One of the best running tips I can give anyone is this - don't forget; it does get easier.

When people first start to run, many of them expect it to be easy. When they realize it's not and that it requires a lot more work, a lot more energy and a lot more persistence than they thought it would, a large percentage of them give up. "Running isn't for me", "running is too hard," - I've heard all the excuses, but none of them are true. Running isn't always easy when you start out, in fact, but most of the time it eventually becomes second nature.

When you first start running, your body goes through all kinds of trauma. For some people, they've barely lifted a finger to exercise in more than 30 years then, overnight, they decide they'll take up running. Not being prepared for this and wondering what the heck is going on, their body goes into shock. Muscles ache, joints stiffen, feet hurt and toes begin to develop corns and bunions. It's at this stage that many people quit. It just seems too difficult, it doesn't feel like it will ever get any easier and the aching limbs and sore feet are simply not worth it.

If this is happening to you and you're thinking of giving up, remember, it does get easier but you have to push your way through the aches and the pains, the annoying out of breath feeling and the fact that you feel like you've run across the state..... and you've barely run a mile. Persistence is the key and persistence will ensure that, eventually, your runs will get easier and you'll enjoy the experience more and more.

When I first started running, the first month was a nightmare. Every run was difficult, just getting myself motivated to go was killing me and, often, I'd turn around halfway through my run and give up for the day. But, as the weeks went on, I started to push myself a little bit more. When I'd finished my planned route I'd force myself to run another block, another two blocks, another three blocks and before long my run was naturally lengthening by itself. After about six weeks, I noticed I wasn't as tired when I got home after my run and, soon after that, I found myself getting home positively invigorated from my run. It was then I realized how easy running had become for me and how much I looked forward to going every day. Since then, I've run almost every day for the last six years.

So, keep running

Get out there every day, run as far and as fast as you're comfortably able to do, and don't beat yourself up if you don't make your goals that day. But, if you keep at it, one morning you'll get up and set out on your run and it'll be easier. The day after, it'll be easier still and, the day after that, even easier. Eventually, it will seem so easy to get out there and run you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. That's when you'll feel like a real runner and realize all your effort was worth it.