For many of us lazy folk who enjoy sleep-ins or afternoons spent watching Netflix marathons, the thought of strapping on our trainers, pulling up our socks and going for a jog is enough to send us into quivering messes.

After all, running ain’t no joke. It takes a lot of discipline. It’s not like a spin class or personal training sesh, where it’s timed, there’s an end goal in sight and you aren’t left to your own devices – when heading out into the big, wide world for jog, you are well and truly the maker of your own sweaty destiny. Like, where will you run? How do you know when to stop? How regular will this running be?

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I started running about a year ago. I wanted to exercise in order to rid myself of those pesky mental cobwebs, but I also had too much social anxiety to face the scary gym alone. Essentially, I just wanted to sweat it out… so I found running.

Running helped out with my stresses instantly. For one, I was getting out of the house instead of being cooped up in my bedroom ruminating in my thoughts. I also noticed an improvement in my stamina, concentration and overall stress management. Some obvious win-wins.

Long story short, going for a run is great to get those endorphins pumping – and we stan endorphins. So here are some tips and tricks I learnt along the way in order to help kickstart your inner Usain Bolt and master the discipline of ye ol’ run.

Look the part

If you invest in some sexy, sexy gym attire that makes you feel sexy, sexy, I promise you’ll feel more inspired to go for a run… and will subsequently find fitness sexy, sexy in general. I’m a firm believer that if you look the part, you’ll feel the part too. I purchased some clothes that made my body feel snatched and it literally made me excited to get sweaty.

Phone a friend

I personally like to run alone – as I need to focus all my energy on surviving (lol) – but a couple of my friends find it super beneficial to run alongside someone. Finding a running buddy is definitely a wise move if you need a kick up the bum to get motivated. You can ~lean on each other~ when times get rough.

Have the right equipment

You’ll be spending a lot of time on your poor feet, so you’ll need to make sure that they’re padded in goodness. If you’re looking for some inspo, start with the new adidas UltraBOOST 19, with an engineered fit that supports your precious feet and gives an extra boost in your step. I got a pair last week and it felt like I was running barefoot on a springy cloud… Does that make sense? Anyway, you get what I mean – they’re bloody superb.

To music or not to music

While some people love to listen to music when they go for a run, my ears simply won’t allow it. I don’t know what it is, but the minute I start walking with earbuds in, they fall out straight away (a true first world problem). There are some earphones out there specifically designed for jogging, but it just depends whether you prefer to listen to Hilary Duff or nature. Either way, it’s about figuring out what works for you and running with it – literally.

Set goals

Whether it be distance or timing, pick something that’s measurable and will challenge you to improve. I created my own running path that I’d jog along each time – the same Newtown streets followed by a Sydney Uni oval and back – and I’d try to run a little bit further each time. Having that routine allowed me to measure how well I was doing and subsequently motivated me to run, Forrest, run.

Oooft – I don’t know about you, but I feel like I just imparted some Motivation™, Kelly Rowland style.

Remember: if Forrest can do it, so can you. Good luck out there on the streets and in the parks, folks. Godspeed.

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Image: Forrest Gump / Paramount Pictures