If you want to become a runner then you need to know that (for the most part) running is better than walking and walking is better than nothing.
I have been told several times in the past few months that people "wish" they could be runners. Well, I am here to say, "Wish no more, my friends!!" Running is simple - you put one foot in front of the other for an extended period of time. And that's it.
You don't need to go all crazy in the beginning, you can start by walking and sprinkling in little bits of jogging - no, scratch that - running. We run, we don't jog. Unless you pronounce it with a soft j as in yogging. Then it's ok, because I hear it's this new thing people are doing.
Anyway, step 1 is to get off your couch and get out the door and walk/run. When used to live and run in beautiful Utah with beautiful MuM, we would most of the time determine before set out if we were going to have a Run/Run/Run/Run or a Run/Walk/Run/Walk/Run or a Walk/Walk/Walk/Walk. Because if we felt like crap, and we didn't feel like running, then we didn't. But we also knew (and know) that moving your body, even if it's slower than you'd like, is better than not moving it at all. Ya dig?
As your body gets used to it, you'll find that somedays you'll feel great and will run and run and run and walk less and less. Natch, there will still be days when you feel like doing nothing, but the important thing when you're starting out (or getting back into it) is to just get a move-on.
Have a Plan, (Wo)Man!
I did some research for any newbies that might be reading out there, and everything I've found says to begin with the walk/run method. Here's some examples:
From Runner's World
From About.com
And, of course, The Couch to 5K Training Plan
With a plan, everything is possible. The key is to start slow and ease yourself into it so your body doesn't absolutely rebel the idea of moving after being stagnant.
Look, if Homer can do it - so can you!
Now go get some shoes and get out the door!
And sometimes if the sign says 'STOP' you have to obey the sign!!
ReplyDeleteGood blog! "Slow motion's better than no motion" - those are words to live by. I feel guilty or disappointed sometimes for not accomplishing as much as I'd like to in any given time frame, but this is a nice reminder that even though we try to be Superwomen there are times when we just need to chill out & be proud of what we have accomplished. And that it always helps to have a plan. :-) Hope you have a great week!
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