Become a student of the sport. Read biographies of great runners. Find a running message board that features knowledgeable (and ideally, nonabusive) runners. Why, you could even subscribe to the magazine I work for! It ruins none of the magic of self-discovery to learn that thousands of others have gone before you and experienced every challenge and joy that you have. Take advantage of the lessons others have drawn from their mistakes so that you don’t have to repeat them.