Running as a Passion: Where to Start

Running is, undoubtedly, one of the best sports to engage in. It requires little practice, background in other sports, and even expensive gear so you can participate. You can run just as fast a marathoner in your sweatshirt, muscle shirt, and even in your tighty-whities and start making it a passion regardless of your age, whether you are five years old, in your teens, or while struggling with mid-life crisis.

Running is easy to get into, but dedicating time and effort into it is not as easy. If you want to devote your time to getting healthier, becoming a faster runner, or to getting to know people through this simple hobby, here are a few things you should do.

Like most hobbies, running is best done with people you know. If none of your friends are avid runners, you could invite them and form your own running group or join an existing running club in your area. Running with people is a good motivator and a good way to maintain your running discipline.

Running is a skill we have all learned at a young age, but running long distances is different from running around the playground like you used to do as a child. Serious, marathon running, for example, requires warming up in order to prevent strained muscles and other body aches and pains.

Sweating during running is a good sign, but forgetting to hydrate afterwards can be dangerous to your health. When running a track, make sure to have a water bottle on you or at the end of the leg. Another way to to prevent excessive sweating (which poses health risks on its own) is to wear cooling gear. Ever seen professional runners look so suave on TV even after running around a 10-mile track? Cooling gear allows them to run longer distances without having to experience the discomfort that comes with excessive sweating.