Want to start running but don’t know where to begin? Follow these tried and tested tips from runners on how they found their feet.
We all know how to run – it’s just a case of putting one foot in front of the other fast. But if you’ve ever tried to go for a jog without the proper gear and technique, you’ll know how hard running can be. It’s challenging to make something into a habit when it hurts like hell, and you’ve no idea what you’re supposed to be doing.
So, how do you start running, and how do you stick with it? Some of us have spent years trying to learn to love or tolerate running. Others still hate it but do it anyway because the benefits are so worth chasing. Running can be mesmerizing.
It can make you feel invincible, strong, empowered. The running community is one of the most positive spaces both online and in real life. And once you get into it, you may start a life-long love affair with jogging, running, racing, or sprinting.
Here are the 8 best tips for beginner runners
1. Go for time, not distance.
Rather than thinking about working up to a 5k, work on how long you can run on your feet, as Susanne Wakefield explains: “Start with a fixed time rather than a distance; run out one way for 5/7/10 minutes, then just run back.
“Gradually increase the time until you’re comfortable enough to plan a small route. I found that if I tried to run a loop route straight away, I’d go off too fast and not keep it up.”
2. Take it easy
Zuva Seven says that going out friendly and easy is the key to enjoyable running: “You need to run at a pace where you feel like you can run forever. Also, I loved Coach Cory on the Nike running app. He does a bunch of beginner programs that are really fantastic. He’s also hilarious.”
3. Get to know your area.
You never really know an area until you’ve run around it. Being on foot allows you to explore new nooks and crannies, go off-road, focus on new neighborhoods, parks, cool buildings that you’ve not noticed before. Once you see how tight green spaces are to you, you’ll clock just how much you were missing out on before.
4. Get a proper gear
Running gear can have many things, from glasses to shirts, shorts, and socks. But, for starting, one thing must be accurate, which is proper running shoes.
For this, we need to check the type of our feet. If you are a flat feet person, look for flat zero drop running shoes, and if you have high arches, go with high arch shoes.
Similarly, the toe box must have an open space so one can relax their feet. Tight toe boxes for wide feet shoes can create toe jamming conditions leading to common foot issues.
5. Join a running club
The idea of joining a running club can seem scary, even if you’re a long-time runner. But not every club is ultra-serious and full of marathoners trying to race their way to a sub-3hour PB.
The Hythe Blister Sisters is a group designed to get women of all ages and sizes moving. “We’re not all traditional serious athletic clubs, there are loads of more relaxed groups like us!” they tell Stylist.
“We are all about supporting beginners, and once you start with a group you will meet new ‘running’ friends who will keep you going.”
6. Wear the right shoes
For running, running shoes must be proper. However, it is not easy to decide as the choice is in millions. These many choices will confuse anyone as to which one to purchase.
In this case, it is important to listen to experts. There are many experts online and offline who tell which shoes to wear for which event.
Shoesblast takes this job seriously and makes it easy for beginners and advanced runners to decide from which one to select.
Before deciding on running shoes, the running purpose must be clear. I mean, if you are running for fun, or is there any goals behind it.
The lightweight running shoes are meant for speed, whereas heavyweight running shoes are meant for shock absorption and comfort.
7. Forget the clock
“Stop worrying about time,” says Nicola Slawson. “Getting injured early on is enough to stop a beginner trying again so take it easy and give yourself enough time to go as slowly as you need.”
Choose your running days.
Nicola also advises picking the days that you run and making them non-negotiable. “That might be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for example. If you miss a day, you notice.”
8. Get inspired
There are loads of running documentaries out there, from The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (maybe not for the beginner runner!) to Finding Traction, which you might find on YouTube and is genuinely inspirational.
