101 Greatest Running Tips
Presenting the 101 greatest training tips of all time -
for beginners, veterans, marathoners,
and everyone in between
By: Mark Will-Weber
Courtesy of Runner's World
Comment on which are your favorites, or better yet
share some of your own Tips with ViF
"Stop fighting it!"
That's what a fellow marathoner yelled at me years ago in the middle of a very windy out-and-back marathon. "Don't fight the wind, man," he said. "Wait until the turnaround, then pick up the pace when the wind is at your back." The sheer simplicity of that advice! Until he mentioned it, I was dug in. Wind be damned, I was going to keep my pace or die trying. Thanks to that veteran marathoner's advice, I did neither. I ended up running a great race.
I've remembered his tip in every windy race and run since. That's the thing about a great piece of advice: Like a trusted friend, it'll always be there when you need it. Here are 100 more memorable running tips, gleaned from experts past and present.
Starting Out
1. Accept the challenge
"Everyone is an athlete. But some of us are training, and some of us are not." —Dr. George Sheehan, runner/writer/philosopher
2. Shoot for this (at least)
"Running 8 to 15 miles per week significantly increases your aerobic capacity, and positively effects many of the coronary risk factors." —Dr. Kenneth Cooper, aerobics pioneer
3. Be a minuteman
"The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments—1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles." —Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach
4. Wear good running shoes (update this one for current prices!)
"Spend at least $60. A good pair of running shoes should last you 400 to 500 miles and is one of the most critical purchases you will make." —John Hanc, author of The Essential Runner
5. Think big (and wide)
"Buy all shoes, both street and running, slightly longer and wider than your bigger foot. Also, avoid pointed shoes. You'll save yourself needless foot pain." —Ted Corbitt, ultrarunner and 1952 Olympic marathoner
6. Take the "talk test"
"The 'talk test' means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner—but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera." —Runner's World editors
7. Listen to the rumbling
"If you feel like eating, eat. Let your body tell you what it wants." —Joan Samuelson, 1984 Olympic marathon champion
8. Relax to the max
"When running, let your jaw hang loose, don't bunch up your shoulders close to your ears, and occasionally shake out your hands and arms to stay relaxed." —Dave Martin, Ph.D., exercise physiologist
9. Don't crush the egg
"Don't clench your fists in a white-knuckle grip. Instead, run with a cupped hand, thumbs resting on the fingers, as if you were protecting an egg in each palm." —Runner's World editors
10. Make time for a quickie
"If 15 minutes is all the time I have, I still run. Fifteen minutes of running is better than not running at all." —Dr. Duncan Macdonald, former U.S. record holder at 5000 (set when he was in medical school)
11. Follow Road Rule Number One
Running against traffic allows the runner to be in command. Anyone who is alert and agile should be able to stay alive." —Dr. George Sheehan
12. Try a "nooner"
"Noontime running provides a triple benefit: daylight, a break from the workday, and a chance to avoid eating a heavy lunch." —Joe Henderson, runner/writer
13. Warm up, then stretch
"Try some light jogging or walking before you stretch, or stretch after you run. Stretching 'cold' muscles can cause more harm than good." —Runner's World editors
14. Stay "liquid"
"Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate! In cold weather and warm. We use water to sweat, lubricate joints, tendons, and ligaments, and to carry blood efficiently to major organs. I work all day at hydrating." —Dr. Alex Ratelle, former masters running great
15. ...But be moderate
"Is beer good for runners? Sure...if it's the other guy drinking it." —Jim Fixx, author of the running bestseller, The Complete Book of Running
