This advice might sound strange, but the best way to start a running program for a lot of people is to walk. That’s especially the case if you haven’t been active for the last few years or are overweight. I know, you bought a book on running. You want to run! But when it comes to starting a regular running routine, slow and steady is always going to win the race.
Now, I’m not going to lie to you: When you’re new to running, especially if you’ve been sedentary, running is going to hurt for awhile. Later I’ll explain how it should and shouldn’t hurt, but I wanted to get that out on the table from the get-go. You’re asking your body to do something that it’s not accustomed to. Initially, your body is going to protest. You’re going to be a little sore and, at first, a little more tired. Your body is going to protest really loudly if you overload it too much right off the bat. If you try to do too much too soon, the soreness and fatigue are going to be so great that you’re going to have stop for several days at a time. When you start again, you’ll be starting from scratch. Then you might feel as if you’re behind schedule and might overdo it that much more. Bad idea!
A better idea is acknowledging that you’re going to be sore and a little fatigued at first and doing what you can to minimize those inevitabilities. For a lot of people, that’s going to mean walking at first, then gradually introducing some bouts of easy running, and then gradually increasing the length of those bouts.
The biggest battle that all runners face is sticking with it. Even long-time runners can find it tough to find a routine that works for them. What’s most important at first is getting in the habit of exercising regularly. Erring on the side of caution when you start is going to help you to feel good enough to stick with it. As you become fitter, you’ll already have your exercise routine down and can progress toward more running. So get out the door and start walking. When doing so is comfortable for you, report back, and I’ll get going on making you a runner.
Now, I’m not going to lie to you: When you’re new to running, especially if you’ve been sedentary, running is going to hurt for awhile. Later I’ll explain how it should and shouldn’t hurt, but I wanted to get that out on the table from the get-go. You’re asking your body to do something that it’s not accustomed to. Initially, your body is going to protest. You’re going to be a little sore and, at first, a little more tired. Your body is going to protest really loudly if you overload it too much right off the bat. If you try to do too much too soon, the soreness and fatigue are going to be so great that you’re going to have stop for several days at a time. When you start again, you’ll be starting from scratch. Then you might feel as if you’re behind schedule and might overdo it that much more. Bad idea!
A better idea is acknowledging that you’re going to be sore and a little fatigued at first and doing what you can to minimize those inevitabilities. For a lot of people, that’s going to mean walking at first, then gradually introducing some bouts of easy running, and then gradually increasing the length of those bouts.
The biggest battle that all runners face is sticking with it. Even long-time runners can find it tough to find a routine that works for them. What’s most important at first is getting in the habit of exercising regularly. Erring on the side of caution when you start is going to help you to feel good enough to stick with it. As you become fitter, you’ll already have your exercise routine down and can progress toward more running. So get out the door and start walking. When doing so is comfortable for you, report back, and I’ll get going on making you a runner.
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