Are you in the habit of regular exercise? Want to add running to your fitness program? You’re ready to begin running if you’ve been walking or engaging in another kind of exercise on a regular basis – at least an hour a day, for three to five days a week.
Running will:
- Delay the process of aging and keep you looking and feeling younger.
- Keep you from getting fat.
- Give you a better lung capacity.
- Help you maintain normal blood pressure.
- Bolster your immune system.
- Relieve stress.
- Build your self-confidence.
Start slow
Remember that expensive new bike you rode miles on, every day for a week? Is it in the basement, covered with spider webs? How about the vegetable garden you planted so meticulously, that went to seed and weed when a new project beckoned?
It is important not to be too gung-ho with a new fitness regime. Forcing yourself to do too much, too soon, greatly increases the risk of sustaining an injury, which could cause you to give up running altogether.
If you begin with a conservative amount of walking, you can decrease the chance of an injury.
- Increase your time walking or running by a few minutes every day.
- Eat and drink lightly before running.
- On warm days, run before the sun climbs the horizon.
You can stay injury-free by gradually building up the time you spend running, increasing the time by 15% each week.
Appropriate clothing for runners
If you are a novice, you may want to know what to wear when you are running. One of the great advantages of running is that expensive clothing is not necessary. Just wear comfortable, loose garments, and good, well-fitting running shoes.
When you get more into a running regime and need dedicated kit for running , you may want to check out some of the best running compression gear available and see how it assists new runners.
Compression wear:
- Shores up your joints, all day.
- Diminishes everyday aches and pains.
- Supplies protection from the sun.
- Decreases swelling and cramping.
Tips
- Be consistent – run every day or at least every other day.
- Stop the run if you have pain, or loss of function in the feet or legs.
- Eat and drink lightly before running.
- When you go out for your run, be careful not to put on layers of clothing. The extra body heat you generate while running will make the temperature feel about 20 to 25 degrees.
If you decide to start running in addition to your current exercise regimen, you will have completed the first stage in becoming a runner. There are many benefits to running, and running can improve your life both physically and mentally, but it is best not to do too much, too soon. Start off slow, and then increase your speed and endurance gradually. Remember, compression wear will provide support for muscles and joints, and help relieve everyday aches and pains.
