Running Running is a great way to stay in shape. It's not only great for the body, but also for the mind. I run to work and feel ready for the day when I get there. After a busy and sometimes stressful day at work I run home and feel refreshed (although it doesn't help me sleep for the following couple of hours).
Among the great attributes to running are the fact that it's free, you're in control, you can take a friend, there's no opening hours and it's an excuse to get outdoors. That being said, you will usually have to contend with the weather. If your correctly dressed, this can be a fun part of the challenge. Whenever I suggest running to somebody they typically state that they "struggle to run for a bus!". The thing is, running is not a rare natural talent. Most people can run. If you haven't ran for a long time, you'll most likely find it difficult to start off with, but after a little practice, you'll be rapidly improving. I personally find that, when training correctly, you will rapidly improve for approximately six months after starting out. After this you will continue to improve, but it the rate will slow down and the boundaries will become harder to push. Of course this depends on your starting level of fitness. If you have a lot of weight that you'd like to lose and it's still shifting after six months, you will probably still see significant improvements in your training times and distances as you continue to become lighter and fitter at the same time. Getting Started
Don't Stop! At first, it's easy to get addicted to running (believe it or not!). You see yourself improving, you enjoy hitting the streets, you enjoy pushing yourself and achieving, you feel exhausted but triumphant. However, usually during the first weeks of running you come across your first injuries. The most common I see is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Despite being pretty painful and lasting a few days, it's not a serious injury. It's caused by over doing it, too much too soon. It takes the form of a dull aching pain in both of your legs, the result of lots of microscopic tares in your muscles. I suggest resting until the pain eases, usually three to five days, but some say a light jog will help to ease the pain.
The lesson here is don't do too much at once. If you're training for an event and you injure yourself, you could end up being under trained for the event. Break it up and take your rest days. If you're not injured, you can continue your training schedule and stay on target. Don't let an injury put you off. If you are injured, it is vital that you rest, but, it's easy for this rest to become a habit and for you to forget how much fun the running was. Once you feel you have recovered, get back out there and have a short tester run. If this feels fine knock it up a little next time. continue to do so until you're back where you left off. |