Wanting to start a running program need some advice?
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First, congratulations on making a decision to start running. Running is a fantastic activity that almost anyone can do. You should probaly see a doctor first; tell him/her that you want to start running and get a full check up to make sure you're healthy enough.
Remember, running is hard on your feet, knees, hips, etc. Especially for people who carry extra weight. So, go to a walking/running store where they specialize in running/walking shoes. Get good advice on the right shoe for you.
Then...START! Start by walking. Walk about 1-2 miles. Do that for a week. Then alternate walking and running for that same 1-2 miles. Run farther and walk shorter until you can almost run the whole 2 miles. Increase the distance to 3 miles. Do that for a while until you're comfortable running 3-4 miles without stopping. Don't worry about how fast you run. While you're working on your running, watch your diet! Eat right, drink a lot of water, get plenty of sleep. You will be amazed at how much easier running is when you're well rested, well nourished, and most important, when you start to shed those extra pounds.
THEN, enter a 5K road race. They should be easy to find. You will be surrounded by people who love running and who do it all the time. Ask some of them for some pointers. Most runners are willing to share their passion with others. You might even make some friends. AND, if you find that you can walk but not run, you can enter walk races as well. They are usualy held at the same time/place as the runs.
Another idea is to join a local running or walking club. Check with a running store, where you'll get your shoes. They would know of some clubs, if there are any in your area. They will also have entry forms for races.
Stay focused!! Keep in mind that you WILL have setbacks that will interfere with your training; bad weather, injury, illness, work, etc. Just take good care of yourself and do what you can to stay on your training routine. If you have to sit out for a few days, don't give up! Get right back in as soon as you can. If you find that running is just too hard on your body, DON'T GIVE UP! Switch to walking. You can get a lot of the same benefits from walking as you can from running.
Good luck! Most important, keep a positive outlook and have fun!
Ok, well I run, so I will try to help you out. First I would start out slow. Take a jog around your neighborhood. Slowly increase the distance you go each day and how hard you run. If you can go farther, but you have to go a little slower, that is better than sprinting for a shorter distance. Also don't forget to stay hydrated and have fun!! Happy running!
This is a great resource to use to get started running & also if you want to train for a race like a 5k, half marathon, etc. my husband is an avid runner, marathons etc, & we always go to this site for running advice & training guides (it shows you EXACTLY how many days a week to start off running, how far & how fast, then builds you up from there!)... good site & good luck!
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