Mile a Day in May: tips on how to get started
Over 200 of you have taken the pledge, and now it begins: the Mile a Day in May challenge is here! All it takes is running or walking a mile every day of May. Speed doesn’t matter. Distance doesn’t matter. You can complete it outside or on a treadmill, with your running partners or by yourself. Any way you do it, we want to help set you up for success. If you’re new to running or need some tips to get back in action, take a look at our top tips below:
Don’t be overwhelmed; just start. With any goal we set, it can be very easy to stress about the achievement and get so nervous that you miss the goal before you even start. Take each day as its own separate goal. Each day is a new challenge, and a new chance for you to succeed.
Run or walk with others. Especially now that the CDC guidance states that vaccinated individuals can be together outside without masks, take advantage of that by completing your daily mile with friends or family. It will make the mile go by faster, and it will lessen your chances of hitting snooze on the morning alarm.
Put your mile in your daily calendar as a meeting. By setting aside time for your daily mile, you won’t have the extra excuse of not having time to complete your mile.
Post your mile to social media. By posting your mile to a post or story on social media, you’re allowing others to hold you accountable and also providing others with the extra bit of motivation they may need to complete their daily mile.
Don’t worry about pace or distance. Some days, you may feel like running the whole time. Other days may be walking days. Some days, you may feel strong and want to complete 3-4 miles. Other days you may struggle just to make it a mile. Don’t let those days where it’s a struggle get you down.
Plan ahead for weather. May in Louisville can hold unpredictable weather. If it’s going to be hot, rainy, or stormy, make sure you dress accordingly and keep yourself safe. Hot days may call for slower or lesser mileage. Don’t wait until the last minute to get in your mile if rain is on the way.
Have fun! Running or walking should always be fun. Complete your mile with joy and gratitude, for being able to exercise and being able to move. Any day with movement is a great day!
Reach out if you need help. We’re here to make this month a success for you, so don’t be afraid to reach out if you need advice or assistance along the way. You got this!