Common mistakes new runners make and how to avoid them

Running experts and coaches share their best advice for avoiding these common pitfalls. Running can be remarkably simple and impressively complex. It’s perhaps the most intuitive form of exercise , but taking the first step can be intimidating.

The pandemic birthed a running boom that is still going strong: run clubs are becoming more popular, and many major road races are setting registration records. If you’re thinking about joining the crowd, there’s a lot you can learn from the missteps of runners who came before you. The New York Times asked running experts and coaches about the most common mistakes they see in new runners and their advice for combating them to build a sustainable running routine.



Pace yourself, don’t race yourself.