Great Report : slow AF Running star just announced divorce and including the……
And organizers with the London Marathon say they received a record amount of ballot applications for the 2025 race.
But with running’s increased popularity, there are also questions about how inclusive the sport is for beginners.
Eight-time marathoner Martinus Evans says he didn’t always feel welcomed in the sport.
Evans, who goes by @300poundsandrunning on Instagram, said someone shouted, “You’re slow as f—” when he was running the 2018 New York City Marathon.
Evans said the words made him feel angry but inspired.
“Once I finished the race I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to do something to prove him wrong,’” he said.
After that interaction, he created the Slow AF Run Club, an online “inclusive running community for every pace” with now more than 25,000 members.
And more recently, he wrote and published the part-memoir, part-manual “Slow A-F Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run.”
“One of the things I hope people take away from this book is that they can do it, they can run,” Evans said.
“This book and my story is really about proving the odds wrong and letting you know you can do anything in your body,” he said. “All you have to do is get up and start.”
Evans’ tips for beginner runners:
“It’s you versus your mind”
“First thing we have to do is train our mind to let ourselves know that we’re a runner,” Evans said. “Look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m a runner.’”
“Get some good shoes”
Evans said invest in a pair of running shoes. For help in choosing the right shoe and fit, he recommends visiting Fleet Feet.
“Start out slow”
Evans recommends starting with a simple interval and repeating it several times, such as running for 90 seconds and then walking for 90 seconds. “Start there and see if you need to go further or pull it back,” he said.
Body Glide
“One of the things I wish I would’ve known when I first started running was this product called Body Glide,” Evans said, referring to the brand name of an anti-chafe balm. “It will prevent what I call the chafe monster: you’re out there running and then you take a hot shower and feel like you’ve been cut by a thousand blades.”
For some people, the idea of lacing up their shoes and heading out on a run is a much-loved solo experience. For others, however, running isn’t about solitude — it’s a social experience. Enter run clubs, which are soaring in popularity all over the globe.
It’s a simple concept: Run clubs are organized groups that meet in order to hit the pavement together. Sometimes these groups train for marathons or other races together, but for many, these clubs are just a fun way to get some exercise.
So … should you join a run club? Here’s why you might want to consider it, from people who love them.
You’ll connect with a running community — no matter your level
Run clubs aren’t just about running — they can also be safe spaces to explore other kinds of communities. The Philadelphia-based group Recovery Run Club offers those dealing with addiction issues a safe space. The Badass Lady Gang, which has run clubs all over the United States and Canada, focuses on building women friendships and body positivity. Besties Run Club, based in Los Angeles, has its home base at a vegan grocer and engages its club in a variety of community activities. (Most importantly, it offers free dairy-free soft-serve to runners
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