Run Insane // Beginner Tips
As the weather is warming up, I feel like more people want to take up running. I have some tips for you!
Invest in Good Shoes - I cannot stress this enough! Wearing the proper running shoes is very important not only for your joints, but for your overall well-being. Investing in a good pair of shoes will decrease your chances of injury and joint pain.
Strength Train - Running is an easy way to burn fat and makes for great cardio. However, you need to build the muscles around your joints especially your legs to prevent knee injuries or knee pain. (I can personally attest to this tip)
Breathing Techniques - Create or do some research on proper breathing techniques to find the one that suits your body best. Controlling your breath while running is key to succeeding in becoming a runner. Having a proper breathing technique will prevent stomach cramping or running out of breath.
Stretching - Stretch before and after you run! You need to warm up your muscles and create proper blood flow throughout your body. Stretching before and after prevents muscle stiffness.
Ankle Strength - Not a lot of people know this, but you can build your ankle strength and the arc of your foot. I suggest when you are sitting down, you roll a tennis ball on the arc of your foot without shoes on to massage your foot. As well as, point and flex your foot to gain more mobility in your ankle. My favourite exercise to strengthen my ankles is - stand straight with your legs feet a part, turn your feet outward (but not too far back - where they turn naturally), and do ankle raises. - I will be demonstrating on video on my instagram shortly.
Set Your Goals Small - I would advise you set small goals, with running for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes and slowly increasing your duration without stopping. I would even recommend doing a combination of running, walking, then sprinting. This is the most efficient way to lose weight and to ease into long distance running.
GOOD LUCK! ~ EJL