Training and Motivation Tips by Olympian Jeff Galloway www.runinjuryfree.com Olympian Jeff Galloway has coached over a million runners to their goals through his clinics, wonderful retreats, training programs, books and e-coaching.  Sign up for his free newsletter at www.JeffGalloway.com.

When paced correctly, running delivers the best attitude boost you can get. Sustain this by pacing yourself gently during the first mile or three. A well-paced run enhances vitality for the rest of the day.  Start each run at least 30 seconds a mile slower than you will run at the end. If you have a Run Walk Run strategy that is right for you on that day, it's possible to feel good after every run-even the marathon. Running is the best stress reliever I've found. Research shows that running tends to activate the conscious brain which over-rides the emotional subconscious brain and manages the negative and anxiety hormones during and after the run. Research shows that as runners get faster, their stride length shortens.  A quicker cadence is the mechanical key to faster running. The finishing of a run that is longer than you've run in the last 3 weeks can bestow a sense of achievement that is unique and empowering-due to positive brain circuits that are turned on. You can't run a long run too slowly or take too many walk breaks.  You'll get the same endurance based upon the distance covered.