(Don't wear a headband like this)
So, I haven't been running in a long time. There are no real excuses and I am ready to get back on it, I'm just waiting for the percentage of gross in my lungs to fall back below 80%, I always take ages to get over the last bits of flu.
At the peak of my running, when I was going 3 or so times a week, I had worked my way up to a (sort of) comfortable 7k. That's 4.3 miles for the old school people out there. I'm sure if I went for a run now, I wouldn't be straight back to that level of fitness, but I know I would be nowhere near as bad as when I first started.
It was only a couple of years ago that I decided to start running, I was poor, but I wanted to get fit. I decided running was free, and therefore the one for me. I downloaded a C25k podcast and off I went.
Except, not really, because even though running for 90 seconds sounds fairly simple, it most definitely is not when you're overweight and your idea of running the cross country at school was to walk 98% sprint 2% (Coming one before last each year was my idea of achievement, stoner attitude, asthmatic lungs).
Here are my top tips for absolute novices:
1. C25K:
Seriously, I don't know how anyone starts running without this plan. It gets you from zero to a, kind of, 5k hero in 9 weeks. It starts with run/walk intervals and builds you up to running a full on block of 5K. Oh, it stands for couch to 5k by the way.
2. Get a podcast:
I used these ones (http://runningintoshape.com/). You can tell just from the fact that the girl calls herself Carli Fierce, that this is not my usual style of music, but it doesn't matter. You just need some music for distraction, and clear guidelines as to when you need to walk, and when you need to run. Once you've graduated from a C25K program you can listen to whatever the hell you want (look out for my running playlist next week!)
3. Get over yourself:
Hi, there. You have been running for the first time in your life, yes you do look like shit, you're face is red and sweaty, your fat is jiggling... So fucking what. No one cares, and the ones who do, you do not need to worry about. I have been heckled on runs, but you know what, you are actively improving your life, they are obviously wasting theirs if they've got time to shout at you. Look forward, rise above, you are one step closer to running a fucking majestic marathon.
4. Invest in trainers:
If you run for a few weeks, and you like it, invest in proper shoes! They will help prevent injuries, blisters and help with alignment. ^ I've got these sexy bad boys ^ . I hate how they look, but it's not important because I went to Sweatshop, I ran on the treadmill in the middle of the shop, and my gait was analysed. These were my match. My neon pink, glass slippers.
5. Pick a loop route:
I run in circles. Out and backs do not make sense in my head. NO BACKTRACKING GUYS. Aside from my obsession with not turning back on myself, it helps me run further if I have a set loop. It's more interesting than running back over a bit you've just come from. Boredom is a big issue when you start running, if your brain gets too bored then it's got spare energy to think about the fact that your lungs are about to explode. Distraction is KEY. You can plan your route and find others near your area with www.mapmyrun.com, this is handy for you to know your exact distance as well.
BONUS TIP:
Buy a top that says 'Keep Running' on it, because then when you give up running before your scheduled cool down period, you feel like a massive hypocrite. Also, when you pass other joggers, you can imagine that you have given them a little more motivation, even if they were running so fast, they probably didn't get a chance to read it.
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