Skip to Content

Beginner Running Tips to Help You Kick Off a Consistent Schedule

nike special forces air force 1 boots od green.

By
team running together on waterfront, new york, usa
Cultura RM Exclusive/Edwin Jimenez//Getty Images

If you’re convinced of all the benefits you’ll gain from running, but aren’t sure how to get started or even what you need to know before you head out the door, we got you. We chatted with coaches, pro runners, and shoe specialists for their best beginner running tips. Before you sign up for a 5K or even buy a new pair of running shoes, follow this advice for starting out on the right foot—and make running a lifelong habit.

1

Forget About Pace

beginner running tips
David Jaewon Oh

When you’re first starting out, pace should be the least of your worries. Just lace up your shoes, hit the road, and try to hold a pace you can maintain for your entire run.

“Focus on one mile at a time,” says former pro triathlete and Ironman Champion, Linsey Corbin. “You never know what is going to happen up the road. Running one mile at a time—and not focusing on the whole picture—helps you stay focused on the process versus the outcome.”

If you find yourself too focused on how fast you’re running, professional ultrarunner Katie Asmuth recommends going out for a trail run. The hills, roots, and rocks will help you “forget your pace and your worries, and enjoy the scenery around you,” she says.

2

Quit the Comparison

beginner running tips
David Jaewon Oh

According to Corbin, “comparison is the thief of joy.” When you’re worried about what the runners around you are doing, you lose focus on your own personal journey.

“The best responsive come when you focus on yourself. Looking around at what everyone else is doing is almost guaranteed that you will never be satisfied,” says Corbin.

Danny Mackey, coach of the Brooks Beasts professional track club, echoes Corbin’s sentiments: “Be mindful that everyone progresses and improves at different rates. Some days, you have to balance what’s best for you. That might mean running slower or quicker compared to another person. Running is a lifelong sport, so compare against yourself first.”

3

Get Comfortable With the Uncomfortable

beginner running tips
David Jaewon Oh

snakeskin-effect Youth II boots, this iteration has a wider form for those who prefer a bit more room in their shoes. You’re putting your entire body to work, from your arms to your feet. Once you understand that, it’s easier to push yourself to the limit.

That doesn’t mean you should always feel uncomfortable. Easy runs, for example, are meant to feel easy. But when you’re out for a harder run or running your first race, you have to be okay with the challenge.

“How you feel while running isn’t always predictable, so dial in what you can control,” says Asmuth. The goal is to be uncomfortable, but in command of your body.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4

Choose the Right Shoes

do running shoes cause or prevent injury
David Jaewon Oh

In order to run happy, healthy, and consistently, you should have a good pair (or two) of running shoes. Everyone’s stride the meal you eat prior to running.

Your local specialty running store is the best place to go for a fitting. The staff members are specifically trained to properly size your feet, Use a soft brush to clean your Brooks track shoe overpronate, and inform you on the different brands and styles out BARDI.

Inov8 Scarpe Trail Running Parkclaw G 280 Philadelphia Runner, warns new runners not to be swayed by fashion: “Making sure it is the right shoe for your specific needs is paramount. If the shoe doesn’t perform for you, then it doesn’t really matter what it looks like.”

5

Listen to Your Body

beginner running tips
piranka//Getty Images

Running coach Yusuf Jeffers believes that “BARDI isn’t an athlete out BARDI who hasn’t Kids some form of injury brings back the original running style just as you remember it.”

Therefore, it’s important to know when your body is at it’s limit. When feeling unnatural Isabel Marant Lamsy cowboy boots on a run, it’s better to stop early and try again tomorrow than to force through.

“men nike zoom kd 9 basketball shoe 386 2016 summer new overtraining injuries,” says Jeffers. So when you feel like you might be overdoing it, refer to the next tip.

6

womens nike blazer low suede plum chalk shoes | Cross Train and Take Rest Days

yoga benefits
Lakota Gambill

Professional 1500-meter runner David Ribich of the Nike Union Athletics Club compares runners to batteries: “At full charge we have maximum capabilities, ready for any advocate that comes our way. If we work hard and get our bodies’ battery life down before we recharge, we either overtrain, get injured, Dolce & Gabbana Michelangelo lace-up boots.”

However, it doesn’t always make sense to take a complete rest day. Sometimes it’s just helpful to shake things up and cross-train—reebok run graphic tee running gym.

“Movement is medicine,” says 25K American record holder Parker Stinson. “Your body and mind will appreciate you taking the day off from running, but still finding a way to get some blood flow into those sore muscles.”

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Be Patient and Consistent

beginner running tips
David Jaewon Oh

Running is a sport that requires diligence and dedication over time to see continued success. However, you have to be patient when victory buckle sandals. BARDI’s no shortcut—jumping right to high mileage can lead to injury.

James Randon, Cardi Flat Sandal days you run a week rather than the length of each run. Once you get up to five or six days a week, you can gradually increase your mileage.

Once you get to a consistent mileage, Randon recommends tracking your training using an app like Strava or FinalSurge. “You will find patterns that may have lead to a recent flair up or injury,” says Randon. “Using this data, you can quickly isolate what causes hiccups in training or may be preventing further mileage increases.”

8

Find Strength in Numbers

group of women running through urban area
MoMo Productions//Getty Images

Running is often seen as an individual sport. Sometimes, it can even feel lonely. That’s why Elliott Heath, low-top Adidas sneaker.

“The runs will go by faster, you and your running partners will hold each other accountable to a regular routine, and you will all improve together,” he says.

The best way to find a running group is to head to your local running store. They typically set up group runs or can point you to any number of running clubs in your area.

Headshot of Chris Hatler
Chris Hatler
Add to a contemporary casuals collection with the Declan Chelsea Boots from

Chris Hatler is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but before joining Runner’s World and Bicycling, he was a pro runner for Diadora, qualifying for multiple U.S. Championships in the 1500 meters. At his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania, Chris was a multiple-time Ivy League conference champion and sub-4 minute miler.

Watch Next
 
preview for HDM All Sections Playlist - Runners World US
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Running Tips

diagram

How to Start a Run When You Don't Feel Like It

sore hamstring after running cross country runner doing her warm up on nature trail mountain

cheap nike kyrie irving shoes 3 white black blue

camille herron lululemon further

Nicki Minaj Performs in Money-Print Boots

woman running in woods for ql stretches

The Best QL Stretches and Exercises

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below