Base running skills are important even before you get to first base.

On the third or fourth stride out of the box...

Glance once at the infielders. It's at that point that you'll know whether your ball has cleared the infield or else you face a close play at 1st base. Glance only once, and from then on until you reach the bag, your head and eyes should be on the base and your 1st base coach.

Important: always run outside the foul line in the 3' wide runner's lane no matter where or how far you hit the ball, even if the line is not marked. If the hit's a good one and there's a chance that you might take second base, you should know this by the time you're two-thirds to 1st base. How? By watching for the coach to signal "straight through" or "take a turn". If he gives no sign, just motor straight through. Either way, by staying outside the line, you avoid interfering with the throw to first, or your lined up for the turn to second.