Physical fitness is essential for good health, but too many of us view exercise as a chore. It becomes a quickly-broken new year’s resolution, or a guilty dash to the gym every couple of months. If you’re serious about exercising, because you need to shift a few pounds or simply gain strength and energy, you need to start today.
Running is a great way to exercise because it’s free, easy and anyone can get involved. If you have an existing condition, feel out of shape or are recovering from an injury, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor before you start running.
Getting Started
You don’t have to begin by sprinting for miles. It’s important to build your fitness level slowly and not push yourself too hard over the first few weeks or months. If you try to do too much too quickly, you may end up with a sports injury that will prevent you from continuing to exercise for at least a couple of weeks. Sometimes an injury can be even worse than it looks, so if you notice a lot more pain and problems doing basic activities, then you may need to go to a detroit urgent care clinic or a clinic nearer to your location, otherwise, you may not get back to running as quickly as you would like. Always warm up for at least five minutes, then go on to walk comfortably for 30 minutes. Once you can do this easily, start including running intervals of one or two minutes and intersperse this with periods of walking at a comfortable speed. You can gradually build up your fitness level until you’re able to run for 30 minutes at a time.
Running Gear
Running is an activity that requires very little equipment. You don’t even need a gym membership to get involved. It’s definitely worth investing in a sturdy pair of trainers that fit your feet well, as they will prevent you from developing blisters. They will also absorb some of the shock if you’re running on the road. With running, the only real expense is buying good quality sports gear. www.onlysportsgear.com have a great range of styles, for an affordable price, to ensure you’re as comfortable as can be on your next fitness mission.
Retailers like Dare 2b offer specialist running t-shirts and shorts that are designed to keep runners both warm and dry, so that they can perform at their best and still remain comfortable. Always remember to take a water bottle when you go out running, as you can lose fluids very quickly when exercising, particularly on hot days.
Staying Motivated
If you’re worried about staying motivated, why not start running with a friend? If you’ve got a running partner, you’ll be less likely to slack off. If not, try listening to favourite music or a specially tailored motivational podcast while you’re running, and give yourself little rewards for reaching certain goals. It may also help to keep a running diary and record your best times and speeds.
