I am not much of a workout person even though this should be one of my main priorities – I’ve tried and failed countless times! This being said, I am slowly trying to get into Yoga and would love to start running. I am off to India for 5 weeks and am aiming to create a Yoga Practice, Meditation Practice and a Running Practice.

GlobalRunningDay

As tomorrow celebrates ‘Global Running Day’, starting running will definitely be on my agenda, so I’ve created a list (and a gentle reminder to myself) of all the reasons to get started:

  1. To leave my troubles behind.
  2. To move forward.
  3. To be alone.
  4. To push me to get out of my comfort zone
  5. To listen to my heart.
  6. To listen to my thoughts.
  7. To listen to my music.
  8. To listen to the quiet.
  9. To take in the scenery.
  10. To work out wherever I am.
  11. To be in nature.
  12. To have a routine.
  13. To breathe.
  14. To manage my weight.
  15. To be fit.
  16. To be healthy.
  17. To be stronger.
  18. To get better.
  19. To be mindful.
  20. To feel free and alive.

Geraldine from Quest Hypnotherapy Ltd said; “Running is one of the most accessible ways to exercise – you don’t need much, just a good pair of trainers (I would recommend getting a pair fitted in a running specialist shop, they can analyse your gait and recommend the best shoe for you, as well as trail running or road/pavement trainers) and comfortable clothes and you’re off!  Running outdoors is highly beneficial to your mind as well as your body, it allows your brain a bit of freewheeling time to process things that have happen or muddle through problems, a bit like your dreaming state does as part of the essential memory clearing and filing during our sleep.

If you’re looking to get into a running routine, go easy on yourself: start with a run/walk profile, depending on your fitness level, around 30 seconds to 1 minute of running to every 2 to 5 minutes.  A good way to do it if you’re in an urban area is to run between 2 lampposts and walk between the next 5, that way you won’t need a watch to time yourself.  Otherwise, work out a short distance between 2 fixed points, and run between them, then walk back and forth 4 or 5 times.  As you become more running fit you can lengthen the times/distance run and shorten the walking element until you eventually run the whole way.”

GlobalRunningDay

Jay Curry, Personal Trainer and founder of Jays Way Personal Training, on how to get into running said: “For anyone looking to get into running, my top advice would be to start slow. That might seem a little counterintuitive, however, I’ve seen countless would-be runners get injured very quickly after starting. If your body is not used to running, then you can’t expect to run a marathon (or in some cases, even a 5k) in a month. You’ve got to build up your endurance and strength first. Rush into running too soon and injuries are going to follow.

“Cross-training in the form of other physical activities is also important. Especially if you’re training for a race or long distance event. You need to build all-over physical fitness, not just in running. I recommend a mix of strength training, along with pilates/yoga once a week as a form of active recovery. Swimming is also a good option as it is a form of cardio that doesn’t put too much strain on your joints.”

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