“However stuck you feel, if you just put one foot in front of the other, and keep moving, things will change…things will get better.”
Resources
Inspiring Articles and Talks
“However stuck you feel, if you just put one foot in front of the other, and keep moving, things will change…things will get better.” William Pullen is a London based psychotherapist, author, and founder of Dynamic Running Therapy. His approach uses a fusion of movement, mindfulness and talk therapy. (TedTalk, 9:08 minutes)
Get inspired to exercise as Wendy Suzuki, Neuroscientist, discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory -- and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. (TedTalk, 12:55 minutes)
“…The activation energy required to get your ass away from your computer and out the front door, to go on the walk, you said that you were going to go on, is the exact same amount of force that it takes you to push yourself out of a warm bed and into a cold room.” —Mel Robbins (TedTalk, 21:40 minutes)
How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over, by Mel Robbins
“Make your today’s better, your tomorrow’s more secure, and live the life you deserve.” Addiction to food is similar to the addiction humans experience with drugs. Making healthier nutrition choices can be—and is for most folks—just as difficult as kicking drugs. Douglas Lisle is the Director of Research for TrueNorth Health Center and coauthor of The Pleasure Trap. (TedTalk, 17:09 Minutes)
Online course: The Science of Well-Being. How to be happier in your daily life. This is Yale’s most popular class, now offered for free.
Entirely new to running? There are tons of ‘how-to’ resources out there for new runners. Most focus on training for something, but also have great tips in general that are worth learning about, like hydration, nutrition, stretching, and gear.
Need help creating habits or changing old ones? A running lifestyle is, very simply, just a routine—learn how small habits can change your life in a big way.
Read: Atomic Habits
Wear it. Run it. Live it.
What word defines or motivates you? What power word do you aspire to have more of in your life? Customize your own ‘shoelery’ today.
Write it out!
I know what it is like to wander around for days under a cloud of undefined gloom and anxiety, feeling like my emotions are in control of me, instead of me being in control of them. Reversing this cycle and taking control of my present and future is the essence of the title—I Run This Life.
I recommend journaling when starting your running practice. For me, it's a tool that helps extend the ‘runner’s high’ well into the day, reminds me what I learned, and inspires me to keep going.
This journal is designed to identify and take action around your feelings. Included are examples of use. As always, take and modify as needed, to work for you.
Running gear
My Favorite Things
The #1 part of your running kit that matters are your shoes. Order one full size larger than normal. I’ve recently done what I never thought I would — I switched to Hoka. Oh yes I did! The ‘Speedgoat’ series offers the grippy tread I need for the technical trails I run.
Basically a tie for #1—your sports bra. I’m a sucker for Lululemons ‘Free To Be’ series.
I’m a sucker for fashion in general. Get gear that makes you feel good and happy. It’s worth it! Have fun with it.
