Postpartum Running Guide: 10 Tips for a Strong and Healthy Running Comeback
Whether you’re running in just a few months after delivery or a few years these tips will help you find your way back to a running groove.
June 4th is Global Running Day! Are you ready to celebrate?
What the heck is Global Running Day? It’s simply a day to immerse in the joy, fun, health, and community of running. All you have to do is lace up your shoes and go for a run, but it can be much more than that if you’re game. There are numerous Global Running Day fun runs around the U.S. on Wednesday (and some brand promotions), but it’s all centered around the simplicity of going for a run.
Global Running Day has been celebrated on the first Wednesday of June since 2016 (and several years prior to that when it was called National Running Day) as a way to get people running — no matter if you’re already an avid runner, a newcomer or novice, a lapsed runner getting back into it, or someone who has never run a step in your life.
Where can you get involved? There are hundreds of free local fun runs planned at running stores around the U.S., including more than 100 hosted by Fleet Feet stores. Known as The Big Run events, Fleet Feet and Brooks are hosting 5K runs for runners of all paces at running shops across the country — speedsters, casual joggers, lifelong runners, first-timers, walkers, stroller-pushing runners — and will have a variety of post-run celebrations, giveaways, and even “a few surprises.”
The Boston Athletic Association is hosting a 3-mile run around the Charles River, starting at 5:15 p.m. from Christian Herter Park in Brighton, where runners can learn about the BAA Running Club, talk to club coaches, and take photos with the Boston Marathon Champion’s Trophy. Also in Boston, Hoka is hosting a GRD fun run at Marathon Sports at 6:30 p.m.
The New York Road Runners, which has been behind Global Running Day since its inception, is organizing numerous Open Run events in and around New York City, as well as a virtual run no matter where you live, while the World Marathon Majors is hosting its own virtual 4-mile Global Running Day Challenge.
Also in New York, Peloton — a brand that built an empire of indoor fitness — will host an outdoor Peloton Run Club event at 6 p.m. from its Peloton Studios New York. Led by Peloton instructors Alex Karwoski and Matt Wilpers, it will include an out-and-back 5K run along the Hudson River Greenway, followed by a post-run social on the Plaza level of Peloton’s indoor training studio. (Peloton is hosting a similar outdoor run from its studio in London.)
“I strongly believe in the power of ‘shared suffering’ — and while that may sound a bit dramatic (trust your instincts), the idea of emotional momentum where the group can carry you when your own willpower might start to slip slightly is real,” Karwoski said. “Plus, having other people that you will ‘be there’ for — the accountability booster — adds another layer of commitment. While running can be considered a somewhat solo endeavor, when you have the opportunity to run with other people, you start to turn that solitude into solidarity.”
The Running Industry Diversity Coalition has teamed up with Hoka to create a virtual Global Running Day celebration that encourages everyone to run or walk 5 miles and share their experiences on social media. (The RIDC is celebrating its fifth anniversary of advancing inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the running and outdoor spaces.) Plus, its hosting Global Running Day Bingo and will be giving away a lot of RIDC and Hoka swag. The Exchange Running Collective in Nashville, Tennessee, will host a fun run, then engage a discussion about diversity and inclusion with local running leaders and special guest Jordan Marie Whetstone.
There are numerous other independent Global Running Day events around the country, including an early morning scavenger hunt run at Atlanta’s Big Peach Running Company, an evening fun run in Austin, Texas, from Central Machine Works Brewery that features Hoka, On and Mizuno demos and giveaways, post-run pizza, beer, and even electrolyte Jell-O shots. There is also a Rise ‘n’ Run event along the lakeshore in Chicago, a fun run in Portland, Oregon, that encourages participants to wear super hero costumes, and several fun runs at Fit 2 Run shops across Florida with big gear giveaways.
There’s a Global Running Day evening fun run with the Midnight Runners at the Sports Basement store in San Francisco, while across the city A Runner’s Mind will offer a morning that will include a trash pick-up run in Burlinggame sponsored by On and an evening fun run from San Francisco Brewing Co. sponsored by Hoka. There are a lot of brewpub fun runs planned for Wednesday,, including an event coinciding with the Colorado Brewery Running Series at Prost Brewing Company in suburban Denver, one at Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, and another at Crooked Culture Brewing in Cumming, Georgia.
