To Run.

A very popular question in my ask box goes something like this:

“I want to start running. How did you start? What advice do you have for someone who wants to start running?”

And the first thing you have to realize is very simple…

In the beginning, running sucks.

It sucks bad.

It took me a month and a half before I started to enjoy myself. God Almighty herself could try to pick it up, and it would, in fact, suck.

It’s simply not fun in the beginning.

And I’m not entirely convinced the actual act of running is ever fun. But as bad as it does suck in the beginning, it gets good. And then it gets really really good.

I don’t know exactly how to answer this question, so all I can tell you is what worked for my brother and me. We didn’t know what to do, so we just ran.

If you want to start running, start walking. Then start jogging.

If you want to run faster, run faster occasionally.

If you want to run far, run a little farther next time. And the next time go farther than that.

If you want to run a race, sign up.

If you want to break your PR, train harder.

If you want to run 13.1 miles, do it.

If you want to run 26.2, do that too.

If you want to run inspired, fall in love. Or watch Meet Joe Black.

And if you start to feel an injury, take a break. And then keep running.

There really is no science behind it. Find some nice shoes. Or run barefoot. Run for the right reasons. Hell, run for the wrong reasons. Run because it inspires you. Run to lose weight. Run to get the girl. Run to get the dude. Run because it’s all that makes sense in this weird-ass world.

But you don’t have to.

All I know is what worked for me. And that was to run. And it saved my life. I suggest you give it a shot. If it doesn’t work for you, find something that does. And rock it hard.