises. For example, if your goal is to run 1 mile and do 100 squats, you can accomplish this easily by running a quarter of a mile then doing 25 squats. Repeat this 4 times, and you’ve accomplished your goal without getting bored or feeling too tired to finish.
