How to Start Running Again: A Beginner’s Guide and Program for Post-Injury

I’m a beginner.

Again.

A beginning runner, that is. I got the OK today from my doctor to start walking, and then after 2-3 weeks, I can slowly work in some running, and then more and more running.

Hallelujah!

But it is frustrating, probably because I really shouldn’t be a beginner again. But after not running for 7 months, I’m definitely a beginner, although I’m not a “novice” or “inexperienced,” as is mentioned in the definition of a beginner. I know my running stuff. But I guess my body is kind of a novice and a bit inexperienced at this running thing. Because SEVEN months.

Being a beginner at anything can be frustrating, at least I’ve found this is true for me. For some reason, I expect that as a beginner, I’ll be semi-pro from the get-go. Example: When I started taking watercolor lessons several years ago, I’d get frustrated that my paintings didn’t look great. I expected, for some strange reason, to go from pre-101 to hosting my own art exhibit on day one or four. That’s probably a bit of an exaggeration, but I still felt those insecurities of “I’m not going to be good enough.” And “What if I’m horrible?” And “What will others think of my skills…I’m NOT an artist!” But you know what I’d tell someone else who was feeling like I was that? “Hey, you’re just beginning. It will take time to master these new skills, so be patient with yourself and trust in the learning process. And you’re in a class of BEGINNERS. Everyone is beginning where you are. Just hang in there!”

I really need to follow my own advice.

So here I go…beginning again. And here’s the program I’m going to follow. Again. I’ve used this program several times to begin running again after other surgeries and injuries, and I’ve used it to help turn many “I’m not a runner!” friends and clients into runners.

It’s amazing!

And I promise, it totally works!

While I have my own mini running library that goes from beginning to training for all distances to the mental side of running, here are some of my favorite beginning running books…just in case you’d like to start running. 😉

The Complete Book of Running for Women (Claire Kowalchik)
Runner’s World Complete Book of Running (Edited by Amby Burfoot)
Running for Dummies (Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith Joyner, John Hanc)
The Quotable Runner (Edited by Mark Will-Weber)

I’m starting my beginning running program tomorrow, and I’m beyond excited! I’ve already got my running shoes and clothes ready to go, my alarm is set, my headphones are by my phone, my running playlist has some new tunes, and I CANNOT wait.

And while I’ll only be walking for now, it’s definitely a step 😉 in the right direction to running again.

In a couple of weeks. Hopefully.

Patience. Patience. Patience.

And more patience.

PS: Here’s an update on my continuing #septemberjanuary / #octoberjanuary challenge: For the entire months of September and October, I only missed 1 day while we were in Knoxville with our kids and 3 cute grand kids celebrating our two new grandsons’ 1st birthdays and 1 day while they were visiting us a couple of weekends ago! And I’m totally okay with that! #familyfirst Aren’t they the cutest?!?! Leo (left) wasn’t too sure about this eating cake thing, but Jordan (right) was all in and ended up as a cake-covered mess. It. Was. Awesome! And I’ve given myself permission to miss Sundays for my challenge if I want to. My writing brain needs a rest too!

I’m planning on doing a #novemberjanuary challenge since this concept has worked so well for me, and here’s my new chart. Feel free to use it! What can you accomplish in November in only a few minutes a day? I think you’d be surprised!