For most of my life, running was my enemy. It was boring, exhausting, and my absolute last choice for a workout. The idea of “runner’s high” was a myth to me; I only ever experienced a “runner’s why am I doing this?” My feelings were clear: I’d rather do burpees than run a single mile. But you know how life works—it has a funny way of pushing you toward the very thing you swore you’d never do.
My unlikely journey with running began about a year ago. After two years of consistent strength training as a personal trainer, I felt a familiar itch to mix things up. I had some free time at the gym and, on a whim, I hopped on a treadmill. I’ll admit, my expectations were low. I figured I’d jog for five minutes, get bored, and go back to lifting weights.
But something incredible happened. I ran 5K for the first time in my life, and I didn’t feel like I was going to collapse. My breathing was steady, my legs felt surprisingly fine, and I even felt like I could have kept going. That moment was a total game-changer. It was the spark that ignited a new obsession. Soon, I was running 5K a few times a week, and before I knew it, I had pushed my distance to 15K on the treadmill.
You might be wondering how I pulled this off without any “real” running training. The secret was already in my routine: strength training, specifically with supersets. For two years, I had been doing full-body workouts in a superset format—going from one exercise to the next with minimal rest. This style of training is fantastic for building both strength and cardiovascular endurance. My strength training had been secretly preparing me for running all along, building the powerful legs and strong heart I needed for the long haul.
The Big Leap: Pavement, Pain, and Perseverance
After months of conquering the treadmill, I decided it was time for the ultimate test: running outside. I set my sights on a challenging goal, and I recently completed a 20K run—nearly a half marathon! Honestly, I still can’t believe I did it. I never, ever imagined myself running that far. My heart rate and breathing were surprisingly stable, and while my legs were definitely feeling it by the end, I wasn’t on the verge of collapsing. It was pure, unadulterated triumph.
But with great triumphs come great lessons. To be completely transparent, my body was a bit shocked. I got sick afterward, likely because my immune system took a hit from the intense effort, especially since I had been in a calorie deficit. Looking back, I realized I should have taken a smarter approach. My advice now is to build up your distance gradually—start with 5K, then 10K, then 15K, and so on. And just as importantly, you have to eat well to properly fuel your body.
Your First Step: My No-Fail Running Hack
I have one final piece of advice that is an absolute must-know for new runners: the first 10 minutes are the hardest, but also the most important. Your body needs that time to warm up and adjust. You might feel out of breath, get a stitch in your side, or feel like your legs are already tired. But trust me on this: push through that uncomfortable first quarter-hour. Once you do, your body will settle in, and you’ll find your groove.
So, don’t worry about tackling a 20K right away. Just start with 15 minutes. It’s the perfect amount of time to get past the hardest part and start feeling the reward.
If you want to know more about the specific training I did to go from zero to a 20K finisher, send me a message! I’d love to share the full scoop with you.
