I know. I am just as shocked as you to put “Scott Savage” and “a runner” in the same sentence. But it’s true.
I realized I was a runner a couple weeks ago. I was driving up Central Avenue to pick up a guest speaker for the service I lead at NPHX. My windows were down due to the amazing “winter” weather we were having in Phoenix and I saw runners moving up and down the path I use two or three times a week. In that moment, a random thought came into my mind, “Man, I wish I was running right now.” In that moment, I knew that I had gone off the deep end – that I was now a runner.

I didn’t get here overnight. There was a long season where I ran but did not enjoy it. There are some days where I go so slow and wonder why I am spending 60 minutes doing this to myself. But two days later, I am back on the path again.
Since we are six weeks into the year, and many of us have abandoned our New Years’ fitness resolutions already, I thought I would share seven things I did on my journey to becoming a runner.
1. Set a goal. In the fall of 2010, I ran a 5K that my wife, Dani, had registered for and couldn’t make because of a last minute trip. That race convinced me I could be a runner. When I started running again in October 2011, my goal was to get back to that 5K. When I reached that, my new goal was a 10K. When I achieved that about 6 weeks ago, I started thinking about a half-marathon. My new goal is to tackle that before the end of 2012.
2. Pick a regular time. I am a structure person. I have to decide in advance that I am going to run. So, I checked with Dani’s schedule and I decided early morning was best. I typically get started between 630 and 7am, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I would encourage you to pick two or three times a week that you know you can regularly make for your runs.
3. Measure it. Some people run to run and don’t worry about measuring it. However, since I am so goal-oriented, I started experimenting with GPS-enabled apps for my Android smartphone to measure my time, distance and calories burned. Since October, I have used three apps – Endomondo, RunKeeper, and CardioTrainer. My best experience has come with Endomondo, but I have friends who really love Runkeeper. My favorite feature is the library where I can see past runs and track my mileage month by month to see progress.
4. Share it. I am an avid user of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Since I was really unconfident as a runner, I realized it was important for me to get encouragement from others. I automatically set apps like Cardio Trainer and Endomondo to share my run details to my social media profiles. I even blogged about my journey and progress. In the last month or so, I have heard a couple of stories of people who read my blog and followed my runs who were motivated to take similar steps themselves. I am honored to have that privilege!
5. Enjoy it. Okay, so this is a list and it seems a bit serious. But running has actually become fun for me, something I look forward to on those early mornings. I believe it has helped that I listen to things that I enjoy while I run. I listen to my favorite podcast through apps like BeyondPod or Stitcher. I discover new music through Pandora. I fall back on motivating playlists from my iTunes. And I get caught up on my Bible reading through YouVersion‘s audio feature. Look for ways to have fun as you run.
6. Learn from seasoned veterans. I learned along the way that I had some bad habits or ignorance regarding running. I gained a lot of wisdom from articles in Runner’s World magazine. Also, chats with my friend, Kelly Young, and Dani (who have run marathons and ultra-races like the Ragnar Relay) helped me continue to build my knowledge base as I gain experience.
7. Give yourself time to get into it. As I was sharing about running at one point, a friend sent me a message, asking how I got excited about running. This friend had tried to run but just did not enjoy it at all. And amidst a busy schedule, she found it hard to make time for something she did not enjoy. I replied with two words: permission and patience. Give yourself permission to not enjoy it. There are lots of ways to maintain personal fitness. Running is not for everyone. So if this is not for you, the worst thing you could do is force it. Also, be patient. Give yourself time to discover enjoyment. Time in your daily runs and time over weeks of runs. Many times, I do not enjoy the first mile or two, but I find enjoyment in the third, fourth or fifth miles. I ran three times a week for nearly three months, racking up close to 150 miles before I had that moment driving past my running path where I wished I was running. That feeling may not come overnight.
I hope what I have shared helps you discover something you have not considered before. I am a newbie and still learning a great deal. I am simply excited that I am taking care of myself physically, so I can live out my calling and purpose for decades to come.
What lessons you have learned along your personal fitness journey? Share them below.