Getting Started

I decided to write this post as it is something I am constantly asked about. Repeating the same information over and over again can be a bit exhausting. I guess it makes better sense to compile it in one public place for those who wish to start running. I am going to begin this by saying that I am not an expert on the matter and most definitely not a personal trainer. All that I know about running has been through building my own experience, asking fellow runners for advice and, (most importantly) reading about it. There is a wealth of knowledge on any given matter on the internet and it comes in handy whenever you decide to start something new.

I started running in 2011. Looking back, it was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It may seem as simple as putting one foot in front of another but it really was not. We all face our own challenges in life and for me, phasing out bad habits whilst trying to replace them with those more beneficial to me was a change that needed to be made at the time. Not only was I unhappy about my body but it filtered through to other aspects of my life. I realised if I did not look after myself, no one was going to do it for me. I assumed being unhappy in my skin would not change until I did something about it, and if I did not, it’s likely I would have reached a place of greater discontent.

At the time, I only looked at it as a quick fix and not a lifestyle choice. I used to enjoy running in school so when I thought about how I could change my body, this seemed to be the best option for me. I half-heartedly read articles on running for beginners. It became clear that this was something you needed to build up tolerance to. Some articles say it’s best to begin walking for a few days and then work up enough tolerance to eventually begin jogging. Others say, you should do a combination of walking, speed walking and jogging. I chose the latter because it seemed more exciting.

After much procrastination and intense mental battles I did a warm up on my treadmill, which consisted of walking really slowly for two minutes. After that I bumped up the speed and did the following:

1 minute of walking (a pace higher than the warm up walk)

1 minute of speed walking (a 1 up pace - higher before)

1 minute of a light jog (another 1 up pace - higher than before)

1 minute of a faster jog (yet another pace higher than what you did before)

To begin with, I could only do the above twice, which works out to a ten minute run. I was eventually able to do this for twenty minutes after a few weeks. (The last two minutes consisted of a two minute slow, cool down walk). It took me months to be consistent with the twenty minute workout. Once I got the hang of it I went on to playing around with the above, doing two minutes of jogging then two minutes of the faster jog. When I wanted to push myself I added in another minute of an even faster pace and at some point I managed to eliminate walking from my regime completely and jog the entire distance.

This all sounds so easy when typed out but I feel the need to be very honest with you. This process was extremely distressing. The concerns I had were probably twenty percent physical, and 80 percent mental. When you are doing something new, doubt always creeps in. I would wake up on the mornings that I had scheduled a run for and always question whether I could actually do it. On so many occasions I allowed this doubt to consume me to a point where I  did not run. This made me disappointed in myself because I felt I was giving up because of fear. Yes, the process hurt mentally and physically but once I got through that initial stage of difficulty, it gave me a lot of confidence. This confidence was not only towards running but to other aspects of my life.

I hope you've enjoyed my brief introduction to running. It is just that, an introduction. I still have a lot more to share with you. In my next running post I plan on speaking to you about motivation, fitness apps and how the two connect.

If you are beginning your fitness journey, I commend your effort - even if it is something as small as making the decision to start. Never give up on your fitness goals and just remember, if I can do it, so can you. Have a brilliant week and attack it with enthusiasm.

Thanks for reading.

Vest, Shorts, Running Shoes, Cap: Nike
Watch: Fitbit
Photo's: Leeya Motara