PRAISE YOU LIKE YOU SHOULD

Give yourself a hand for not-so-obvious achievements

EARLY IN YOUR RUNNING LIFE, you have plenty of milestones to celebrate: the first time you run-walk for 30 minutes, or complete a 5K. But to enjoy a lifelong relationship with running, you must find ways to measure successes that are not about going further or faster. Celebrate the first time – and every time – you do these things:

GO ABOUT YOUR DAY AFTER YOUR RUN

Running can be tiring, even if you stick to a run-walk plan. That’s why so many runners love coffee: bouncing back from a run can often be half the battle, especially for newcomers. Returning from a run feeling refreshed rather than depleted shows that you’re adapting to the stress of that distance and pace.

ENJOY A RUN FROM START TO FINISH

When you’re new to running, that first mile can feel tough. However, a day will come when you feel good from the start – a sign you’re getting stronger and better at pacing yourself.

BRAVE THE ELEMENTS

Getting out there isn’t always easy and it’s especially hard to leave the house on a rainy, windy or cold day. But enduring a workout in bad weather builds character and confidence, and can help you avoid making excuses in the future.

RUN CONSISTENTLY

It takes about three weeks of running at least three days per week to get to the point where missing a workout triggers a sense of withdrawal, which increases your desire to be more consistent. This healthy cycle can help you maintain your running habit for years.