Runners are a special breed. It’s a wonder how they keep up their pace and are able to push through 2, 3, 6, or even 10 miles without stopping. While some people are certainly built for it, if you have a desire to start running, you can definitely build up your stamina and fitness level as long as you’re consistent and you push yourself to pass the goals you set ahead for yourself.
It is no doubt challenging to whip yourself into shape. It doesn’t happen overnight and you have to go in with the right mindset as well as the right game plan and eating plan. Your success is garnered by how you’re fueling your body just as much as it is by how much you’re hitting the gym.
If you’re looking to start running, here are some things you have to consider first:
Can Your Body Handle it?
Running is amazing and it gets the job done, for sure, but it’s also high impact and pretty hard on your body. If you’re not in decent shape to begin with and you have joint problems, knee problems, or any other problems that might get inflamed once you start running, you might think about starting with a form of cardio that is lower impact.
Once you build strength and/or lose a bit of weight, running might be easier and healthier for you. If muscle or joint pain isn’t a problem that you have, you can jump right in, but not without getting the right shoes.
Shoes Are Important
The human body has a natural gait for running. Believe it or not, the kind of shoes you wear have an impact on that. If your shoes are old, broken in and don’t have support in the right places, your body is going to overcompensate elsewhere.
You also need to know what kind of trails you’re going to be running, as this is going to determine the kind of shoe you get. There are many different kinds of running shoes, so it’s important that you do your research, you understand your personal motion mechanics, and you select the right pair, as it will make all the difference in how you feel out on the road.
What’s Your Long Term Goal?
If you’ve never been a runner and you would like to get to the point where you can finish a 5k or greater, or even if you just want to use it to get your cardio in, it’s important that you define that goal. When you set a long term goal, it’s more likely you’re going to be able to stick to it. Your goal is to run 3 miles without stopping? Great. Better put together a plan on how to make that happen. It’s in you. You’ve got this.
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