The man behind the gym that is helping Dana Stephens Travis and Pat Dell’Italia prepare for their milestone runs, Alex Morrow, believes that becoming a good runner is an easily accessible goal for anyone looking to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Though he played sports through college, Morrow started running regularly for fitness 10 years ago to tackle extra weight and his propensity to make unhealthy life choices.
Morrow started Resolute Running as a way to make every aspect of training available to runners, from coaching to weight training to massage therapy.
A firm believer that anyone can run, Morrow is quick to dispel myths that allow people to talk themselves out of learning to run.
Regardless of how out of shape someone is, he said, anyone
can run, which is why there are various Couch to 5K/10K programs designed specifically for new runners. Morrow also noted that the age-old idea that running is bad for the knees has been debunked by medical studies.
Any new runner who is worried they are too slow can rest easy knowing that speed is relative.
“We have clients who perform run/walks while others run a six minute pace all the time. You will always be slower than some but faster than others,” Morrow said.
His first tip to transforming into a regular and healthy runner is to take it slow and acclimate to a preferred pace.
Next on the list is getting fit for a good pair of running shoes at any specialty running shop.
“A decent pair of running shoes can be the difference between enjoying a run or hating it,” he said. “Running shoes do not last forever and there are various types designed to work with your biomechanics.”
Once a new runner has the right shoes, it’s time to make sure you stick with your plan and hold yourself accountable. The Resolute community of coaches help keep their runners on track, but people running on their own can try posting their goals on social media for their friends and relatives to hold them accountable.
Morrow’s last step for a new runner is to make a running plan with a goal.
“We of course encourage you to hire a coach, but if that is not something you can do right now, there are a variety of plans you can find online and in apps,” Morrow said.
For more information, visit resoluterunning.com.
— By Emily Williams