16. Listen up!
"You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance, but not through pain." —Dr. George Sheehan
17. Create your own running creed
My whole teaching in one sentence is: "Run slowly, run daily, drink moderately, and don't eat like a pig." —Dr. Ernst van Aaken, renowned German coach
18. Come ready to play
"Fitness has to be fun. If it isn't, there will be no fitness. Play is the process. Fitness is merely the product." —Dr. George Sheehan
Basic Training
19. Take what you can get
"So-called 'junk miles'—those slow miles done on easy days or during warmups—do count. They burn calories as effectively as fast miles; it just takes longer. Regardless of pace, each mile you run burns about 100 calories." —Hal Higdon, runner/writer/coach
20. Learn from your mistakes
"You find out by trial and error what the optimum level of training is. If I found I was training too hard, I would drop back for a day or so. I didn't run for 5 days before the sub-4." —Sir Roger Bannister, first man to break 4 minutes for the mile in 1954
21. Dare to be different (but not dumb)
"In training, don't be afraid to be an oddball, eccentric, or extremist. Only by daring to go against tradition can new ways of training be learned. The trick is recognizing quickly when a new approach is counterproductive." —Benji Durden, 1980 U.S. Olympic marathoner
22. Reach for fast, low-fat fuel
"Energy bars are good portable food for runners. Look for bars with 4 grams of fat or fewer per 230 calories. Fat slows down digestion." —Liz Applegate, Ph.D., sports nutritionist
23. Go for the goal
I believe in using races as motivators. It's hard to keep on an exercise program if you don't have a significant goal in sight." —Bob Greene, personal trainer of Oprah Winfrey
24. Think big...but carry a small eraser
"Brainstorm your training goals first, then write them down. Do this in pencil, so you can change some specifics when reality sets in." —Jeff Galloway, Olympic runner/author/coach
25. Show some horse sense
During long, slow distance training, you should think of yourself as a thoroughbred disguised as a plow horse. No need to give yourself away by running fast." —Marty Liquori, running commentator and former world-class miler
26. Build with care
"If you put down a good solid foundation, you can then build one room after another and pretty soon you have a house. After your base mileage, add hills, pace work, speedwork, and finally race strategy." —Rod Dixon, New Zealand Olympian and 1983 New York City Marathon champ
27. Look at the big picture
"Whether one shall run on his heels or his toes is hardly worth discussing. The main thing in distance running is endurance—and how to get it." —Clarence DeMar, seven-time Boston Marathon champion and U.S. Olympic marathoner
28. Toss out the clutter
Throw away your 10-function chronometer, heart-rate monitor with the computer printout, training log, high-tech underwear, pace charts, and laboratory-rat-tested-air-injected-gel-lined-mo-tion-control-top-of-the-line footwear. Run with your own imagination." —Lorraine Moller, 1992 Olympic marathon bronze medalist
29. Listen to your body (yes, again!)
"Your body is always trying to tell you where you are. Beware when you become tired and listless, when you lose interest in workouts and approach them as a chore rather than a pleasure." —Dr. George Sheehan
30. Go steady
"Day to day consistency is more important than big mileage. Then you're never shot the next day." —John Campbell, former masters running star from New Zealand
31. Find the right proportion
"If you run 30 miles a week, then about 7 of those—or approximately one-quarter—should be quality miles. Quality miles will boost your aerobic capacity." —Owen Anderson, Ph.D., running writer
32. Stay above bored
"A 40-minute run punctuated with a half-dozen 30-second pace pickups (not all-out sprints) can really jazz up an otherwise boring training run." —Amby Burfoot, Runner's World editor and 1968 Boston Marathon champ
33. Be a "cross-eater"
"Like cross-training, 'cross-eating' adds needed variety to your diet—and life. Expand your nutritional repertoire by trying one new food each week." —Liz Applegate, Ph.D.
