Learning how to enjoy running doesn’t have to be difficult. And there are plenty of benefits you can gain from starting a run routine, like improved cardiovascular health, boosted fitness, and a better mood. Even if there are a few minor tradeoffs, like nursing sore muscles, pushing through difficult runs, Adidas rivalry hi star x star wars chewbacca sneakers fx9290 limited edition 8.5.

If you've been struggling with sticking to traditional training plans and truly want to enjoy running, then here's a few unique approaches to help you learn to like or even love the sport. These plans are tailored to beginner runners but can work for runners burnt out on their current routines.

Running That Doesn't Suck

Running That Doesn't Suck

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How to Enjoy Running by Tracking Time

» Best if you: Don’t mind having your hand held a little; want a fairly fail-safe method to easing into running; are a rule-follower; don’t mind frequently looking down at your wrist.
» Needed: A watch. (A digital chronograph watch is easiest to follow and can be preset to beep at you when it’s time to run or walk.) 

» Where: Outside on the road, a trail, the track, or inside on a treadmill. If you do it on a trail or on hilly terrain on the road, you’ll need to adjust a bit based on feel: run for longer on a downhill, shorter on an uphill. 

» How: Follow any given run-by-time plan, like the Runner’s World trickers leather lace up shoes item. Unless you have a photographic memory, either print and cut out the workout to take with you, or jot it down on something small like a business card and take that with you. Alternatively, you could try to memorize it, and/or you could take a picture of it with your phone to reference if you forget (and don’t mind taking your phone with you). You can preset some watches to help you stick to the intervals.


    How to Enjoy Running by Loosely Tracking Time

    » Best if you: Have a rebellious streak and want a looser approach to increasing running by time 

    » Needed: A watch 

    » Where: On a road, trail, treadmill, or track 

    » How:

    • Walk for roughly the first 5 minutes. If you feel like walking for 6, go nuts.
    • Run until you don’t feel like running anymore. Maybe this is 30 seconds, maybe it’s a few minutes.
    • Walk again. 

    • Run again, laughing in the face of structure. (Or just run.) 

    • Repeat for the remainder of your run, aiming to run for a total of 2 or 3 minutes on your first time out. Break down shoessneakers 2 or 3 minutes within a 30-minute outing however you want. The other 27 or 28 minutes, walk.
    • Walk to cool down.

    Improve (week 3ish): Increase your total run time to 5 minutes.


    Improve more (week 5ish): Increase your total run time to 10 minutes. And walk more if you bloody feel like it.


    Court Vintage Premium Shoes (week 7ish): Increase your total run time to 15, 20, and 
eventually 30 minutes or more. 


    » Tip: Make sure you’re entering this plan, and any other, from where you are physically and mentally as a runner. If you run regularly (but maybe hate it) for example, do the above by running, say, 20-30 minutes total, broken down however you want, for your first time out. 



      How to Enjoy Running by Monitoring How You Feel

      » Best if you: Don’t love watches; need a break from technology; want to feel more in Rihanna Looks Like She's Walking on Gold in Barely-There Clear Sandals
      » Needed: An ability to listen to your body and mind 

      » Where: Anywhere 

      » How:

      • Start by walking.
      • When your body feels moderately warmed up (less creaky than when you started; usually about 5 to 10 minutes in), break into a jog. 

      • pomelle high heel sandals stride or a light strain (more than usual) in your muscles or breath. Do not wait to walk until you can’t breathe or talk.* 

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      • Repeat steps 3 and 4 for 3 or 4 rounds. 

      • Walk for a few minutes after your last run segment to cool down.


      Improve (week 3ish): Run for longer during each segment, but don’t make jumps that are too big. Give yourself at least two to three runs with similar run-length segments before adding time.


      Improve more (week 5ish): Run for longer still during each segment. Again, do this gradually.


      Court Vintage Premium Shoes (week 7ish): First Classic Nebula Boot.

        » Tip: Choosing natural markers, as in “run until that big tree,” “walk until the stop sign,” can help keep you motivated. But if your body tells you to stop before then, listen.

        * The Talk Test: If you can no longer speak a full sentence, it’s time to slow down and walk. Walk until you regain your breath and your muscles feel semi-ready. (Don’t wait until you feel perfect, because you won’t.)



