Run Club: February 2021

This Month in Run Club

Ahhh, February! A month defined by love and passion! Take a moment to think about the people, things, places, and memories that bring about feelings of love and joy. As with any relationship, the relationship with running can tow the line of love/hate! There are days when everything clicks into place, the air feels great on the skin, the body feels capable, and we can feel the endorphins flowing! Other days, it can be difficult to find the motivation to lace up the shoes or to propel the legs forward. Running can be a fickle friend in that way! When you’re feeling the love, let the feeling really sink in. Store those memories for the future when you are not feeling as motivated! It may even help to take a few notes or snap a picture of yourself after a run that feels particularly wonderful. You can return to those on days when you’re in need of some extra motivation.

There are many stages of the running relationship, just as there is in any relationship! There are days that feel like you’re in the “honeymoon stage,” where everything feels great and you are just so in love with running! After a while, running can feel boring. As with any relationship, it’s important to occasionally spice things up! If you’re looking to add some inspiration to your running, follow the suggestions below under your focus for the month.

Another helpful hint: try smiling during your run! Smiling has immediate positive effects on the body. Smiling sends signals to the brain to release endorphins, those awesome little peptides responsible for reducing pain and increasing pleasure. Endorphins reduce feelings of stress and also reduce blood pressure. Even if you’re not feeling particularly happy, just moving the muscles of the face into a smile trigger the release of endorphins. Go on and give it a try!

At Home Exercise: Your Approach this Month

While running this month, try adding in some spice! Options include 1 minute of high knees, 30 seconds of a sprint or faster pace, 1 minute of walking lunges, or even turning around and running backward for 30 seconds! The sky is the limit on changing things up during your run! Most important, remember to smile!

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving through you, a joy” – Rumi