I used to be a couch potato.

Seriously.

I used to come home from school and watch TV ALL evening, barely moving except to eat.

Granted, a lot of time has passed since then, but sometimes I think of just how lazy I used to really be, and how different my outlook on fitness is now.

As I write this, I am sipping a huge litre bottle of water and I haven’t even taken my trainers off yet. I’ve just been on a 5 kilometre run along the beautiful, sunny cliffs in the South East of England – and I feel a world away from my former sofa-shaped self!

My own journey from couch to 5k isn’t unique. But it got me thinking that there may be some of you out there who want to start running, but have no idea how to begin. So here are the top five things that have really helped me go from quite literally a couch potato, to regularly running outdoors, that I hope will help inspire you to get moving!

1. The Couch To 5k App

When I first decided to add running into my workout routine, I thought I would just start running and see how long I could go for. Turns out for me, this was a big mistake! On my first run, I immediately felt disheartened. My breath was all over the place and my heart rate was sky high! To top if off, my mind was giving me all the reasons why I should just give up there and then.

But in January 2019, I had said out loud that my New Year’s resolution was to get running. I had loosely used the couch to 5k app a couple of years ago, but never quite committed to the full 9 weeks. 2019 was going to be different. I was so determined to get through those 9 weeks, and prove to myself that I too, can run.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Couch to 5k app, it’s a free programme designed to get people moving – quite literally from the couch, to regularly running 5 kilometres in just 9 weeks. You get to choose the trainer you have (shout out to Michael Johnson for motivating me to run faster!), and you get to pick your personal goals that drive you on.

2. Invest In Good Trainers

Back in January, I had my old Adidas trainers to go running in. The problem was, I had owned these for a few years, travelled half way around the world with them, and worn them through hundreds of workouts (sounds gross I know!). I knew I needed to invest in a new pair of trainers that would help absorb the shock through my legs while running.

After a bit of research, and chatting to my Dad who ran for years, I invested in a pair from Nike that are specifically for running. With a cheeky discount code and free delivery, I’m so glad I made the investment. Not only do they fit better, but they feel light and comfortable whether I’m running on grass or concrete.

3. Create a Motivational Playlist

Have you ever heard a track that makes you feel like you can conquer anything? For me, getting motivated to physically start working out has always been one of the hardest struggles. I can put the workout clothes on, and schedule the time to do my exercise, but sometimes I will STILL resort to procrastinating for 45 minutes before I even get moving.

However, I have come to learn that something simple such as hearing an upbeat track is enough to kick my bum into gear, and get moving.

If you want to save time scrolling to find music, I have created a few motivational playlists on Spotify that will hopefully help you to get moving too!

4. Get Outdoors

In the past, I used to only run on a treadmill in the gym. Surrounded by other sweaty people, I remember the air used to often feel thick and too static. No amount of air conditioning relieved this, and I got quickly bored of having nothing to do but stare at myself in the mirror as I ran.

Being outside helps me to try and leave behind anything that is worrying me. Or at the very least, if I feel angry this can also me to go that extra mile! Breathing fresh air and seeing all the beautiful scenery, can really help us feel mentally stronger that I haven’t found a treadmill can offer to the same degree.

5. Have Incentives

Running can be difficult for many people, especially for beginners. So having something to work towards – a reward of some kind, can really help to spur you on.

If like me, you struggled on your first week of running, you might find that having incentives such as a new workout top or a new foam roller will be enough to keep you motivated and on track. The key is to set goals that you can measure, and tick these off as you go with your incentives. I have recently written a post all about How To Set Goals and Achieve Them which can help you get started!

What inspires you to run? Or are you a beginner too? Let me know if you try any of the above or feel free to share your own suggestions on how to start running in the comments below!