Food

     Besides the basic "get enough sleep, stretch, drink lots of water, and wear proper shoes" phrases that are constantly drilled at you when complaining about a poor run, consider what you're eating along with all of those other things.
     In my past posts I have mentioned the way food plays a role in my own running experience personally, but not in detail or depth. Runners typically don't pay attention to what they eat. Not every runner, but most. They're fit, and they think they can burn it all off in their running. Maybe that's true. But eating absolutely anything you want can hinder your performance.
     Keeping your diet basic is really important if you're looking to boost your running performance. That means sticking to fruits, veggies, and whole grain foods. The minerals and vitamins that come with those foods help to replenish the injuries you create while running, assist the recovery from your workout, and adapt to your running form and technique so that you can run better and with less pain.
     If you were to ask me, I would tell you to opt away from processed foods. It's really hard living in America to do that. We're surrounded by processed foods. If you're in high school and can't leave for lunch, you don't really have a choice. When given the choice, though, go for the natural and healthy products. It'll make more of a difference than you think.