I used to hate gym class. I lacked any athletic ability and always felt self-conscious during all team activities. I hated to sweat and I was the girl who used to kick the soccer ball into the wrong goal. (Yes, it’s true). It wasn’t until college that I started to think about fitness and trying to get healthy. I’ve always had a tenuous relationship with my body—I felt awkward and uncoordinated and didn’t think there was anything I could do about it. When I was studying abroad in Spain my junior year of college, some new friends encouraged me to go running with them to explore our neighborhood. I hated running and figured I would rather die. I could only last about 15 minutes and cursed them the entire time. Plus, Spanish women don’t typically run outside, so we got a lot of weird looks from the locals. But my friends wouldn’t let me give up. They kept inviting me to come and we kept running and exploring the city together. One of them even told me, “If you keep this up, you’ll eventually love it and get addicted.” I thought she was crazy.
I ran my first marathon in New York City in 2006. Yes, that’s right—from fearing gym class and hating running to a marathon. Getting to the starting line on Staten Island was certainly a process. If you asked me five years ago if I thought I could do it, I would’ve laughed at you. But we all have to start somewhere. A marathon might not be everyone’s goal, but it is possible to include fitness into our busy lives. What follows are the five tips that got me from couch potato to marathoner. (Keep in mind, I am not a coach, a trainer, or a doctor, and if you are going to start exercising, speak to a professional first).
Start small.
When I first started running, I could go for about 15 minutes. At first, I felt bad that I couldn’t keep up with my friends, but then I realized that I had to start at the beginning. I began adding 5 minutes each time I went running, until I could run comfortably for 45 minutes. Yes, I was slow (more on that later), but it didn’t matter. My point is—starting an exercise routine in itself may seem like a huge, daunting task, but if you break it down into little pieces, you can get it done. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, get off the subway one stop earlier, park your car far away from the door, etc. Add 5 minutes to your workout each time. Start small and keep adding on. You’ll get where you want to be.
Get support.
Exercising is a lot easier with support. Find a friend, join a gym, go to a class, become part of a team, or find a cause for which you are passionate. I never would have been able to finish my marathon if I didn’t have a great team cheering me on or pace group members who wouldn’t let me give up when I hit my wall. Furthermore, we recognized that we were all there to raise money for a cause in which we all believed. The shared mission was a powerful motivator. You don’t have to run a marathon to do something positive for yourself and for humanity. Try a walk, a short run, or a bike ride for charity. Both your body and your soul will benefit.
Mix it up.
Who wants to run on the treadmill at the gym every day? Not me. When starting a new exercise plan, try to include several different activities. Walk one day, swim another, bike, run, try strength training, or take a dance class. This variety prevents injury—it’s important to use different muscles and have a chance for recovery—and boredom. Believe me, you’re much more likely to stick to something if you can look forward to it and it doesn’t feel like a chore. I love my weekly yoga classes because they allow for different movement and breathing, plus a great chance to exercise without the stressing my joints like I do when I run.
Remember to rest.
Time off is a vital part of any exercise routine. When I was training for the marathon, my coaches couldn’t emphasize that to us enough. Take a day off to recover during the week, and don’t feel guilty about it. If you build rest into your schedule, you won’t feel bad about not working out like a maniac every day. Be patient with yourself and listen to your body.
Run your own race.
If you take one thing away from this article, I hope it is to run your own race. (I mean that literally and figuratively, since I realize running may not be your activity of choice, but you’ll see my point). As a slow runner, and indeed one of the slowest members of my team, I was often anxious about pacing and feeling that my performance would be diminished by other teammates’ speedy showings out on the course. Many of them set their sights on qualifying for the Boston marathon or logging a personal best at every race. (Just so you know, to qualify for Boston in my age group, I would need to run a 3:40 marathon).
Luckily for me, I had amazing teammates and friends who reminded me that I don’t need to compare myself to the fastest teammates. I am never going to run a 3:40 marathon, or even a 4-hour one, for that matter. My body is not built for it. I and other “slow” runners would never get out on the course (or on the field, or to the gym) if we constantly compared ourselves to others’. What we do is also extraordinary, and so is what you do to take care of yourself. In a lot of ways, it’s harder for the “slower” or “unathletic” folks to get out there and do it. For many of us, we’ve come a long way to get where we are. (Remember when I hated running and couldn’t last 15 minutes?)
We need to run our own races, not anyone else’s.
There you have it—5 small steps you can take to incorporate fitness into your life. Exercise is supposed to make you feel good. It’s not about guilt when you don’t do it, or about not being able to meet a certain goal right away. Start small, be kind to yourself, and find people who will support you, and you will get where you want to be. Good luck!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This actually encouraged me. I am definitely that nonathletic girl who is really awkward. I have been trying a lot of things, but lately nothing has fit.
Thank you, this lifted my spirits.
Yeah, instead of cursing myself for being so out of shape now, I just do a little more each time I’m at the gym and I know that one day I’ll be fine. I did it before and I can do it again. I think people fail to realize the work that goes into getting into shape.