There are so many physical and mental benefits to hitting the
road
Running is simple, convenient and makes you feel a million
dollars. So why aren’t you out there?
‘I don’t have time’
No-one has time. We all have to go to work, cook dinner,
take the car in for a service. But if you can’t make time for a half-hour run,
you’re probably not making time for your health at all. Promise yourself that
your fitness is going to take priority for the next six weeks, then check your
diary. Can you get up half an hour early to run? Is it possible to take a
change of clothes to run at lunch or run home from work? You don’t need to run
every day but three or four 30-minute runs a week will not only transform your
physical health but your mental health as well.
You don’t need to
run every day but three or four 30-minute runs a week will not only transform
your physical health but your mental health as well.
‘I’m too self-conscious’
It’s very unlikely that anyone will even register anything
about the way you run – they’re all far too busy thinking about their own
stuff. However, if you are one of the many people who prefer to start an
exercise program quietly, do your first few sessions in a safe but quiet street
or park until you’ve got your confidence up. Wearing decent running shoes and a
good, supportive sports bra will also make you feel the part and prevent
injury.
‘I don’t have the energy’
The hardest part of any training session is getting out of
the door, so tell yourself you’re just going to run for 10 minutes and mean it.
Once the 10 minutes is over, if you’re still genuinely tired, stop and walk
home. But 90 per cent of the time, you’ll carry on because after 10 minutes
your system is oiled, your blood is flowing and the endorphins have kicked in.
If you’re consistently low on energy, see your GP.
Once the 10
minutes is over, if you’re still genuinely tired, stop and walk home.
‘I’ve put on too much weight’
There’s no better or easier way to torch kilojoules than
running. The trick is not to overwhelm yourself early on. Get your fitness up
with walking and then start including three one-minute slow jogs. Keep
increasing the amount of time you spend jogging. The fitter you get and the
more weight you lose, the easier it will be.
