How to start running.

Starting running is half the battle.

How do I start running? Perhaps being inspired by great runs from friends or family or even watching those by Eliud Kipchoge breaking 2 hours for the Marathon. I have been getting numerous calls and text messages from many people who are interested in becoming a runner.

Well, to start running is the best decision one can ever make in their life. It will immediately impact your life for the better. As Kipchoge himself puts it, “No human is limited.” Whatever one sets to achieve in running, they will surely do so with the right “elements.” Beginning it gradually is the best approach.

Jog and walk in the first week, limit yourself to a pace which feels easy. Start with just 10 minutes. Then in the following weeks when you feel ready to do so increase your run time. Once you reach 30 minutes you are already beginning to notice great changes in your physical fitness and are well on your way to incorporating hill, speed and race effort workouts.

What I like about running is that, as long as you have the right training shoes, apparel and a wristwatch, you can be able to start running right away!

What is needed to start running seriously.

It needs a lot of self-discipline to run competitively. Often, many runners easily end up undoing what they just gained in their training due to their lack of discipline. A runner can do a hard workout in the morning, but what they do for the remainder of the week will determine whether that workout will remain helpful to them or not.

Recovering well and eating the right food will be some of the beneficial activities to do after training. Spending the better part of your day walking around and window shopping in town, partying, taking alcohol and forgetting to rehydrate are some of the negative activities for runners.

Running competitively also needs patience and consistency. It is good to set short and long-term goals along one’s way to reaching their full potential. Make sure that these goals match your lifestyle and level.

For example, one can set a goal to run under 45 minutes for 10km in a year, try cutting that to 40 minutes the following season and keep aiming for a better performance each next time.

Through my online coaching I have seen people who have never been active in their lives start running and move from running their first 5K, up to completing their first marathons. I have also transformed the level of fitness of runners who thought they didn’t have the potential to run ‘fast’ and considered themselves to be ‘slow endurance runners’.

I have also seen runners close to me, my friends included, who began running when they were already in their adult years and were able to complete their first race in less than 2 months after starting running.

For anyone contemplating whether to start running or not, remember that starting is half the battle of getting into a fitter body and living a healthier life.

I have a passion for guiding runners of all levels in their fitness journeys, regardless of their work schedule. Feel free to contact me.