 By: Unnu Shukla
Do you run to set the tone of the rest of your day, to take a break from studying, or to finish off your evening strong? Check out what some fellow Longhorns said about their favorite times of the day to run and why: Morning “I usually run in the morning because less people are out, so I get to soak in my surroundings better. Also, I feel energized for the rest of the day, and always get a good night's sleep in that night.” - Bridget McLaughlin “Morning because of the sunshine! Not too late because I don't want it to be too hot” - Becca Spiegel “Morning runs are my absolute favorite, it's so calm around you then, and plus not too many people are up and at it.” - Aparna Chandrasekhar Afternoon “Afternoon! The afternoon sun makes the wind chill a little more bearable, and there are people out and about, so it's more exciting.” - Angel Lo Evening “I go on night runs pretty frequently. In fact, it may be my favorite. Austin is an incredibly beautiful city, especially at night. The streets are peaceful and usually pretty empty, so I can run almost anywhere.” - Trevor Phillips “Early evenings are my favorite because I like watching the sky change around me.” - Eila Motley “I love running in the evening! As much as I try, I'm not always the morning person I envision myself to be. So when I get home from campus after a busy day, I find that taking a run to the Capitol or even the South Congress bridge is a great way to unwind and collect my thoughts from the day. I also have discovered that it is much easier to find a running buddy when they do not have to get up at 6 AM to run with you." - Alyssa Kahl When it comes down to it, the fact that you’re getting a run in somewhere throughout your day is all that matters. Try out different routines, you might discover that you’re more of a morning person than you think. Find what works best for you and your body!  By Coach Anthony Ferraro It was New Year’s Day at the Town Lake Trail. Robbie was wearing his brand new workout gear from top to bottom, and playing his favorite tunes on his earphones. He was ready to start the New Year tackling his resolutions. Ready to conquer that trail. The 4-mile loop. If everything went well, the 7-mile loop. How difficult could it be?! Robbie was fired up...He started running, fast…The music encouraged it, his running gear screamed for speed. He passed a few people and quickly disappeared into the trail. A mile down the road, he had to stop. He was breathing heavily and could not continue his run. Everything seemed so perfect one mile earlier. The mindset and motivation, the music, the adrenaline. And now this…What went wrong? When we set our New Year’s resolutions, we often want to conquer the world right away and we tend to forget that we need to take baby steps with them, as with every new activity we engage on. We need to remember that we also need to have fun, if we are to keep coming back and sticking with it for the long run (pun intended). When we get on the trail, it is not about running faster than everybody else. If other runners pass us, so what? We are doing our own workout, not theirs. Let them pass us. We will keep training, getting better, day after day, week after week. Before we know it, we will be able to keep up with them, and eventually it will be us who pass them. We will be able to run 1 mile, and then 4, and a few weeks later 10 miles. A marathon and even more if we want to… So how do you get to running long and fast and actually having fun while at it? Start slow so that you can finish fast. Pace yourself so you can go the whole distance. If you have to walk at first, so be it. Make sure you are enjoying your run. Absorb the beauty of the landscape around you. If you don’t carry music with you, listen to the music of your footsteps. Then the next day, go a little faster. The hard workout of today will be your warm-up in a few weeks. Stick with your workout routine, day after day, week after week. You will have fun and keep coming back for more. One more mile, one minute faster... Always forward. Never stopping. That is all it is. As yourself, are you ready to make your resolutions a life-long adventure? Get out here and get ready, because we start today… ____ Anthony is a Nike+ Run Club Coach, a Personal Trainer at UT RecSports, a Strength and Conditioning Coach, and a marathon runner. He lives in Austin, Texas and spends a lot of time around the 40 Acres. If you see him around, don't hesitate to say hi!  By Unnu Shukla
One of the hardest parts of staying active in the colder months is physically getting out of the warm comfort of your bed and out the door. Regardless of whether you’re a morning or evening runner, the mental discussion begins: Get out or stay in? Brave the cold or stay in the cozy confines of your apartment? It’s hard to run during the winter. But as the saying goes: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Winter running can be a true test of your mental capacities, and when you do finish a long run outside, it’s an incredible confidence booster.
It’s easy to hide the comforts of your blanket with the heat on full blast, but it’s even easier to maintain a consistent workout routine throughout the year, not to mention it’s better for you. So lace up your shoes and let’s get out here! By Unnu Shukla Keen on starting 2016 on the right foot? These uplifting quotes are sure to get you to hit the ground running (pun intended):  “Running is alone time that lets my brain unspool the tangles that build up over days. I run, pound it out on the pavement, channel that energy into my legs, and when I’m done with my run, I’m done with it.” – Rob Haneisen “Running allows me to set my mind free. Nothing seems impossible, nothing unattainable.” – Kara Goucher “I think I’m addicted to the feelings associated with the end of a long run. I love feeling empty, clean, worn out, and sweat-purged. I love the good ache of muscles that have done me proud” – Kristin Armstrong “A good laugh and a long run are the two best cures for anything” –Anonymous  “It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually, you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit.” – George Sheehan
“Act like a horse. Be dumb. Just run.” – Jumbo Elliot “Run often, run long. But never outrun your joy of running.” – Julie Isphording |