There are many reasons to take up running, and most people won’t be too focused on times when they take those first steps on the road to fitness. Once bitten by the bug, though, getting faster over the longer distances will almost certainly play on your mind. 

Whether quicker times become your addiction or something you’d like to achieve alongside targets, these five tips are sure to have a big impact.

Find Your Motivation

Whether preparing for your first 5k or your 10th marathon, incentivising yourself is crucial. One of the best ways to do this is to raise money for a cause that’s close to your heart. This will undoubtedly give you the extra motivation needed to keep training even when the weather’s not great or you can’t be bothered. More importantly, the money you raise will feel like an even bigger reward than knocking 5 minutes off of your 10k time.

Find The Right Attire 

Looking good makes you feel good, and those mental benefits can actively boost your run times. Crucially, it’s imperative that you feel comfortable during those long runs. Otherwise, the negative influences will show in your run times. Similarly, poor clothing choices will stop you gaining the marginal gains you seek. On a separate note, getting into the routine of wearing the right clothes and getting into a comfortable situation should help you get in the zone.

Find A Winning Playlist

Some runners may find that the atmosphere of race day means the music isn’t needed. During the training months, though, the right beats will drive you on to greatness. When you train better, it will inevitably result in better run times on race days too. There are plenty of Spotify playlists built for runners. Alternatively, you can quickly build a list of your favourite tracks on iTunes. Use this to aid your pacing, and the run times will fall while the enjoyment rises.

Reduce Injury Threats

If you seriously want to be a good runner, it’s vital to take your general health into account. Hydration and nutrition are important, but you also need to treat your muscles. After all, you won’t see any improvements if you’re out of action. Investing in yoga mats and adding a few basic stretches to your daily routine will work wonders. When supported by warming up, warming down, and adequate rest, you will pick up fewer injuries. This can only aid the case. 

Enjoy Other Sports

Running is a central focus in many different sporting activities, and adding those games to your routines will mix things up. Moreover, working muscles beyond the core groups used for running will make you a stronger runner too. Combine a handful of runs each week with a few additional sporting activities to truly unlock the benefits of a healthier body. In turn, this should aid acceleration, pace, and stamina in one fell swoop.

The right routines won’t suddenly turn you into an Olympic standard runner, but will go a long way to unlocking your full potential. Right now, that’s all you can ask for.