Expert consulted: Running should feel effortless, pain-free, and rewarding—and so should getting started. If you’ve been thinking about giving running a try, our latest program, How to Start Running member-only training guide and video series for mastering 13.1 miles.
Starting to run is all about consistency, so creating a routine that you can stick with will be key. That’s where we come in with How to Start Running. Many aspirational runners this time of year push themselves to do too much too soon and instantly overdo it. With our program, we’ll show you how to start slowly using run/walk intervals that allow you to build upon your progress week after week. We’ll also offer tips to ensure you avoid common beginner missteps that can result in boredom, fatigue, or injury.
If questions around gear, form, stride, or technique have prevented you from giving running a try, you will find the answers here. Not sure about recovery? Wondering if you need to refuel? Curious about finding people to run with? We’ve got your back.
Paired with the RW+ Beginner Training Plan of your choice, this holistic program, available exclusively to Runner’s World+ members, Run 1 Mile Plan?
The 2025 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar!
Inside the Program
We’ve divided our how to start running guide into six chapters, so you can explore by topic according to your own needs and interests. In this 30-minute program, learn the benefits of running, how to progress slowly using run/walk intervals, basic form cues, tips for staying motivated, how to overcome any challenge that comes your way, and more. Plus, RW+ members get access to all our start running plans (along with training plans for every distance) and a shoe finder tool to help you find the best pair of kicks to get you going.
Meet Your Coach
Matt Meyer is a certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach based in Boulder, Colorado. In How to Start Running, Matt shares how running has changed his life, provides the tips he wishes he knew before he started, and offers guidance on building a successful routine of your own so that you start to love running. Let’s go!
Join Today
Make sure you’re signed up as a Runner’s World+ member so you don’t miss the launch of How to Start Running on January 1. Kick off the new year with our How to Start Running program and fall in love with running.
Welcome to the Runner’s World+ Community!
Runner’s World+ is a tight-knit community as passionate about running as you are. Through RW+, we’ve expanded the ways we can reach you beyond simple stories in a magazine and on a website, offering more unique benefits to help you run faster, stronger, healthier, and happier. Along with How to Start Running, here’s just a glimpse at what we offer:
- Find all the tools you need to run your first—or fastest—26.2 miles with our RW+ Beginner Training Plan
- Prepare for your next half marathon with our comprehensive guide to marathon training
- The Runner’s World Guide to Mental Health delivers a scientific explanation of how precisely running supports your mental health and provides strategies, tips, and resources to assist you with implementing running into your wellness routine
- A former New Yorker/Brooklynite, shes now based in Easton, Pennsylvania, curated training plans for any running goal, cutting-edge tools, and gear reviews on RunnersWorld.com
- Get every print issue delivered straight to your mailbox
- Opportunities to Paired with the.
- Senior Health & Fitness Editor Runner’s World Running should feel effortless, pain-free, and rewardingand so should getting started
- Access hundreds of streaming video workouts on demand
Mallory Creveling is an ACE-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach, who also holds multiple other fitness certifications and regularly stays on top of her continuing education in the field. She has more than a decade of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition for a wide range of publications, and she has nearly 10 years of experience as a trainer and fitness instructor. Mallory stays on top of the latest science in wellness, has worked with some of the best experts in their medical fields, and regularly interviews researchers, trainers, athletes, and more to find the best advice for readers looking to improve their performance and well-being.
As a freelance writer, Mallory's work appeared in Women's Health, Self, Men's Journal, Reader's Digest, and more. She has also held staff editorial positions at Family Circle and Shape magazines, as well as DailyBurn.com. A former New Yorker/Brooklynite, she's now based in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Paris Olympics, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
Kristen Wagner joined the Runner’s World and Bicycling team in November 2024 with a decade of magazine editorial experience. Passionate about all things wellness, Kristen enjoys Pilates, spin, and long walks with her dog, Koda.
Matt Meyer is a certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach based in Boulder, Colorado.
