In the spirit and likeness of David Letterman lets list the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for runners:
#10 – Stop heell planting while running. Landing on the heel too prominently dramatically lowers stride efficiency. Heel planting is like putting on the brakes for runners.
#9 – Don’t forget the runner’s glide or else you’ll be referring to 2009 as the year of the chafe!
#8 – Join a running club. You will learn more about the sport, make friends, and become a better runner by training with others.
#7 – Eat bananas.
#6 – Sign up for a type of race you’ve never done before. If you’re traditionally a road runner, find a trail race. If you’re a half marathoner, find a 5k. Mix it up.
#5 – Stretch. I break this rule all of the time and it always bites me in the a$$. Chronic injury is often times a result of muscle tightness and resulting misalignments.
#4 – Inspire someone else to become a runner. Often times you can achieve this without even trying. Speaking about running while exuding your passion for it typically motivates others to be just like you. Since you’re a runner, that’s what they will become.
#3 – Break your previous records. Run the same race you ran previously or choose an entirely new one. Either way, go out there to get better, and then BE better.
#2 – Run in a remote location. The calming effect of running in a beautiful outdoor environment does wonders in terms of performance. It motivates you to stick to a schedule and also provides a bit of mental distraction during the run. Instead of thinking about your breathing, fatigue or discomfort you’ll be focusing on the environmental stimuli around you.
#1 – Continue running so that you can begin planning for next year’s running resolutions.
Happy New Year everyone! Keep on running and remember that this is what we were made to do!