And like anything fun, running is best enjoyed with a friend. This form of exercise certainly has its highs and lows (literally, hills) but a running buddy can help you keep your pace regardless. Whether it’s that motivational text that gets you up off the couch and into your running gear, fresh from Zappos’ Running Shop, or enjoying a post-run meal together, an accountabili-buddy is the best way to keep the pep in your step. And if you’re looking for proof—just check out what the Harlem Run club is up to! Harlem Run club running buddies Lisa Rivera and J.D. Davis, featured in this article, know that a little company and fresh gear can go a long way (shop their full looks here!). So find yourself a cardio compadre and get motivated together with these five tips: “Start where you are and create short-term goals, like today [and the next few days] you will walk for 10 minutes. Next week you will try to run and walk for 15 minutes. The following month you might want to increase to 20 minutes of running straight and so forth… Just start where you are.” And how does Rivera recover from her runs? “Foam rolling is so important,” she describes. “I have yet to meet a runner who loves foam rolling, but we accept that it is needed to be preventive. Thinking long term will help with preventing some injuries and/or making them worse.” Devon’s first book, Earth Women, is coming soon. To learn more, join the mailing list, and receive updates, head to www.devonbarrowwriting.com.
