A Real Simple Program to Start Running
So many people want to start running, but so many people have a hard time beginning to run.
There are a lot of reasons why running can be such a difficult habit for people to pick up, but often it comes down to people feeling like it's too intimidating even to start.
They read a lot of running programs that seem like they are totally unrealistic or something that they could never do just starting out and they get discouraged.
Sometimes it's because the people who get intimidated just aren't in very good physical shape and as such can't start out too heavy.
Other times the idea of running is just too overwhelming for people to and they feel like they'll never be able to incorporate it into their lives in a lasting way.
No matter the reason, the following program for starting running will help a lot.
The best way to start running is to start walking.
Yes, obviously walking isn't going to provide the same exact benefits of running, but it is the best way to work up to running.
All you have to do is set aside time every day to go for a long walk.
This walk should last somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes, and ideally it should be along the route that you eventually plan on running.
If you can't walk every day, then just walk a few days a week (3 or 4 is a good number to shoot for).
It's a good idea to just walk for a week or two, but you can do this for as long as you need.
This is especially helpful for people who aren't in the physical condition necessary for running, as the act of regularly walking will help to get them ready for running.
Once you have mentally and physically adapted to going for your walk, it's time to add a little running in to the process.
To start, you should simply focus on going out for your walk and then periodically doing some light jogging as you're out there.
A good interval is to jog for 30 - 60 seconds and then walk for a couple of minutes.
You should do this for the first half of your time outside, and then spend the second half simply walking.
As you do this for a couple of weeks, you'll find that you'll want to jog more and more often.
Increase the amount of time that you jog and decrease the amount of time that you walk.
Both increase the number of times you take a jogging break, and increase the length of each break.
Essentially, you are going to be working up to the day when you can spend the whole time jogging without any walking breaks.
When you get to this point, it's important that you don't overdo it.
Stay with your current level of intensity and the current length of your run for a few weeks before increasing both, increasing your practice as slowly as possible.
By the time you are jogging the whole time, the process should be firmly embedded in your weekly habits.
You'll be a full-fledged runner before you even realize that it's happened!
There are a lot of reasons why running can be such a difficult habit for people to pick up, but often it comes down to people feeling like it's too intimidating even to start.
They read a lot of running programs that seem like they are totally unrealistic or something that they could never do just starting out and they get discouraged.
Sometimes it's because the people who get intimidated just aren't in very good physical shape and as such can't start out too heavy.
Other times the idea of running is just too overwhelming for people to and they feel like they'll never be able to incorporate it into their lives in a lasting way.
No matter the reason, the following program for starting running will help a lot.
The best way to start running is to start walking.
Yes, obviously walking isn't going to provide the same exact benefits of running, but it is the best way to work up to running.
All you have to do is set aside time every day to go for a long walk.
This walk should last somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes, and ideally it should be along the route that you eventually plan on running.
If you can't walk every day, then just walk a few days a week (3 or 4 is a good number to shoot for).
It's a good idea to just walk for a week or two, but you can do this for as long as you need.
This is especially helpful for people who aren't in the physical condition necessary for running, as the act of regularly walking will help to get them ready for running.
Once you have mentally and physically adapted to going for your walk, it's time to add a little running in to the process.
To start, you should simply focus on going out for your walk and then periodically doing some light jogging as you're out there.
A good interval is to jog for 30 - 60 seconds and then walk for a couple of minutes.
You should do this for the first half of your time outside, and then spend the second half simply walking.
As you do this for a couple of weeks, you'll find that you'll want to jog more and more often.
Increase the amount of time that you jog and decrease the amount of time that you walk.
Both increase the number of times you take a jogging break, and increase the length of each break.
Essentially, you are going to be working up to the day when you can spend the whole time jogging without any walking breaks.
When you get to this point, it's important that you don't overdo it.
Stay with your current level of intensity and the current length of your run for a few weeks before increasing both, increasing your practice as slowly as possible.
By the time you are jogging the whole time, the process should be firmly embedded in your weekly habits.
You'll be a full-fledged runner before you even realize that it's happened!