Running

[evylprincess]

I need an exercise routine I can start/keep up during the summer when I'm at my parents' house. We live miles from anywhere and I can't drive, so the gym is out as a regular form of exercise, though I'll go when my (driving) sister goes, and I'll go for walks when my mum does

Comments

[jipsy_girl]

I started up running from scratch (I am currently not running, but that is because I am lazy) and can offer the following suggestions:

1. Get a really good pair of running shoes. I went for Nike Air - Women's running. You need the shoe to be wide at the front for maximum splay and stacked on the heel to create less impact. I can recommend Nike Air Pegasus, but they may be out of stock. Be prepared to pay at least £80 on a good pair of shoes, unless you can get them in the sale (I got my last for £40 - I was well impressed). You do get what you pay for.

2. Make sure you have a safe route and, if possible, a running buddy. If for anyone reason you decide to run on your own, do not run the same route in regular intervals - there are crazies out there :)

3. I could run 10 mins on my first go and I am hideously overweight and unfit, so 10 mins should be easy for you. If you have a route planned out that will take longer than that you may wish to interval running and walking, rather than running until you cannot go anything further and then walking the rest. The former way will help you build up the amount of time you can run more quickly, especially if you begin to reduce the walk times in between.

4. Try not to run on the road because the impact is really bad for your knees, ankles and hips. If you have to run on road, run on tarmac as opposed to concrete. Grass is better.

5. If you are happy on the treadmill I would recommend that you stay on the treadmill. It is safer and the impact is far less than running on the road. Just take into account that running on a treadmill is easier than running on the road. I was once told that you have to run on a treadmill with at least a 5% incline to come close to simulating running on the road.

Having said all that, I was getting up at 6am, running for 10 - 15 minutes and coming back to shower and get ready for work. That 10 - 15 minutes really woke me up and set me up for the day. I really felt like I had achieved something. You will tire in the afternoon though, for probably the first couple of weeks until you get used to it.

Good Luck!

[evylprincess]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll not stay in the gym though, just because I'd get bored and then demotivated pretty quickly. I only enjoy it now because I only go every few weeks. Oh dear ;).