Last Thursday it was a beautiful 11 degrees outside when I decided to take my puppy, Marley, for a walk.  This time though, I decided to wear my running shoes so that if I felt like running, I could.  It’s been awhile… probably since about my 6th week of pregnancy, and since I’ve gained about 17 pounds, it certainly wasn’t as easy as it’s been in the past to get moving.  SOOOO, this is what I did…

#1  I have the Nike+ GPS app on my phone which I LOVE!  I put it on every time I go for a walk so that I know how far I’ve gone and how long it’s taken me.  Any sort of tracking system you can get for your phone, ipod or even a pedometer is a wonderful tool to keep you motivated.  Many of them will track your speed, distance, time, calories burned and tally up your weeks success.  What I love about the Nike+ is that it has professional athletes cheering you on when you’ve done your personal best or when you’re about to hit a certain target, like 1 km.

#2  Hopefully you noticed that I wrote “if I FELT like running” above.  This made NO pressure on me to actually run.  Often what happens when I don’t wear my running shoes is that I WISH I DID because the urge hits me to just RUN.  Some of you reading this will understand what I’m talking about and some of you might be thinking “She’s Crazy!” but, if you follow these simple tips in starting to run (remember, I’m preggers and re-starting to run…) you will understand what I mean by “having the urge”  Starting is truly the hardest part of ANY exercise program and once you start you’ll be glad you did!  So, putting on running shoes is the first step, especially in the winter months.

#3  I started out with a brisk walk to warm up and then after a bit, when my brain and body felt better and ready, I started running at a VERY slow pace at the start of a block and said to myself, “I only have to make it to the end of this block”.  Once I got to the end of the block I re-evaluated how I was feeling, both mentally and physically, and found another landmark to run to (which just happened to be the end of another block).  At this point, my heart rate was slightly elevated, my body was getting warmer, my brain was clearer and the dog was definitely happier.  Back to a brisk walk it was as my bladder seemed to be slightly aggravated.  After walking a few blocks, the “urge” hit again and off I was for another few minutes. (Probably like 2 mins).  There is NOTHING to be ashamed of when starting an exercise program if you need to slow down for a moment, HECK at least I’m doing something!!  Two more rounds of the urge hitting and I was only out for a total of 25 mins with the dog.  My day was off to a wonderful start!!

#4  I have a dog to motivate me to go for AT LEAST a 20 minute walk a day.  The running, has been put on the back burner until my body and mind decided it was good to start again but, we never stopped walking.  A dog is an excellent motivator:-)  If you have one already, you should be out and about for several walks/runs a week which will benefit both you and your dog.  Lower blood pressure, decreased risk of obesity, diabetes and depression to name a few or the health benefits.  If you don’t happen to have a dog, well, you could borrow mine:-)

#5  As already mentioned, I will aim to wear my running shoes when taking the dog for a walk.  But also, you must LAYER YOUR CLOTHING and wear mitts, hat and scarf to keep warm.  You can always take layers of clothing off but if you’re cold and you aren’t dressed properly, it can be hard to get warm.   The more you get outside and moving the easier it will be to know what to wear!  I often end up taking my jacket off and tying it around my waist or, sometimes my gloves get put into my pockets.  This time of year the roads and sidewalks can be unpredictable with ice and such so, some days, good ol’ boots will have to do but, I LOVE WINTER RUNNING!  It’s the best time of the year to run because your body gets warm in the cooler temperatures and there is no worries about heat or sun stroke!

Lastly, I’ve set a small goal that the distance I actually RUN will increase just a little each time.. I’m not going to be like the lady who ran the marathon and delivered her baby immediately afterwards but, you may see me, with my dog, running a bit and then walking a bit and then running a bit and then walking a bit.  If I didn’t do it, I’d feel like a pile of crap because something, in my mind, is better than nothing when it comes to physical activity.

If I can do it, so can you!  Put on your running shoes, layer the clothing making sure to wear a hat, mitts and scarf, give yourself the gift of a pedometer or tracking system for your runs, set small attainable goals and do what feels right!  Get off of your couch, grab a dog and start to feel awesome!

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below!!