When of the best things about fall weather is that it’s the perfect temperature to hit the pavement and enjoy a run. But what if you’re not an avid runner and feel a little intimidated? Olympic medalist Kristi Castlin spoke to PopSugar about how us mere mortals can become better runners in our day-to-day lives.
How to Become a Better Runner
“One of the most important things I try to tell new runners is to set short- and long-term goals,” The bronze winner at the 2016 Rio Olympics said. “This way you never go an entire season or embark on a new running journey and not experience some level of success.”
Once you have your goals set, it’s best that you maintain realistic timelines so that you don’t stress yourself. There’s no point in trying to get healthier and you’re wrecking your mental health in the process. Not only should you listen to your body but you should also “pace yourself.”
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, so expect to see good but steady results over time.” It’s just as important that you take your measurements as much as your weight because staring at a scale and not seeing it move fast enough could be extremely frustrating. And even if you do everything right, there is still the possibility of the evil plateau.
“The body actually memorizes workouts and adapts to them so there is a constant need for changing things up,” she explained. “Most of the time a plateau is mental. Sometimes a good mental break in reassessment can always boost that athlete to their next level of achieving success.”
Castlin brought up a great way to strengthen muscles that you need during a run which includes swimming and biking. These specific exercises are great because “several of the movements emulate the technique patterns for running as well as for body workouts.”
Do you have any tips that have helped make you a better runner? Share the tips with me in the comments.
