realiTEE

I’ve always loved self-care, but self-care has its own specific image. The moment you even say ‘self-care‘, a picture of a bubble bath, face masks and spa days come to mind, but as I continue to focus on my manifestation journey in 2024, I’ve become more aware of self-love practices and tried to find ways in which I can cultivate self-love in every part of my life, and that always means running. While running is a powerful physical and mental practice, it can also form part of your self-care journey by providing a way to connect with yourself on a deeper level.
Today, I wanted to share five key ways I cultivate self-love while hitting the pavement:

1. Practicing self-compassion: Running can sometimes push us to our limits, both physically and mentally. It’s important to be kind to yourself during this process. Instead of focusing on that voice telling you you’re not a runner, you’re not going fast enough, practice self-compassion. Remember that it’s okay to have bad runs or slow days. Treat yourself with the kindness and understanding you would offer a friend.
2. Set boundaries: While running is a great way to challenge yourself, it’s still essential to set boundaries to protect your well-being. Pay attention to your body and mind during runs. If you feel overwhelmed or in pain, it’s okay to slow down, take a break, or stop altogether. Setting boundaries is a form of self-respect and self-care; if you walk some of it, the run still counts.
3. Self-care: Running is a demanding activity that can take a toll on your body. Finding ways to prioritise self-care during and after your runs is incredibly important, and you can tailor this to your own likes and needs. This includes proper hydration, nutrition, stretching, and rest. Treat yourself to a post-run ritual that makes you feel good: a warm bath, a nourishing meal, or a relaxing massage. For me, this looks like a powerful shower, a good body scrub, followed by loads of my favourite body moisturiser, face mask, a foot rub and lots of my favourite foot cream.
4. Build self-trust: Running is a great way to build self-trust and self-confidence. Every time you set out for a run, you’re making a commitment to yourself and following through on it (don’t forget about your boundaries, though; it still counts even if you adjust your plan while you’re out on the run because something doesn’t feel right on that day). As you progress in your running journey, you’ll develop a sense of trust in your ability and resilience. Trusting yourself is a crucial aspect of anyone’s self-love journey.
5. Celebrate: Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your running milestones or every run. It doesn’t matter how big or small. Whether you’ve completed your first 5k or set a new personal best, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate however you want. Personally, I celebrate surviving every long run with a coffee and pastry, this week I went one better & strategically finished our run near a bakery serving up hot cross bun ice cream sandwiches. Celebrating your successes will boost your confidence, motivation, and overall sense of self-worth.

Starting out on a self-love journey is really difficult as it takes so much focus to see your cycles, and you need to be present to break the cycle; focusing on these practices while running has been one big game changer for me, and I really hope by sharing this it helps someone else out there on their journey as well. Remember that self-love is a journey, and running can be a powerful tool to support you along the way. So lace up your shoes, hit the road, and embrace each run as an opportunity to nurture your relationship with yourself.

Don’t forget to leave a comment and tell me your favourite way to practice self-love while running.