Oiselle Running Company 

Bits of running wisdom from the last twenty years of running…between the three marathons, 6 years of competitive running, and running for fitness, I’ve formulated a list of things I feel are the most beneficial for beginning a running program.

Fantastic Jog Bra: My preference is the CW Extra Firm Hold Bra.  There is NO bouncing going on in this one, it wicks moisture away and it looks nice by itself.

Running shoes:  From experience, I’ve found that the owners of the small running store shops are invested in YOUR success and it is therefore beneficial to use them for your new running shoes.  A good salesperson will be able to analyze your running gait, goals, training plans and your budget and be able to suggest a few good pairs of shoes!

Opportunity-  You have the time.  Running or any fitness endeavor is about carving time out for yourself whether it’s 30 minutes in the early morning, when your kids are sleeping, at lunch; there is time- you just need to re-prioritize your day so that there is some time in it for YOU.  Even on days when I don’t run, I need to carve out 30 minutes for stretching or core work and that is MY TIME.  I’m going to make a rule that if mommy is on the yoga mat, then the children can play with their toys.  

Running Group and or a running partner…Find a group in your area to run with at least once per week.  This will help you stay accountable and keep you motivated throughout the week.

Pain in the knees?  Runner-Core DVD.  This is a must have as far as I am concerned.  Coach Al has spent 25 years working on finding the best methods to train for endurance sports and he is well respected in the running world.   Most of the injuries that runner’s face can be traced to inappropriate strength from the hips.  “Fix the knees, Fix the hips” is a15 minute workout I do at least twice per week.  Also, make sure you’ve got well cushioned shoes.. I just added Spenco Insoles to my shoes to see if that will help my knee pain..If you still are experiencing knee pain, it might be time for new shoes or a visit to the doctor’s office.

Goal:  Pick a 5 km and sign up!  Even if you can’t run a mile…it’s easier to train for something when you have a goal lingering in front of you.

Motivation, inspiration: Read!  Read other mom running blogs, read the First Program, Marathon Woman by Kathrine Switzer, The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer, etc.

PLAN:  You will need a short term, long term and lofty plans with running.  Once you can run 3 miles without walking, I’d suggest either picking a few more 5 km to run to try and improve your speed or work on longer distances.  Either way, there are TONS of running plans out there– the best may not always be free.  Here are a few plan options out there:  Girls on the Move, Hal Higdon, Runner’s World.

Nutritional Needs of Runners and all athletes:  Protein!  I always drink a protein shake immediately following a run.  There has been numerous studies done on the needs for protein in an athletes diet.  It’s is MORE than the average sedentary persons needs.  In a recent Runner’s World article- they suggested taking some form or protein at each meal and snack.   Hammer Nutrition offers a great post-ride recovery drink called Recoverite and I prefer the Arbonne Chocolate Protein Shake, but there are tons of recovery drinks/high protein drinks to try.  Just try to stir clear of added sugars, chemicals, preservatives!

Readers, feel free to offer other suggestions, books, tips, wisdom!

This article was originally written for BookieBoo.