Running – How, Where, Why, When

Scott Andrew Birdby Scott Andrew Bird | December 2, 2008
Filed in Articles , Running , featured


Girlwith Noname
Girlwith Noname.
This is a guest post by fitness-obsessed Girlwith Noname - Running – How, Where, Why, When Enjoy.

Are you a runner? Perhaps not? Do you want to become a runner? There’s definitely a technique to doing so and making it enjoyable at the same time.

As a self-professed fitness junkie, I do many things to stay fit, but first and foremost I’m a runner. I’ve been a runner for the majority of my adult life but I can remember what it felt like to be just starting out. Running actually helped me quit smoking. The day I quit smoking was the day I started running. I didn’t make it far, and I didn’t try to go fast. These are the two biggest tips I can give anyone who is interested in becoming a runner. Start small, and start slow. Very slow.

I find that the biggest obstacle a beginner encounters when trying to become a runner is treating their run like it’s a race right off the bat. The best thing to do, rather than trying to get somewhere fast is to get somewhere comfortably, but at a constant pace. If you have to start out at a brisk walk, then so be it. When I started out I was able to stay at a running pace only 1 city block. However, the next day I was able to make it two city blocks. The trick is to slowly build up the distance you can do before succumbing to exhaustion. Don’t race, just find your comfortable pace and control your breathing (three steps for one breath in, three steps for one breath out worked best for me when I was a beginner).

Once you’ve built up your endurance levels to the distance you’ve set as your goal, then it’s the time to start testing your speed. But until then, just get where you’re going comfortably, and have fun! Enjoy the ride! I often think of my endurance runs as “going for a ride on my legs.” I turn off my brain and just enjoy the scenery and the ride!

I now run 7 - 8km when I’m doing my endurance runs and am able to go much farther when my schedule allows for longer runs. I have discovered that if I run long enough, eventually my body will feel like it has turned to rubber and I can just go and go and go without any effort at all (seemingly).

The bonuses to becoming a runner are numerous, but include better cardiovascular health and (at least for me personally) better state of mind (its true what they say about runner’s high).

Good luck!
Jackie

Girlwith Noname is a confirmed fitness junkie, enjoying everything from light cardio to serious weight-training. Find out more over on her blog.

If you'd like to write a guest post for Straight to the Bar, let us know.



Enjoy this post? You'll love the newsletter.

In the meantime, here are a few others you might like :



Discussion

I'd love to hear what you think. Pop over to the forums and share your opinion. See you there.