1. Consistency- This is the biggest secret about endurance training that most people overlook or have a hard time maintaining. Each week you have to maintain a consistent run schedule. This DOES NOT necessarily mean lots of miles, it simply means stick to your training plan. You will not be successful if you have one week where your follow your training plan and then miss a week or two and then try and make up what you missed in the next week. Good runners are good because they run often  

2. Appropriate Training- This is the second mistake most amateur and/or recreational runners make when preparing for their event. It is NOT about quantity, but rather quality. Most people think because they are running a half-marathon or marathon that they need to be running 40-60 miles per week. This is not the case. In fact, this is how you break your body down and drastically increase your risk of injury. One other thing of importance is that running more often but fewer miles each time can be of benefit for most people.

3. Patients- This is probably the biggest problem once someone has completed their first event. More than likely you have been or will be bitten by the “running bug.” Once this happens it is very important to remember rule number one! Be patient with yourself. Nobody…and I mean nobody becomes a good runner overnight. Just like other things, you may have a predisposition to becoming a good runner, but you still have to develop your given talents. I have worked with a number of runners, and I promise you that if you are patient, you WILL get better! 

4. Belief in Yourself- When I teach my wellness courses, during the course of the semester I ask the students in the class (usually about 80) this question. “By a show of hands, how many of you think you could run a marathon?” Then I tell them that this is 26.2 miles. Out of the 80 students, I might have 5 that will raise their hands. The problem is NOT that they don’t have the physical potential; it is truly that they don’t believe in that potential. I remember being in that same position once. Now I am a sub 3 hour marathoner. 

5. A Love for Running (i.e. You run for fun!)- In my opinion without rule number 5 you cannot achieve rules 1-4. To be a long distance runner and be a good one, you have to love it. You have to love those early morning runs, watching the sun come up; or those track workouts, and how your body feels when it is in motion and moving fast. You have to love those short, necessary runs during the week, and the time commitment it takes. In short, if you love running you will accidentally find yourself thinking about it when your mind should be somewhere else. When this happens you will know you have become a “runner.”

For more information on running and running programs feel free to contact me.

Duston Morris, Ph.D., ABD, CTRS, CPT

TriMotion Fitness

(816) 835-1515

dmorris@kumc.edu