STEP INTO 2017 PART 2

The New Year is here and it’s time to put your running plans into action! Whether you’re aiming to make it round the block for the first time, to get back into shape after the holidays or you have a marathon on the horizon, we’re here to help you get off to the best possible start.

WORDS: ELIZABETH HUFTON STRENGTH WORK: ANNE-MARIE LATEGAN PHOTOS: EDDIE MACDONALD, JOSEPH BRANST

If you really want to get fit in 2017, you’ll need to regularly push yourself out of your comfort zone. We have three training plans for different levels of fitness, but if those seem too much for now, head to womensrunninguk.co.uk where you’ll find a host of beginner-friendly options.

GET YOUR MOJO RISING

You may find it easy to get started in the New Year but the real test is keeping it up. Use these mental tricks to help you stick to your running and fitness goals.

CREATE A VISION BOARD

If anything is likely to derail your New Year plans, it’s your emotions, whether it’s a hard day at work or just feeling down from too little daylight. But your emotions can also save the day and provide a powerful pull to help you keep going. Use a visual shortcut to help your brain re-connect to those positive, hopeful feelings you had on New Year’s Day. A quick way to do this is to create a vision board, packing it with images and quick quotes to keep you inspired. These could be photos of yourself running, of an athlete (or friend) you admire, of someone you’re raising money to help – try different images and see which resonates with you the most strongly. Find short quotes you feel inspired by and print or write them out; images of your focus race, or routes that you love. If you followed part one of our ‘Step Into 2017’ plan last issue and have pictures from beautiful runs you’ve done recently, add those in to remind yourself that you are committed. Your vision board can be as big or small as you like – if you don’t want it anywhere public, make a mini version on the back page of your diary, or on the back of your printed training plan.