34. Ease it back
"After a run, don't rush back into life. Take a few minutes to walk, stretch, relax, meditate." —Runner's World editors
35. Don't force the tissue
"Overly aggressive stretching can actually increase your injury risk." —Tim Noakes, M.D., author of Lore of Running
Advanced Training
36. Think globally, act locally
"We wrote our workout schedules in 3-week blocks. My coach and I knew what my immediate goal was—what I was trying to accomplish in the next 3 weeks. But in the back of my mind was the ultimate goal: what I wanted to do months away." —Bob Kennedy, U.S. record holder for 5000 meters
37. Go with mind over grind
"Any idiot can train himself into the ground; the trick is doing the training that makes you gradually stronger." —Keith Brantly, U.S. Olympic marathoner
38. Have fun on your easy runs
I make sure I have some really enjoyable training runs, remembering to 'smell the roses' along the way. That way I don't become caught up in the training-is-everything syndrome." —Sue Stricklin, top masters runner from the 1970s
39. Have fun on your hard runs
Do tough workouts that you enjoy. Mile repeats and quarters are more fun for me than fartlek. ["Fartlek" is Swedish for variable-paced, up-tempo running.] I feel better about my running when I do the workouts I enjoy and that I know I benefit from." —Dan Cloeter, two-time Chicago Marathon winner
40. Stay open-minded
"When you try a new type of training, think like a beginner. Just because you can run 20 miles every Sunday doesn't mean you can survive 10 x 400 meters on the track at a fast pace." —Jack Daniels, Ph.D., exercise physiologist, coach, and former world-class pentathlete
41. Be a smart camel
"Before you do your long run, place containers of sports drink out on your course, even if you have to bury them." —Runner's World editors
42. Work on your growl
"The long run puts the tiger in the cat." —Bill Squires, marathon coach
43. Don't always watch the watch
I don't wear a watch during my long runs. That way I'm not tempted to compare my time from week to week." —Lynn Jennings, three-time World Cross-Country champion
44. Rest assured
"Back off at the first sign of injury. Three to 5 days off is better than missing a month or two. Take regular rest days." —PattiSue Plumer, two-time U.S. Olympian
45. Divide and conquer
"Pick one thing each year that you need to improve, and work on that. It might be improving your diet, getting more sleep, or increasing your mileage. You can't work on everything at once." —Bob Kennedy
Hill Running
46. Join the resistance
"Hills are the only beneficial type of resistance training for a runner." —Arthur Lydiard, Olympic coach from New Zealand
47. "Chip" away at it
"Think chest/hips/push, or CHP, when it's time for uphill running. Chest up, hips forward, push strongly off each foot." —Jeff Galloway
48 Adapt—or weaken
"Running hills breaks up your rhythm and forces your muscles to adapt to new stresses. The result? You become stronger." —Eamonn Coghlan, Irish Olympian and only 40-year-old to break 4 minutes in the mile
49. Up the ante
"Move into a hill session gradually, running the first few repeats moderately and increasing the effort as you go along." —Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Marathon Champion
50. Avoid the downside
"The advantage of running hills on a treadmill is you can go up without pounding down the other side." —Ken Sparks, Ph.D.
51. Ramp it up
"If you live in the flatlands, you'll have to be creative about hill training. Deserted highway ramps or parking garages are possibilities, though they pose obvious safety problems. You may want to invest in a treadmill." —Bob Glover, runner/author/coach
52. Grab hold of the rope
"If you're laboring up a steep hill, imagine that a towrope is attached to the center of your chest, pulling you steadily toward the top." —Jeff Galloway
53. Lean into it
"When going down, I lean with the hill. I know I'm doing it right if I feel like I'm going to fall on my face." —Ed Eyestone, RW columnist, coach, and two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner
54. Save something for the summit...
"Don't attack a hill from the very bottom—it's bigger than you are!" —Harry Groves, renowned Penn State coach
55. ...Then take off!
