Hey Runners Any Advice?
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Hey Runners Any Advice?
| Thu, 12-30-2004 - 11:24am |
I've read and read and thought about it and I've decided to start running this coming year. I think it will help with my martial arts training by building endurance and maintaining my weight (or losing a little).
The advice in black and white is to start out slowly and to get good shoes and to run on softer surfaces like dirt roads instead of pavement.
Does anyone have any advice to offer from personal experience?
Lorie

Good luck!
I agree with the other poster.
i think running is good cross training for almost any sport. i agree with the others about run/walk - definitely the way to start. also, the best advice for starting to run is go slower that you are inclined to and run more often than you are inclined to (the running experts have a snappy way to say this, but i can't remember). it's really important that you progress slowly with running to avoid injury. start with like a 3 minute walk one minute run for twenty minutes and build up slower than you want to go. even if you could push harder, restrain yourself. a lot of people who are in good shape start running and push themselves as hard as they are used to pushing themselves in other disciplines and end up getting injured.
running on dirt or grass is better than on roads, but not everyone has access to those kind of surfaces. if you run on the road, the actual pavement is better for you than the sidewalk (cement) - cement is basically the number one worst thing to run on, other than like steel. also, if you are running on a road that cants down toward the curb, make sure to periodically switch sides of the road, so you aren't running on the same slant the whole time - this can mess up your hips. of course, weigh this precaution with the danger of running with traffic on busier roads.
also, take a good long time to warm up with a quick walk before running, especially outside (as opposed to a treadmill) and then maybe stop and stretch your legs and hips before starting your walk/jog. i don't normally stretch before working out and i don't always warm up either, but i ALWAYS warm up and stretch before running. i found my knees and hips start to hurt if i don't.
do you have access to a pool? running in the deep water (without or without a flotation belt) is fabulous cross training without the impact on the old bones, and you can even do your martial art exercises in the shallow water - the water's resistance will be good training for you. it's just a suggestion - i'm a big fan of swimming and water exercise.
oh yeah, and definitely invest in a good pair of running shoes, and don't wear them for other stuff - save them for running. i thnk they say shoes wear out after about 200-250 miles, so keep an approximate count of how far you've worn your shoes.
Edited 12/30/2004 10:08 pm ET ET by jenindc
Happy New Year ~IG
Getting Fit In Your 30's
cl-vi_islandgirl
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Thanks for the input everyone. I'm actually looking forward to getting started, and I never thought I could be a runner.
Lor
Lor you can defiently become a runner. :)
Everyone gave you excellent advice so all i'm going to add is GOOD LUCK and Check out www.coolrunning.com as they have a great couch to 5k program as well as free workout logs and some great distance/speed calculators.
Sabrina
Thanks, Sabrina. Good website.