Beginner Runners
Many people think they cannot run, they have tried but failed. The main reason people fail is they don’t start off right. If we wanted to take up golf or tennis or football, we would probably get some lessons or coaching, and yet people do not have the same respect for running.
Learning how to run properly can make you a runner for life. The main reasons people who try running fail are; they take off too fast and then cannot maintain that pace; they run too far and then have trouble getting back; they have incorrect posture or wear the wrong shoes. Running like all sports requires some planning and training.
New runners need to start off slow, in fact as slow as you can run. It sounds silly but the slower you run the further you will go, the faster you run, you will lose your breath and then have to stop or walk.
Another common mistake for new runners is they walk too much. Many new runners start off running for a couple of minutes and then walking for 5 mins. You should run slowly for as long as you can and then when you need to stop, walk for one minute. One minute is plenty of time to get your breath back and start to run slowly again. If you walk too much you lose all the great running cardio fitness you built up, you need to be running more than you are walking to become a runner.
Many new runners think that the more they run the better, so they run everyday. You should never run everyday. Running is an intense exercise and the body likes to recover, so 48 hours between each run is ideal for you to fully recover and run again. The most common cause of injuries in runners are caused by running everyday or running too far each time they go out.
New runners should only increase their distances by 10% each week, or half a km a week. This way the body will adapt and the likelihood of injury is reduced.
If you do like to exercise daily, on the non run days you should walk, or cycle or swim, these are great alternatives to running.
Many people find running boring, but there are plenty of ways to get around that problem. Run in nice locations, Australia has the best scenic, safe running paths. Join a group; running groups are great because they run in safety and you will always find a running buddy at your level and pace.
Another way to make your running more fun and motivating is to train for an event. Australia has lots of good fun runs, ranging from 5km to marathon distances.
However, the best tip of all for new runners is to start off right. Lazy Runner Clubs are ideal for this; they teach people how to run in a fun, social way. They can give you ideas on posture, the right gear to wear, and set you on a safe program to reach your running goals. If you are looking to get into running or want to train for an event, Lazy Runner is the perfect start.