5 Rules for New Runners

Are you thinking about starting to run? Running is a great way to stay fit and healthy. Anyone can do it, anywhere in the world! Whether you're hitting the sidewalk for a few miles, or jogging along a beach, running is excellent for your cardiovascular health.

We decided to give your 5-rules for running that every newcomer to the sport should know.

1. Build a Foundation with the Basics

It's tempting to skip over the basics and get straight into the fun stuff involved with running. However, this is a mistake that will cost beginner runners dearly later down the road. It's annoying to do long lazy runs to keep our numbers up – but its an essential part of the sport.

However, this boring stuff serves as the foundation of our running, and you need to grasp the basics properly before you can progress onto the next level.

Build your foundation using techniques like easy running, striding, and building speed; all serve as instrumental building blocks in your running foundation.

2. Don't Overtrain

It's important to remember that trying to force your fitness will only end in disaster. You need to let your body recover between training sessions. If the body doesn't have enough recovery time, it starts to degrade slowly. As a result, you'll find that your performance starts to taper off.

You'll need to take a step back for a few days to let the nervous system fully recover, and then get back into training. Your training needs to be a delicate balance between pushing yourself to your limits while giving yourself enough time and nutrition to recover fully.

3. Progression Requires Patience

Progressing in the sport of running takes time. If you think that you'll be flying to South Africa to take part in the Comrades Marathon in your first year, then you either have freakish genetics or big dreams. It takes a while for you to fill in your shoes and start developing the fitness and commitment it takes to do Marathons.

As an athlete, it's tempting to make bigger jumps than you should in your training. Therefore, it's essential to have a third-eye on your progress as you advance in the sport. Working with a coaching team will help you identify where you can improve. Coaching also pushes you to your limit without breaking you past the point-of-no-return where your body gives up.

4. Use It or Lose It

It might sound cliché, but if you don't get out on the road or the track and continue to train, you'll lose your fitness fast. All it takes is 5 to 7-days off, and you'll feel the difference in your fitness when you lace up your shoes later and get back to work.

5. Focus on the Individual, Not the Program

Too many beginners make the mistake of trying to follow a more advanced professional program. You need to adapt your training to your skill level, and then build from there. Trying to attempt professional workouts as a beginner will only lead to injury, exhaustion, and unhappiness.

 Shopping Suggestion: The Brooks Ghost is a great shoe for beginners and is one of the most popular running shoes. It's got a great balance of cushion and support, until you know if you need something more specialized in your running shoe. Shop it here! 

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