In the United States, about 50 million people consider themselves runners. If you are not one of those people right now but are looking to become a runner, first off, you should be proud!
That’s not an easy step to take. But before you do start running, there are some running tips you should follow as a beginner.
Read these and you’ll be well on your way to reaping all of the benefits of running!
Start Slow
One of the best tips you can follow is to start slow. When we say slow, we mean slow in more ways than one.
For starters, you should start slow with your mileage. If you are just getting started, you should try to run a mile first. The next time you run, try to add just a quarter to a half mile to start.
Continue working your way up in mileage like this. By doing this, you’ll prevent a lot of injuries like the inner knee pain running can give you if you do too much too fast.
The same goes with how fast you run. You want to take it slow at first to get your body used to the movements and the pounding of the pavement. After a few weeks, you can start to pick up your pace.
Always Stretch After
Sometimes it can be hard to remember that stretching is one of the most important things you can do as a runner to prevent injuries.
This means you should stretch more than just 30 seconds after a run. You should set time aside to do at least 10 minutes of stretches.
You may even want to set aside one to two times per week to do yoga to increase flexibility in your muscles.
Keep a Running Log
As a beginner to running, you may feel like you are not making progress. But, in reality, the idea that you even started running in the first place is progress!
Keeping a running log will be a way for you to look back on how far you’ve come, especially when you start to doubt yourself.
Mix It up With Cross-Training
When you start running, it can be enticing to try to run as much as possible to get better. But, this can often lead to injuries. Instead, it is best to mix up your workouts with both running and cross-training.
For instance, you should run two to three times per week to start, bike or elliptical one day, and then strength train the other two days. And always be sure to include a rest day or two in there!
Follow These Running Tips
If you follow these running tips as a beginner runner, you’ll improve in no time at all! The most important thing is to just make sure you are not overdoing it from the start.
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