13 Ways To Convince Your Body You Actually Like Running

Remember who's in charge here!

1. Firstly, lose all the preconceptions you have about running.

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When it comes to fitness, running is a personal, individual thing. You can only measure yourself against yourself.

2. Invest in some clothes you feel good about.

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This isn't about guilt-tripping yourself into running because you've spent too much money on trainers to have them sitting on the shelf.

No, it's about having some nice new kit you'll actually want to put on and be seen in. If you feel good about yourself, you're in a much better frame of mind to be running.

3. R-E-L-A-X.

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If you head out expecting the run to be thoroughly unenjoyable, you're naturally going to tense up as you will yourself to the end of the run, wanting it to be over.

This only makes more work. Instead, try to focus on relaxing your body and yourself.

4. Run for as long as you want rather than a set distance.

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Likewise, if you have a fixed number in your head, you're likely going to grit your way to the end.

We can't all fall in love with running overnight. So in the early stages, focus on relaxing and running until you get bored. Get into a routine of running that you feel comfortable with, rather than fuelling the love/hate relationship.

5. Find a partner.

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Having a buddy alongside to simply chat away some of the kilometres or help you keep a steady pace can make a huge difference.

6. Or better yet, find a run club.

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The UK's run club scene is a wonderfully diverse, accepting, and friendly one. It's not only a great way to meet people and make friends, they're founded on an atmosphere of encouragement and personal achievement, rather than competition.

In fact, it can be a bit unnerving how fun they make running feel! Visit the Good Run Guide to find a local club near you.

7. Explore the great outdoors.

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It's a big beautiful world out there, so why not go make the most of it? It'll take your mind off counting kilometres and prevent it from becoming a chore.

8. Make sure to mix it up too.

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You'd get pretty bored if you ate the same food every day, so the same goes for your workout.

Mix up your routes as much as possible, allowing yourself to take in new sights, sounds, and smells.

9. Use the time to discover some new music.

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A new playlist every week makes it something to look forward to.

10. Get into some podcasts or audiobooks.

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Having an audiobook provides another great excuse to get active, as well as taking your mind off the actual exercise bit.

And if a whole audiobook is a daunting, then alternatively there are countless great podcasts out there too.

11. Or make a game out of it.

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Whatever floats your boat. It's all about finding ways to take your mind elsewhere so the running part becomes secondary. It's easier than you think!

12. Try out some of the fitness GPS apps.

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There are plenty of great apps you can use to track your runs for free. Fitbit, for example, gives you all sorts of handy data on your runs, just from using the GPS on your phone.

What's also great is that you can look back at the end of the month and see just how much distance you've covered in total. You'll surprise yourself!

13. Don't be shy about it either!

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Facebook, tweet, blog, snapchat – anything. Share your achievements with the world, and let the adulation roll in.

Your friends are there to support you, so give them the opportunity to do so. (And don't feel ashamed about lapping it up!)

And while you're at it, why not do it for good cause like Sport Relief?

Get ready to walk, run, swim, or cycle yourself proud, because the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Games are back, from Friday 18th - Sunday 20th March.

With flagship events at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Norwich, and Sheffield, plus hundreds of events across the UK, there's bound to be one near you.

Sign up now and get up to 50% off entry at sportrelief.com/events