"I've always found it effective in a race to make a move just before the crest of a hill. You get away just a little, and you're gone before they get over the top." —John Treacy, two-time World Cross-Country champion from Ireland Speed Training and Racing
56. Make the switch
"The difference between a jogger and a runner is a race-entry blank." —Dr. George Sheehan
57. Get up to speed
"Three half-mile repeats on the track at 5-K race pace with a short recovery jog in between shouldn't scare anyone away—and it will improve your speed." —Frank Shorter
58. Just "Q" it
"Quality counts, if you want to stay fast. Don't do all your workouts in the comfort zone." —Ken Sparks, Ph.D., top masters marathoner
59. Stay in control
"Run your own race at an even pace. Consider the course, the temperature, the weather, and most importantly, your current level of fitness." —Marty Liquori
60. Be flexible (or else)
"The idea that you can't lose contact with the leaders has cut more throats than it has saved." —Arthur Lydiard
61. Make a pass
"Passing competitors always gives you a lift. It probably has a physical effect, too, because you get a surge of adrenaline." —Libbie Hickman, world-class marathoner
62. Get over it
"If you have a bad workout or run a bad race, allow yourself exactly 1 hour to stew about it—then move on." —Steve Scott, coach and U.S. record holder in the mile
63. Be patient
"Expect to put in 6 to 10 successful track workouts before you begin to see some payoff in your races." —Marc Bloom, runner/writer/coach
64. Keep your finger on the pulse
"If your morning pulse rate is up 10 or more beats above your average, then you haven't recovered from the previous day's training. Take time off or back off until it returns to normal." —Dr. George Sheehan
65. Mix it up
"Fartlek training can help you build strength and endurance, learn race pace, and practice race tactics all in a single workout." —Bill Dellinger, former University of Oregon coach and 1964 Olympic 5000 bronze medal winner
66. Tie the knot
"I double-knot my shoe laces. It's a pain untying your shoes afterward—particularly if you get them wet—but so is stopping in the middle of a race to tie them." —Hal Higdon
67. Observe certain rituals
"Once you find a warmup routine that works, repeat it as habitually as possible."—Ted Corbitt
68. Warm up, don't wear down
"At most, jog easily for 15 minutes before a race. Then stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, and lower back. With about 15 minutes to go, maybe do a few strides. But no more—you'll warm up plenty in the early going." —Mark Plaatjes, 1993 World Championships marathon winner
69. Wear the right pair
"Feather-light racing flats might help you run a faster 5-K, but lightweight performance trainers (with better protection and cushioning) are a better choice for most runners, especially in longer races." —Bob Wischnia and Paul Carrozza, Runner's World shoe experts
70. Finish it off
"To develop your kick, finish each repetition faster than you begin it. For example, if you're running 6 x 400 meters on the track, start off at a steady, controlled pace, then subtly shift gears in the last 100 or 200 meters." —Robert Vaughan, Ph.D., coach and exercise physiologist
71. Stay on pace
"It's better to run too slow at the start than too fast and get into oxygen debt, which is what 99.9 percent of runners do. You have to learn pace." —Bill Bowerman, renowned University of Oregon coach
72. Don't dodge the draft
"Slip in behind someone running a similar pace and, yes, draft. It's not illegal. It's not even poor form. On the contrary, it's just plain smart." —Priscilla Welch, former British Olympian and 1987 New York City Marathon champ
73. Snap out of it
"Occasionally pick up speed—for 2 minutes, tops—then settle back into your former pace. Sometimes this is all you need to snap out of a mental and physical funk. Pick a downhill stretch if you can, and really lengthen your stride." —Mark Plaatjes
Marathoning (Training & Racing)
74. Go minimalist
"Marathon training doesn't have to be a grind. By running for about 30 minutes two times a week, and by gradually increasing the length of a third weekly run—the long run—anyone can finish a marathon." —Jeff Galloway
75. Step back a bit
"Build up your mileage in gradual increments, but every third or fourth week, drop back in mileage to recover. This will help you avoid your breaking point." —Lee Fidler, coach and two-time U.S. Olympic Marathon qualifier
