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As an ENFP, I have low extroverted sensing (Se). In other words, I’m clumsy. Movement of any form is not my strong suit. I enjoy moving my body, mind you, but when I attempt to sports, it looks anything but coordinated. That’s because it is uncoordinated. And, unsurprisingly, this tendency to flail about ones extremities and hope for the best comes hand-in-hand with an almost super-human ability to trip over pretty much anything: tree roots, pebbles, one’s own feet…. I swear, one time a dog just looked at me funny and I tripped!

As unbelievable as it may seem though, at the time of writing this post, I have been running regularly multiple times per week for several years, and, remarkably, with nary an injury. Thus, I have begun my noble pursuit to help kindred spirits like you along your journey, and therefore present to you my ENFP’s step-by-step guide to running:

Step 1: Avoid at all cost! Abstinence is the key to avoid sports-ing related injuries. However, if you find that you have enough ouchies as is so you may as well risk it, or your doctor keeps holding the looming threat of diabetes over your head, please move on to the next step.

Step 2: When you attempt running, move one foot in front of the other quite similar to walking (assuming you’ve mastered that discipline). Now, to upgrade your walk to a run, push off the ground more forcefully with your hind leg, to achieve a short lived flight-like state before the front leg touches down on the ground. Repeat at each step.

Step 3: Lift your feet high! Most tripping-related injuries stem from dragging our feet too close to the ground, thus allowing contact between the shoe and the obstacle during the flight-like state of running. This should be avoided at all cost: think of the ground as your great-aunt Millie, the one who always kisses you on the mouth at family gatherings: make contact for as short a time as possible, and then stay out of her sight until it’s time to leave.

Step 4: Move your arms in a counter-motion to your legs: when your left leg moves forward past your hip, jot your right arm forward, and your left arm backwards toward your right leg. Should this step require a diagram to aid correct execution, please let me know in the comments below. Ideally, your arms should move in the same rhythm as your feet.

Step 5: When stopping is desirable, decrease the ferocity with which the hind leg pushes off the ground gradually, until the run has been demoted into a walk again. Only then, stop as per usual at your earliest convenience.

Notice that each step should be practiced in isolation before trying to combine them with each other. As a top-tip, I recommend mastering step 5 early in your progress, to avoid being caught in an unstoppable loop, endlessly running around the block…. Optimal running is achieved once all steps can be performed concurrently. However, to not be surprised if you have to remind yourself of each of the steps before a run. Also, it is not uncommon for ENFP’s to encounter difficulties when combining various steps:I mean, as soon as you start thinking about moving your arms, your legs just start flailing about in an uncontrolled fashion, am I right? Therefore, be diligent in mastering these steps both in isolation and combination, patience is key here. 

For all of those who thought these steps were obvious, and who were hoping for more advanced running tips: What are you doing here? Clearly this post is not for you, get out and find yourself a blog entitled “Chads be running — an ESTP’s guide to master the craft” or something. Seriously….

For all of those who thought these tips were helpful: you are welcome! Enjoy your journey, because you can run too!