• Get running. Put one foot in front of the other. Lace up your sneakers and get running, whether it’s on a treadmill, your favorite trail, or the sidewalk.

•  Sign up for a race. If you’re looking for a shorter distance, register for the Santa Monica Classic 5K or 10K in September. For a longer distance, choose the Pasadena Half Marathon in January. If you’re looking for a bigger event, sign up for the Los Angeles Marathon in March. To truly challenge yourself, run all three races!

•  Make a plan. Create goal posts for this plan along the way, checkpoints where you will stop to see the progress you’ve made. For a marathon training plan, run a half marathon six to eight weeks before the race to test yourself. When creating your plan, build in extra time and remember to expect the unexpected.

•  Try new things! Don’t be afraid to try a new workout location, a new type of running fuel, or a new pair of sneakers. Trying new things is a way to figure out what works and what doesn’t work, and you may find something that makes you stronger and faster.

•  Have the right mindset! Know you’ve done all you can. You have done the work, and now you get to reap the remembers. Think of how accomplished you will feel when you finish. If you put in the work now, race day will feel much easier.

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