76. Don't push it...
"In marathon training, 3 hours slow is better than 2 hours fast." —Pete Gavuzzi, coach of four-time Boston Marathon champ Gerard Cote
77. ...And enough is enough
"Never run more than 3 hours straight in training, whether your marathon best is 2:42 or 4:24." —Ed Eyestone
78. Be vigilant
"During the hard training phase, never be afraid to take a day off. If your legs are feeling unduly stiff and sore, rest. If you're at all sluggish, rest. Whenever you're in doubt, rest." —Bruce Fordyce, nine-time Comrades Marathon champion from South Africa
79. Pamper your muscles
"When I'm training for a marathon, I soak in a hot tub every day, and get a weekly massage." —Anne Marie Lauck, two-time Olympian
80. Try winning combinations
"I include iron with vitamin C in my diet to prevent anemia. Without it, I wouldn't have the energy I need to train." —Joy Smith, 2:34 marathoner
81. Know when it's show time
"Just remember this: Nobody ever won the olive wreath with an impressive training diary." —Marty Liquori
82. Taper on time
"The key step between a great training program and a great race is a great taper. Your last long training run before a marathon should come 3 weeks before the race—not 2." —Pete Pfitzinger, two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner
83. Wait for the weights
"If you strength train, shelve your routine about a month before your marathon, to help you feel fresh on the big day." —Steve Spence, 1991 World Championships Marathon bronze medallist
84. Hone in on the range
"Rather than going into a marathon with just one goal—such as finishing in a very specific time—develop a range of goals so that you increase your chances of success." —Jerry Lynch, Ph.D., marathoner and author of The Total Runner
85. Don't be in a rush
"Thanks to the race-day adrenaline rush, any pace will feel easier than normal. So make a conscious effort to hold back in the early miles." —Lorraine Moller
86. Divide by three
"Divide the marathon into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart." —Mike Fanelli, runner and coach
87. Walk before you crawl
"When using the run-walk method to finish a marathon, the most important walk break comes in the first mile. The second most important one comes in the second mile, and so on. The point is, walk before you become fatigued." —Jeff Galloway
88. Be a little shady
"Squinting intently requires more energy than you can spare over 26.2 miles. So if it's sunny or you're allergic to dust or pollen, wear sunglasses." —Kim Jones, world-class masters marathoner
89. Save up
"To be effective over the last 6 miles of a marathon, one must harbor some sort of emotional as well as physical reserves." —Kenny Moore, writer and two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner
90. Forget about it!
"You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming." —Frank Shorter Finish Lines (Miscellaneous)
91. Find a cheerleader
"The primary reason to have a coach is to have someone who says: 'Hey, you're looking good today!'" —Jack Daniels, Ph.D.
92. Be a copy cat
"Visualizing perfect running form will help you stay relaxed. Visualize before the race. Then, once you're in the race, pick out someone who's looking good and running relaxed. This will help you do the same." —Gayle Barron, 1978 Boston Marathon champion
93. Don't overthink it
"In running I go by the axiom that my coach Jumbo Elliott of Villanova used: KISS—Keep It Simple, Stupid." —Marty Liquori
94. Take baby steps
"You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your goal too high and don't fulfill it, your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it." —Emil Zatopek, four-time Olympic gold medalist from Czechoslavakia
95. Muster your mental might
"Keep working on mental attitude. You have to fight that supposedly rational voice that says: 'I'm 50 years old, and I don't have to be doing this anymore.'" —Ken Sparks, Ph.D.
96. Train with someone...
"It may seem odd to hear a coach say this, but I think a really great training partner is more important than a coach." —Joan Nesbit, coach and world-class runner
97. ...Anyone...
"Never underestimate the value of a good training partner, even if it's your dog. Training allies will get you out the door on those days when exercise might otherwise be reduced to a finger on the remote control button." - Runner's World editors
98. ...But sometimes go solo
"The day after a hard workout, I always train alone. If you run with someone else, there can be a tendency to push harder than you should." —Mark Allen, former Ironman champion
99. Find a reason why
"We run to undo the damage we've done to body and spirit. We run to find some part of ourselves yet undiscovered." —John "The Penguin" Bingham
100. Feel the magic...
"For me, running is a lifestyle and an art. I'm far more interested in the magic of it than the mechanics." —Lorraine Moller
101....But do what you must do
"If one can stick to training throughout many long years, then willpower is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I'm tired? That's beside the point. It's simply that I have to." —Emil Zatopek
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