If you’ve been repeating the mantra, “I don’t run” over and over since you suffered through a particularly grueling middle school P.E. class, we hear you. Many of us that consider ourselves runners, or use running to compliment our strength training, have expressed those same sentiments in the past.

We are here to help you unleash your inner gazelle.

Nutritional nut cases comprise the majority of people consuming multivitamins and are also the demographic that needs them least. The same goes for the Forest Gumps of the world when it comes to cardio.

So, if you aren’t super jazzed about cardio, that’s a good sign you badly need it! Our minds are tricky, lazy, and can get us into a lot of trouble. They want us to conserve energy, sit around, and fatten up. It’s in your best interest to ignore that and get your damn cardio in. No excuses. Learn to love it, in whatever way works best for you. Here are a few tried-and-true tricks:

Baby Steps

Just like with anything, start easy and gradually build more volume. A gentle way to begin running is to jog for one minute, walk for 2, and repeat for 20 minutes. And let's be honest—not all jogging is equal. If you aren't strong enough to support good form, you should just keep walking. Nothing is worse than repetitive movements that are misaligned or hard on a joint, which also includes extra bodyweight. It's not mean, it's kind. Lose your bodyweight by walking vigorously, building joint strength. You'll know when it's time to launch into a jog when you have motor control and no joint pain.

As your fitness increases, you can decrease walk time until you are running the full 20 minutes, then increase that time too! If you start off running all out you’re more likely to burn out, quit, or even get injured.

Jump rope is a fun way to warm-up for a GB Workout or a run and is excellent cardio training. Keep every aspect of your routine fresh and exciting by mixing it up sometimes!

Run for Time Rather than Distance

Rather than running for a certain distance, run for a designated time. This removes the pressure to run at a certain pace or hit certain distances and makes the entire run more relaxing. Training like this meets you at your current level, with room to improve speed and distance later on. It is also a much simpler way to manage progress. Gradually increasing the time on your feet is easier to monitor than distance, which can require taking your cell phone or GPS watch. It also manages the intensity better when you’re running somewhere with steeper hills or more technical trails.

Find a Running Partner

Most places have local running clubs where you can motivate and workout with others. This is a great way to get out the door, meet people, and even improve your form. Most running clubs have experienced runners who can help you dial in your technique, manage workouts, and make them fun! Joining a running club can also help keep you motivated and committed to running by making you a valued part of a team.

If people are expecting you, you’re more likely to show up! In addition, joining a club will help you meet like-minded self-improvers of all fitness levels, giving you the chance to find a running buddy at your level to meet up with, or find a running guru to provide experienced insight about improving your practice!

Don't Slack on Lower Body Mobility

Running is a single-plane repetitive movement, and as such you have to take extra care of your body to keep yourself balanced. Multi-plane squats and lunges are key for stabilizing your gate, while stretches from your toes to your lower back need to become a regular to keep your big running muscles loose. Lower body mobility is both passive and active. If you want longevity, don't leave either out!

Counteract tight ankles by performing seiza stretches from our Front Split Stretch Series after your run.

Stop Thinking and Just Do It

It doesn’t matter if you are running as slow as a turtle through peanut butter, if you get out and do your time, you are getting faster, stronger, and fitter! It takes some dedication to start breezing through the miles, but most of the battle, like anything in life, is simply showing up.

Every time you get out the door and put one foot in front of the other you are reminding yourself how important your health is to you, so kudos! Keep at it and you’ll find running becoming an actually enjoyable part of your fitness routine!

We hope these GymnasticBodies running tips help motivate you to get out the door and get in the best shape of your life, one day at a time!