Our employees at LEGEND love to run! However, if you are in the percentage of people who compare running to a form of torture or boredom, then this article is for you. There are a lot of health benefits that come from running, so we want to help those of you who might struggle with finding the motivation get started. If you want to start running (and not totally hate it), here are a few tips:
- Set realistic expectations – When you first start running, setting small goals will help encourage you to keep going and prevent you from burning out too quickly. Jumping into running full force can do more harm than good, both physically and mentally. Be patient and don’t expect too much from yourself right off the bat.
- Invest in the right gear – Before you hit the pavement (or the treadmill), you need the correct equipment. A good pair of running shoes that properly fit your feet is well worth the $70-$100. Here at LEGEND, we strongly believe all runners should be wearing compression socks, too, to help with overall foot and leg health during and after runs.
- Start with plenty of walking – While it may be tempting to start running as far and as fast as possible, it is ultimately better to start off slowly. You can prepare your body for running with walk/run interval training. Start off with walking and you can add in short spurts of running. Eventually, you will be able to have less and less walk time and will be able to run for longer.
- Don’t worry too much about speed/distance/form – As a beginner runner, one of the biggest aspects you need to focus on is staying consistent. Keep a schedule of days you’ll run during the week and stick to them. Once you get into the groove of running, you can work on your form and how long/fast you run.
- Get a running buddy – Our employees always team up for our runs. Having someone to run with and hold you accountable is very beneficial when you first start running. They can help motivate you to keep up your running routine and can push you when you need a little extra oomph. It is an added bonus if your running buddy is already an avid runner! They will have already gone through those beginning stages and can coach you through them.