Raise your hand if you’re the type of person who would only run if you were being chased by something.

SAME.

We get it. When people hear that the Badass Lady Gang is a running community, they always have the same reaction…

We know that you probably HATE running.

We know that you’d probably rather stick a for in your eye than voluntarily run.

We know that for many folks, running reminds them of terrible PE outfits and embarrassing mile time trials at school.

We get it.

But the Badass Lady Gang is a different kind of running community because most of us have hated running too! HELL, some of us still hate it 48% of the time.

We aren’t here to pretend that running isn’t the worst sometimes. We won’t pretend that learning to love running isn’t really, really hard. It is. ESPECIALLY if you don’t have an athletic background or have always worked out motivated solely by weight loss. (Don’t even get me started on how damaging working out to lose weight is. Don’t believe me? READ THIS: Everything you need to know about running for weight loss.)

Everyone has a different relationship running and working out. Maybe you’ve tried a couple of dozen times before and were burned every time. Maybe this is your maiden voyage!

Regardless of what you think you know about running, ANYONE can learn to love it! (Or love to hate it.) It just takes time and guidance from people who, like you, used to HATE running with every fiber of their being.

That’s us! Here at the Badass Lady Gang, we aren’t former athletes. We didn’t run in high school or college, we found it later and life and are proud self proclaimed struggle runners. The Badass Lady Gang was born because we were tired of intimidating and unrealistic the fitness world is. We wanted to create a place that was inclusive, welcoming, and made running something we can enjoy together.

Here are our 5 steps to start or restart running and actually like it…

Step 1: Get a plan.

Not sure where to start, how far to go, or how much to run? Tired of listening to people who don’t look like they’ve ever struggled to run down their block? We have you covered! Here at the BALG, coach Kelly has created a free 8-week become a runner series! Not only will you get a training plan on an app, but there’s a guided run to go along with every single run and walk!

In our become a runner 5K guided run series, Coach Kelly will tell you when to walk, when to run, while distracting you with inspiring and hilarious tales that will make you laugh when you want to cry.

Coach Kelly is the self-proclaimed former president of the “I F*cking Hate Running Club” and she created this program specifically for people like her. It’s equal parts hilarious, inspiring, motivating, and pretty damn transformational. There isn’t a guided run program around like it.

Step 2: Today is always the day.

There is no such thing as the right time to get started. Not next Monday. Not next month. Not in the new year. TODAY is always the day.

Why?

Because the only thing we really have any semblance of control over is right now.

That’s why we PLAN for speed bumps and set backs. We anticipate imperfect training because anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Running isn’t about being perfect. It’s not about getting a training plan and following it perfectly. We want you to take “SHOULD” out of your vocabulary and figure out why you want to. Even when you hate it.

Ask yourself why you want to get started and why you want to lace up for that run. What are the feelings you’re working towards? Is it a sense of accomplishment? To blow off some steam? Do you need some alone time? Or do you just want to listen to a book on tape, podcast, playlist, or be alone with your thoughts?

On those days when you feel yourself wanting to stop, remember why you want to make it happen today. It’s ok if you don’t want to run. I just want you to flesh that statement out with what getting it done will do for you.

Example: “I don’t want to run but I’m feeling anxious and I know I’ll feel a tiny bit better after I’m done.” Something like that. Ask yourself why. Flesh out the rest of this sentence, “I don’t want to run but…” and remember: Today is always the day.

Step 3: Don’t worry about perfect gear.

Will a good pair of running shoes or a really good sports bra help make running less miserable? YES, but don’t wait until you have them to get started. Don’t over-complicate it. Start with what you have. I promise you that what you have is good enough.

Step 4: Don’t worry about doing it wrong.

Ignorance is bliss gang. I mean it. Lean into that ignorance! It’s the best part about being a new runner! Don’t stress about doing it right or what you’re doing wrong. Don’t worry about understanding all the new words or feeling like you don’t know enough. Just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

Will doing strength work help prevent injuries? YES. So will doing some dynamic stretching. But don’t get overwhelmed. DO YOUR BEST and keep showing up.

Running is a learn by doing kind of sport and being a beginner is a huge gift. Just put your curiosity googles on and focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

Step 5: Stop before you think you should.

Less is more when you’re first getting started. ESPECIALLY if you’re returning to running after time off or recovering from an injury.

Some days, coach Kelly’s free become a runner training plan may leave you feeling like you aren’t doing enough. ESPECIALLY in the beginning. That’s on purpose! Think about it, it can be discouraging to bite off more than you can chew. The last thing we want is you focusing on how much of a struggle your run was. That’s why starting from where you are and leaving you wanting more is the secret to starting or restarting running and actually enjoying it.

We want you to want to keep going! Patience is the name of the game gang. Running is all about slowly building strength and endurance.

Less is more.

Follow those 5 steps and you’ll be running before you know it! Just remember, progress isn’t linear. It’s ok if it takes more than 8-weeks to complete the program. There is no right or wrong way to get started. Just keep showing up. Give yourself your personal best and there’s no way you can fail.