Running gives me a feeling of freedom. My heart is beating fast, the landscape is ever-changing and my body produces adrenaline. I feel happy. Lots of people want to run, especially now but don't know where to start. Here some simple tips on how to get started.
First of all, running might not be your sport and that is OK. There is no right or wrong in what sport is good for you. You need to choose and it needs to feel right. So if you want to try and come to the conclusion it is not for you then surely there is something else.
When we walk through parks, we see those really fast, sporty looking runners. Do we need to look like them to get started? No. First about clothing. There is absolutely no rule what you should wear. Wear any sweatpants that you can find in your wardrobe, and the same applies to a t-shirt. You can always gear up if you come to the point where you love it. Those runners wear that stuff because honestly, it makes you feel look good and fast. At some point, it makes sense if you go for long-distance as certain cloth dry faster when you sweat and if they are tighter, there is less resistance through the wind. For the start, it is not important.
The only piece of gear that is important are the shoes. If possible get a good pair of running shoes. This is not just marketing, the shoes support your joints, especially when running on tarmac and make sure that you don't get injured. There are lots of options and best is to try them on and see which ones suit you best. No one can really recommend a brand because everyone's feet and body vary. In a good running shop, they will make you try roughly three pairs to compare. You will run on a treadmill because they can analyze your running style by observing your footfall which can be neutral (basically straight on the ground), or falling inwards or outwards. According to this, they'll recommend a shoe for you with certain cushioning. Shoes can be expensive but if you have the means to buy some, it is worth the money. There are options to get discounts, e.g. bring an old pair of running shoes and get some money off. I am sure there is an old pair somewhere in the basement? Or in those boxes from the last move you never unpacked?
Running with or without music? It is up to you. Running should make you feel good, not bad. If music is helping you, go for it. Just be safe when crossing from one side of the street to the other and make sure you can hear cars approaching. What music if you decide to listen to music? Whatever you love. I listen to upbeat music when running, like house or electro. In case you have a Spotify account, there are ready-made playlists dedicated to running.
Do I need a smart-watch or an app to go running? No! If you already have a smartwatch, great you can use it to check how far you've gone and much more. But to get started there is no necessity to buy one. As before you can always gear up if you fall in love with running. I have a Fitbit which requires me to take my phone also as it doesn't run without the GPS signal from the phone, but I am OK with that as I want to listen to music anyway. Lots of runners have Apple watches, Garmins or Polar watches. This is a personal choice and when you just get started, not really important. Do you need a running app? You don't. You can just put on your running gear and get going. Some apps are super fun because you know after how far you've run, how fast and if other runners ran there before you. I use Strava and I love it but it is not a starting requirement. You are fine to start without an app or a watch. Running can get very technical, but it is basically like in 1994.
People said I don't know how to run properly. Remember when we were kids and we just ran? It's like that. Do what feels good. There is no right or wrong about how to place your foot. Everyone's body is different and our running styles vary. It is perfectly fine to get started by walking faster than you usually would. Maybe think of a train you need to catch and walk as fast as possible to catch it. Your arms can support your movement. Just swing them with you on your sides and they will fall into a natural rhythm. Just try to forget others and get going. Even the best runners, had a day one and weren't sure about how things work. Just do it for yourself and forget others around you. People usually are too busy looking into their phones anyway, so don't worry about it and just do what feels right.
How far do I need to go? Whatever feels right. Five minutes is more than zero. 500 meters is more than zero meters. You can go around the block and come back or go to your local park and do a loop there. There is no set distance you need to accomplish. If you really get into it, there are programs for example from couch to 5k. For the start, find out if you like it. In regards to speed, it is the same thing. You can always go faster but don't pressure yourself. See how you feel and it is perfectly fine to start slow, go faster, slow down again and speed up again.
