Running Help for the Total Beginner
Running can be a fantastic exercise and hobby. Not only does it help to keep our cardiovascular health in check, it can help to manage weight. It’s a very healthy hobby to have! Some beginners feel apprehensive about starting a running journey. If you do too, use these tips to help you get started:
See Your GP
If you feel very out of shape or you’re quite overweight, you should make an appointment with your GP before you start running. They’ll give you advice on what to do and what not to do judging by your current fitness levels.
Ease Yourself Into it
Getting into running will take a while. You might not get a newfound love for it right away; it may take weeks, or months. The important thing is that you don’t rush into it. Start off by doing a long walk first if you have to, slowly getting a little faster as you go each time.
Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to a hobby like this. You can only improve if you’re doing it regularly. Going just 2-3 times per week is better than going every day for a week and then skipping a week! Challenge yourself but don’t overdo it, or you could soon put yourself off.
Set Goals for Yourself
Setting yourself goals will keep you motivated and give you something to work towards. You could aim to do something as small as 1 mile to begin with, or even less. Whatever you feel comfortable with. You can then slowly do more and more until you’re running like a pro! You could focus on long distance running, or your running speeds. It’s totally up to you!
Trying Other Exercises
Other exercises can be beneficial to improve your running too. Doing bodyweight exercises will help you to feel stronger and fitter, which will in turn improve your running technique. A site called workoutbox.com could be the answer if you’re unsure of what exercises to do.
Keep a Record
Make sure you keep a record of your runs so you can see how far you’ve come. You’ll be able to compare different runs this way, and you’ll see just how much fitter you’re getting.
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Recruit a Friend
If you think you’ll struggle to do this alone, then recruit a friend who has the same kind of goals as you. This will help you to keep going, and you can both motivate one another when you’re feeling deflated.
Focus on Your Breathing
Breathing can be a problem when running. If you’re especially unfit, you might need to stop and catch your breath a few times. This is fine, as long as you’re doing something! However, making sure you have your breathing technique right will allow you to run further and more comfortably.
Warm Up and Cool Down
Warming up before a run could be a 5 minute walk before you begin to jog, for example. Never stretch before a run, as this can actually hinder your performance. Stretching should be performed after a run!
I hope this guide has given you some helpful advice. Good luck on your running journey!