One of the biggest Global Running Day events will be held in Tempe, Arizona, where several running clubs will gather at Hundred Mile Brewing for a free fun run with Nike demos, and a post-race party. The BlacklistLA running club will be hosting five runs throughout the Los Angeles area with Lululemon, and any runner who completes four of the five runs will get a special gift.
Houston’s Body Art Run Club will host a fun run Hermann Park and will have a post-run DJ with a BBQ, free T-shirts and hats, and other giveaways, while the Salt Lake City Running Company is hosting a big GRD festival at Sugarhouse Park that will include a fun run, a running brand bingo game, and post-fun refreshments.
When it comes to brands, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is launching a 24-hour sale race registration sale on Wednesday, and Clash Endurance will open up registration for its 2026 Daytona Beach Half Marathon & 5K (a race held next February 7 at Daytona International Speedway).
Rabbit, the apparel partner of Team Milk’s Every Woman’s Marathon (November 16 in Scottsdale, Arizona), has unveiled this year’s limited-edition training kit. A press release says the Every Woman’s Marathon x rabbit Training Kit (pictured below) is “inspired by the bold beauty of the Scottsdale desert skyline,” with rich sunset hues, breathable fabrics, and performance-forward silhouettes.
Propel hydration brand is launching a new electrolyte drink product called Propel Energy Boost, which has 100mg of caffeine and 250mg of citicoline to fuel both body and mind. (To celebrate Global Running Day, free bottles of Propel Energy Boost will be available via Instacart starting June 2.) Meanwhile, OOFOS is celebrating the opening of its first retail stores in Arlington, Virginia, Buford, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida.
A skeptic might suggest Global Running Day is just a propped-up event to promote products and races — after all, isn’t every day a great day to celebrate running? But c’mon, it’s still a great excuse to engage in your local running community.
Here are six more simple ways you can celebrate Global Running Day on Wednesday:
You might not need a reason to go for a run, but use Global Running Day to lace up your kicks and run to your heart’s desire. No matter if you’re training for a half marathon or marathon, or only have time to squeeze in 20 or 30 minutes of running, you’ll be part of a worldwide movement of people out on a run that day.
Running alone can be an efficient and effective way to log your daily bout of fitness, but running with friends (or neighbors, co-workers, teammates, or family members) on a regular basis can help create accountability, raise your level of training, or create a fun social outlet to reduce the stress of exercising.
Now is a great time to sign up for a summer or fall race and start training toward that goal. It doesn’t matter if you’re aiming for your first race, your best race, or just your next race. Take it one step farther and follow a smart training plan from McMillan Running, which will get you to the start line healthy, fit and motivated.
We’re always inspired when we see stunning images of a trail runner pop up in our social media feed, but through a rainbow of wildflowers in Colorado, or the lush green landscapes of North Carolina isn’t something most of us can do every day. However, the real beauty of trail running is that most of us live close enough to a trail system or park that can offer some of the same elements of freedom and escape that those same epic adventures offer. Also, this Saturday is National Trails Day, which means there are plenty of ways to volunteer and help out a local trail system.
This week is a good time to start planning a bucket list running adventure. Have you been thinking about signing up for your first marathon? Or are you considering running an ultra-distance race? Ever wanted to run across the Grand Canyon? Run a marathon overseas? Compete in a mile road race? What about a 200-mile running relay along Kentucky’s famous Kentucky Bourdon Trail with some of your best running buddies? Get together with your running buddies and make plans to make it come to life!
Nope, I’m not paid by any shoe brands to say that. But I have always believed that happiness is a new pair of running shoes because of the opportunity and inspiration those new kicks can provide. There’s nothing more invigorating to me than lacing up a new pair of shoes that are clean, comfortable, and full of bouncy pep because they’re bound to bring dozens of moments with limitless potential. Investing into your health can get you out the door and into the global running community, so what are you waiting for? Happy Global Running Day!