Running

Running to Stand Still

I love running. 

It's a brilliant way to keep fit and challenge yourself. What's more it's easy: you just put one leg in front of another and keep doing it until you're tired. Of course, the problem is, at the beginning you can get very tired very quickly and then you just stop running. That's not easy. That's when people give up. 

I'm writing this blog about how I got over the difficult early stages and started training to run marathons. If you look like Homer Simpson but want to run like Forrest Gump, read on.

Take your Time!

I'm not going to lie to you - running is hard work - but like any other kind of rewarding, valuable, hard work it gets a bit easier in time. But you need patience: if you're a couch potato you can't expect to have immediate success because your stamina and strength build up slowly.

Determination

Because you get quicker and stronger only gradually it is important to remain focused and determined. Run a little, five times a week; rain or shine; even if you don't feel like it.

Use the power of your bad habits!

If, like me, you are a creature of habit then it's likely that you have a few bad habits. I was a fiend for beer and Indian takeaways until I replaced those habits with running. It takes 30 days to develop a habit - good or bad - so give it 30 and you'll be running away from the pub and the chipper.

Buy Decent Runners

I can't stress enough the importance of buying the right footwear. I was running for a long time in an old pair of addidas runners that I think I bought with money I got for my 18th birthday party. My 18th birthday was a very, very long time ago! These old runners gave my legs very little support - and over time I began to get serious problems with my left knee. 

One day I decided enough was enough and I went to get my gait analysed and have a proper pair of runners recommended to me. After about 45 minutes I came out of the shop with a pair of Brooks runners that were right for my feet. My speeds immediately improved and more importantly, my knee problems have disappeared!

Race yourself

A good way to improve is to time yourself over a fixed distance and try to beat your time. Start out at 2Km and aim to run it in under 10 minutes. 

Enter races

As you get fitter you will want to enter a 5k or 10k race. There are loads of these on all the time all over Ireland - go to www.runireland.com for details. Entering a race gives you a target date to keep you motivated and puts you up against other runners; and this is an excellent way to improve your own times and fitness.

Keep reading for more advice!