How To Make Running A Habit

As any running coach will tell you, creating a routine is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to running. It is often difficult to know how to get into a running routine. There are some simple steps you can follow to start building a running routine you stick to. Read on below to find out how to make running a habit.

Finding what works for you

Greats like Mo Farah or Paula Radcliffe will have special workouts, super diets, and incredible back-up teams to help them. At the core of it all is their love of running and getting outside as much as possible. Each person is different however, and some tricks will work well for some and not so well for others. So, if you want to know how to get into a running routine, the first step is to find what works for you.  

Knowing how to make running a habit sounds simple… and it is! After all, says Dr Emma Short, "Human beings are creatures of habit and our daily habits have a huge impact on our mental and physical wellbeing and affect behaviours such as how active we are or what we eat. Many health goals will require breaking old habits and forming new ones. For instance, you may choose to cut out processed sugars and increase your vegetable intake. To achieve this goal, you will need to make a behaviour change and repeat the new behaviour over time." This is a key factor in knowing how to get into a running routine. What’s more, you can follow this in 4 easy steps! 

The formation of a new habit involves four stages, which are:

  1. Making the decision to take action.
  2. Taking that action.
  3. Repeating it - repetition is often the most difficult step and requires continued motivation and self-regulation.
  4. Repeating the action in a way that helps it to become automatic, which usually means carrying it out in a specific environment.

Give yourself time. Some people suggest that habits can be established in 21 days, but it is more likely there is a wider window, ranging from 18 to 254 days.

If you found these tips on how to make running a habit useful and want more running tips then visit our Tips & Advice page. Running in a group can also help motivation and commitment. Find your nearest RunTogether running group to get involved.