M. Suzanne Terry

My 31 Days series this year is going to be about running. This post is going to be a deconstruction of what I mean by “running wild.” We will be taking rampant liberties with the phrase.

First, a disclaimer – I am an amateur. I am not a coach, nutritionist, physical therapist, or trained professional of anything that has to do with running. I am not even particularly good at running. Some days, I am barely good at walking. This is simply a 31-day project to get me out of the house (read: out of my comfort zone), and the posts will be a combination of how that’s going and what I’ve learned.

Expect many references.

The main goal is to walk/run 50 miles in the course of the month. That should be a doable goal, even for someone starting from scratch. What I am hoping is that there is a little something for everyone here.

I will be mostly walking, because what I do know about running is that, unless you are in reasonably good shape already, it’s not something to jump right into. I’m going to have to work up to it. Again. For those of you who are looking to add more activity in your life, I invite you to join our discussions about how you’re easing into it, as I will be doing the same.

I will also be reflecting on the challenges of walking with friends vs. the challenges of walking alone. I don’t know about you, but I am more consistent with my workouts when there is someone who is depending on me to go with them. I also know that busy schedules keep that from always being feasible. I get nervous when I go alone, and I talk myself out of it. If you have something to say about staying motivated when you’re on your own, or if you have a brilliant plan for making schedules work with others, there will be days to discuss that.

Part of the month is going to be about body image. One of the reasons I don’t like to run (or exercise at all, really) out in public is that I do not look like a runner. There will be people whose reaction to this is, “A runner doesn’t look a particular way.” They, of course, are technically correct. I know this. I know the right answers about body image and body positivity. That does not in any way erase the reality of the struggle, at least not for me. There will be days we will talk about that.

I will be running wild. Probably not in the wild. Don’t be absurd. I’m not changing personalities. But I will be exploring areas I haven’t been before.

Each week will follow a basic structure. This week, I am introducing the four themes of the month: safety, rest, fuel, and hydration. Each Sunday is the week overview. Monday-Thursday are topics related to week’s theme. Friday will usually involve five outside sources pertaining to the week’s theme. And Saturday will be my progress report on how my goal to run/walk 50 miles is going, as well as a discussion of my favorite place I walked/ran that week.

Each day in the series will be linked below:

Day 1 – Overview (this post)
Day 2 – Safety
Day 3 – Rest
Day 4 – Fuel
Day 5 – Hydration
Day 6 – Friday Five: What I Read About When I Read About Running
Day 7 – Progress and Paradox
Day 8 – Safety Week Overview
Day 9 – Gear Up
Day 10 – Good Form
Day 11 – Rules of the Road
Day 12 – Running in the Dark
Day 13 – Friday Five: Five Moves for Safety
Day 14 – Week 2 Progress Report
Day 15 – Rest Week Overview
Day 16 – Rest Days
Day 17 – Sleep
Day 18 – Un-damage Your Calm
Day 19 – Sabbath
Day 20 – Friday Five: A Body at Rest
Day 21 – Week 3 Progress Report
Day 22 – Fuel Week Overview
Day 23 – What I Eat
Day 24 – What I Avoid
Day 25 – Decadence
Day 26 – Moderation
Day 27 – Friday Five: Snacks for Runners
Day 28 – Week 4 Progress Report
Day 29 – Hydration Overview
Day 30 – Water Wonder
Day 31 – Project Recap

I’m also linking up with Crystal Stine’s Write 31 Days project. If you want to explore what others are writing, hover over the “Linking Up” tab at the top and choose a category.