For the beginner, running is certainly not always the most fun thing to do; it could be boring, tedious and quite frankly, painful. But, it doesn’t have to be all those things, and you don’t have to miss out on enjoying the benefits of a great exercise simply because you feel like your lungs may collapse after fifteen minutes.
You can use these tips, developed by experienced runners, to help you improve your running experience, and in no time, you will find that not only will you reap the immense health benefits of running, but you will start to enjoy it too! Read on to learn more about how you can achieve this.
1. Build strong muscles
If you’re one of those people that hates everything exercise, then you might be groaning at the thought of having to exercise even more, but true fitness cannot be achieved without some significant effort.
To state the obvious, when you run, your body uses your muscles to propel you forward and this requires energy. If your muscles are weak, they will need to work harder to provide the necessary propulsion and you will use up more energy in the process; on the other hand, if they are stronger, you will need less energy to execute the motion.
You should use strength training to develop the muscles involved in running, particularly the quadriceps, gluteus, hamstrings and calves. Also, building a strong core is essential for maintaining the proper form while you run, and this in turn will help you run more efficiently and safely.
2. Figure out your optimal running time
While the conventional wisdom is that early mornings are the best time for running, scientific studies have not been able to turn up any solid evidence to support that view. And while there also aren’t any studies that disprove the theory that early mornings are best for running, the evidence does seem to indicate that different times work for different people. You need to figure out what time of the day works best for you and go for a run at that time, consistently.
3. Listen to music
Nearly every runner does this, so this piece of advice might feel a bit like stating the obvious, yet again. But for the benefit of the beginner, who might be wondering if there is any real value to listening to music, it is worth stating here that it could help you, at least make the run less boring, particularly if you don’t have a very scenic route.
4. Drink water
Muscles are primarily filled with water, and thus when dehydrated, they fail to function as effectively as they should, and you will tire quicker. Make sure you stay well hydrated before going out for a run, and if possible take a couple sips of water while you run, to keep your muscles functioning optimally.
5. Eat for energy
There is no way to prevent running from being tiring and energy draining, but you can optimize your body’s energy provision simply by supplying it with some extra calories right before going for a run. Lots of food sources provide that energy boost that you’re going to need, but a strongly recommended food are bananas. This is because aside from being an excellent source of energy, this fruit is also highly nutritious.
Conclusion
Running does not have to feel like the most tedious chore you have ever done, and if done right, you might find that aside all the great health benefits of running, it also has a therapeutic effect. Who knows, if you follow these tips, you just might fall in love with running!
A personal trainer will be able to help you optimize your running even more, and if you would like to hire one, we would be glad to connect you with a trainer you can trust. Please get in touch with us at:
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