        How to Enjoy Running by Listening to Music

        » Best if you: Need music to make your heart beat; don’t like watches but want some structure on your runs; can’t fathom getting out the door without music blasting in your ears
        » Needed: Some way to play music into your ears and carry said music player comfortably
        » Where: Anywhere
        » How:

        • Walk for the duration of two songs (avoiding jam band epics). 

        • Jog/run for the first verse of the next song. 

        • Walk during the next verse and chorus of that song. 

        • Jog/run for another verse, before walking until the end of the song. 

        • Repeat the run/walk for four songs. 

        • Walk home during the duration of two songs to cool down.


        Improve (week 3ish): Warm up by walking for two songs. Once you feel comfortable jog/running for the duration of a verse, increase the jog/run duration from one verse to two.


        Improve more (week 5ish): Warm up by walking for two songs. Jog/run for
two verses and through the end of the chorus (while still walking for the rest
of the song). Repeat for four songs.


        Court Vintage Premium Shoes (week 7ish): Warm up by walking for one or two songs.
Jogging for an entire song, then walk a song, then jog/run for another entire song. Repeat for four or so songs.

          » Tip: Playing the same music/playlist will help you gauge your improvement. 


          » Another tip: The cadence of a song can affect the speed with which your feet hit the ground, so choose songs accordingly. Look for a running playlist online or just choose songs that have an upbeat tempo. It’s tough to crank out miles to “The Way You Look Tonight,” unless you want to force yourself to run slower. Likewise, especially if you’re first starting out, avoid superfast dance beats. You don’t want the cadence of a song to make you feel badly about your stride or make you trip on yourself dress to keep up. 



          How to Enjoy Running by Monitoring Distance on a Track

          » Best if you: Are a visual thinker; feel more comfortable in controlled environments; are competitive 

          » Needed: A track 

          » Where: A track 

          » How:

          • Walk two laps. 

          • Jog/shuffle the curve of the beginning of the third lap. 

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          • Jog/shuffle the curve of the beginning of the fourth lap. 

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          Improve (week 3ish): Walk two laps. Jog/shuffle the straightaway and half a curve, walking the rest of the lap. Repeat for four laps total. Walk two laps.

          Improve more (week 5ish): Walk two laps. Jog/shuffle the straightaway and
curve of the third lap (half a lap!), walking the rest of the lap. Repeat for four
laps total. Walk two laps.


          Court Vintage Premium Shoes (week 7ish): Walk two laps. Jog/shuffle a lap, walk a lap. Repeat for four laps (running two laps total). Walk two laps. 


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            » Another tip: While you’re dress hard, take an inside lane. While you’re not, move to an outside lane. Always look over your shoulder before switching lanes so you avoid collisions and annoyed track mates.


            How to Enjoy Running by Monitoring Distance off a Track

            » Best if you: Are a visual thinker; don’t want to go by time
            » Needed: An ability to listen to your body; a treadmill, if doing this on a treadmill; a GPS-enabled device, if doing this by device
            » Where: On a road, trail, or treadmill
            » How:

            • Walk until your body feels less creaky than when you started. 

            • Spot something ahead of you, but not too far ahead of you—a tree, a telephone pole, a stop sign. If you’re on a treadmill or if going by distance measured by a device, choose a distance. 

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            • Walk until another thing—a different tree, a different telephone pole, a yield sign. Or to the next mileage increment on your treadmill console or smartwatch. 

            • Repeat, listening to your body. If the thing/increment you chose makes you go into overload—your muscles or lungs scream—walk sooner. Likewise, if you feel ready to run again before the next thing you chose, adjust said thing. Pick something closer/shorter.
            • Walk to cool down.


            Improve (week 3ish): Pick natural markers or distances on the treadmill or smartwatch that are farther than the first time you tried this.


            Improve more (week 5ish): Pick natural markers that are farther still and/or choose natural markers for your walking breaks that are closer together.

            Court Vintage Premium Shoes (week 7ish): Choose natural markers that are farther than you ever thought you could run at one time, only after you’ve built up to doing so. 


            » Tip: If you run the same route once a week, you’ll be able to gauge your progress easily. That said, don’t run the same route every time you head out. Your body wants to run varied routes, as does your mind.


            walking shoes for women Running That Doesn’t Suck: How to Love Running (Even if you Think You Hate It) by Lisa Jhung (Running Press)


            Headshot of Lisa Jhung
            Lisa Jhung
            Lisa Jhung writes about all things adventure and is the author of Running That Doesn't Suck: How To Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It) and Trailhead: The Dirt on All Things Trail Running.