Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.
I was scanning my blog looking for an old picture and came across something that I posted 7 years ago.
I think that most of these are still relevant. What do you think?
The 53 Runner’s Commandments by Joe Kelly
1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.
2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.
3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.
4. During group training runs, don’t let anyone run alone.
5. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.
6. When doing group runs, start on time no matter who’s missing.
7. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.
8. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.
9. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.
10. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.
11. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.
12. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.
13. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.
14. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.
15. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.
16. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.
17. Talk like a runner. “Singlets” are worn on warm days. “Tank tops” are worn to the beach.
18. Don’t talk about your running injuries. People don’t want to hear about your sore knee or black toe.
19. Don’t always run alone.
20. Don’t always run with people.
21. Approach running as if the quality of your life depended on it.
22. No matter how slow you run it is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.
23. Keep in mind that the harder you run during training, the luckier you’ll get during racing.
24. Races aren’t just for those who can run fast.
25. There are no shortcuts to running excellence.
26. The best runs sometimes come on days when you didn’t feel like running.
27. Be modest after a race, especially if you have reason to brag.
28. If you say, “Let’s run this race together,” then you must stay with that person no matter how slow.
29. Think twice before agreeing to run with someone during a race.
30. There is nothing boring about running. There are, however, boring people who run.
31. Look at hills as opportunities to pass people.
32. Distance running is like cod liver oil. At first it makes you feel awful, then it makes you feel better.
33. Never throw away the instructions to your running watch.
34. Don’t try to outrun dogs.
35. Don’t trust runners who show up at races claiming to be tired, out of share, or not feeling well.
36. Don’t wait for perfect weather. If you do, you won’t run very often.
37. When tempted to stop being a runner, make a list of the reasons you started.
38. Never run alongside very old or very young racers. They get all of the applause.
39. Without goals, training has no purpose.
40. During training runs, let the slowest runner in the group set the pace.
41. The first year in a new age group offers the best opportunity for trophies.
42. Go for broke, but be prepared to be broken.
43. Spend more time running on the roads than sitting on the couch.
44. Make progress in your training, but progress at your own rate.
45. “Winning” means different things to different people.
46. Unless you make your living as a runner, don’t take running too seriously.
47. Runners who never fail are runners who never try anything great.
48. Never tell a runner that he or she doesn’t look good in tights.
49. Never confuse the Ben-Gay tube with the toothpaste tube.
50. Never apologize for doing the best you can.
51. Preventing running injuries is easier than curing them.
52. Running is simple. Don’t make it complicated.
53. Running is always enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the joy doesn’t come until the end of the run.
I love many of these especially #53, 45, 41, 36, 24, 16.
#8 is outdated. It should be changed to: Carry your cell phone…
Thinking about 2009 and what else has changed…
No more shorts.
I used to run in shorts. That has changed. I only run in skirts (or skirts over tights & capris). Why?
I’ve gained weight and my shorts don’t fit. Skirts are more comfortable. Skirts cover more (you know what I mean.) Skirts with pockets are more practical.
Compression socks.
Once I started running half marathons, I started wearing compression socks for these long races. After I broke my ankle, I started wearing compression socks almost all the time.
One device.
I used to run with a camera to take photos, my iPod Shuffle for music and my phone (a flip phone) for emergencies.
listening to my tunes
Now I just carry my iPhone for all three purposes.
Blogging.
I started with short posts on my training and races.
Then I switched to random subjects each day such as: Monday running update, Two for Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, 3 for Thursday, Foto Friday, etc).
Now I use link-ups such as: Weekend update, Tuesday on the Run, Wednesday Word, Thinking Out Loud Thursday, Friday Five etc.
With link-ups, you can connect to new blogs who are posting on the same subject and you also attract new readers to your blog.
Happy Running! Can you add any to this list? Which one speaks to you the most? What has changed since you started running? What are thinking about today?
My First 5K and More... 