All of this sounds like try and error and that is what it is. This article is not supposed to share the best running techniques. It is just about putting shoes on and give it a try. There are always possibilities to improve but today we start.
 |
| Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash |
First of all, running might not be your sport and that is OK. There is no right or wrong in what sport is good for you. You need to choose and it needs to feel right. So if you want to try and come to the conclusion it is not for you then surely there is something else.
In short, if you want to get started now the only things you need are a pair of sweatpants (any is good really), a t-shirt, running shoes and somewhere to go. You've got that? Put your gear on and off you go!
When we walk through parks, we see those really fast, sporty looking runners. Do we need to look like them to get started? No. First about clothing. There is absolutely no rule what you should wear. Wear any sweatpants that you can find in your wardrobe, and the same applies to a t-shirt. You can always gear up if you come to the point where you love it. Those runners wear that stuff because honestly, it makes you feel look good and fast. At some point, it makes sense if you go for long-distance as certain cloth dry faster when you sweat and if they are tighter, there is less resistance through the wind. For the start, it is not important.
The only piece of gear that is important are the shoes. If possible get a good pair of running shoes. This is not just marketing, the shoes support your joints, especially when running on tarmac and make sure that you don't get injured. There are lots of options and best is to try them on and see which ones suit you best. No one can really recommend a brand because everyone's feet and body vary. In a good running shop, they will make you try roughly three pairs to compare. You will run on a treadmill because they can analyze your running style by observing your footfall which can be neutral (basically straight on the ground), or falling inwards or outwards. According to this, they'll recommend a shoe for you with certain cushioning. Shoes can be expensive but if you have the means to buy some, it is worth the money. There are options to get discounts, e.g. bring an old pair of running shoes and get some money off. I am sure there is an old pair somewhere in the basement? Or in those boxes from the last move you never unpacked?
Running with or without music? It is up to you. Running should make you feel good, not bad. If music is helping you, go for it. Just be safe when crossing from one side of the street to the other and make sure you can hear cars approaching. What music if you decide to listen to music? Whatever you love. I listen to upbeat music when running, like house or electro. In case you have a Spotify account, there are ready-made playlists dedicated to running.
Do I need a smart-watch or an app to go running? No! If you already have a smartwatch, great you can use it to check how far you've gone and much more. But to get started there is no necessity to buy one. As before you can always gear up if you fall in love with running. I have a Fitbit which requires me to take my phone also as it doesn't run without the GPS signal from the phone, but I am OK with that as I want to listen to music anyway. Lots of runners have Apple watches, Garmins or Polar watches. This is a personal choice and when you just get started, not really important. Do you need a running app? You don't. You can just put on your running gear and get going. Some apps are super fun because you know after how far you've run, how fast and if other runners ran there before you. I use Strava and I love it but it is not a starting requirement. You are fine to start without an app or a watch. Running can get very technical, but it is basically like in 1994.
 |
| Thanks to Architecturedesign |
People said I don't know how to run properly. Remember when we were kids and we just ran? It's like that. Do what feels good. There is no right or wrong about how to place your foot. Everyone's body is different and our running styles vary. It is perfectly fine to get started by walking faster than you usually would. Maybe think of a train you need to catch and walk as fast as possible to catch it. Your arms can support your movement. Just swing them with you on your sides and they will fall into a natural rhythm. Just try to forget others and get going. Even the best runners, had a day one and weren't sure about how things work. Just do it for yourself and forget others around you. People usually are too busy looking into their phones anyway, so don't worry about it and just do what feels right.
How far do I need to go? Whatever feels right. Five minutes is more than zero. 500 meters is more than zero meters. You can go around the block and come back or go to your local park and do a loop there. There is no set distance you need to accomplish. If you really get into it, there are programs for example from couch to 5k. For the start, find out if you like it. In regards to speed, it is the same thing. You can always go faster but don't pressure yourself. See how you feel and it is perfectly fine to start slow, go faster, slow down again and speed up again.
All of this sounds like try and error and that is what it is. This article is not supposed to share the best running techniques. It is just about putting shoes on and give it a try. There are always possibilities to improve but today we start.
Comments
Post a Comment