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Many people are keen to start running for fitness, and there are plenty of good reasons why they should. But being something new to them, they often have questions which they need to be answered before they get going. Here are some answers to the most popular questions on running for fitness.

Is running really that good for you?

Yes! Many medical studies have shown that running regularly:

-Improves your cardiovascular health

-Reduces your risk of ANY CAUSE death significantly

-Helps prevent you from developing many different forms of cancer

-Boosts your immune system

-Helps you to lose weight

Some non-scientific studies of my own have shown that running helps develop a sexy slim body that your loved-ones will adore!

What about the websites that say ‘slow boring cardio’ is bad for you?

Who wants to do slow boring cardio? Most people start off slowly, as they can’t manage anything more demanding at the start of their journey to getting fit. But no one aspires to just stay at the same low level! And all of the programs which I have looked at that say this kind of thing all include some cardiovascular exercise in their programs. They just call it something different!

Will I lose weight?

Almost certainly. Everybody I have ever met who has taken up running has lost weight, and developed a more healthy physique. They did not all necessarily end up weighing 3 ounces, with absolutely zero fat on their bodies, but they all looked much better after they started running than before.

How much running and how often?

The key is to start gently. If you haven’t run for 20 years and you are carrying a spare 40 pounds of fat, then you can’t expect to run for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. That is the target, but start with something you can actually manage every day. First build up to walking for 30 minutes a day. Then start jogging for 2 minutes and walking for 4 minutes until your half hour is full. And so on. If it hurts or if you are too tired to manage your 30 minutes every day, back off until you can. This slow, stepwise approach is much quicker at getting you up to speed without injuries than going in, all guns blazing!

What should I do to before I start?

You absolutely must see a doctor and tell him what you are going to do. Listen to his advice about what to do, and what not to do. You must also go to a proper sports shop with knowledgeable staff who can advise you what you need, and buy a good pair of running shoes. Don’t try to run in anything else, and don’t skimp on the investment. Running shoes are the only thing that you really need to spend money on (expect to pay £50+ in the UK or $70+ in the USA), but they will save your joints from pain and injury.

Help, I’m busy! How do I fit running into my life?

This is the tricky part. You need to get your motivation in place before you start. Think about what you are trying to achieve, and why you want to achieve it. Once you’ve assigned the correct level of priority to running for fitness you will find a way of fitting it into your packed life. If you set aside 30 minutes a day for exercise, it will become a habit, so you won’t even have to think about how to find the time. And once you’ve formed the habit, it’s much easier to keep it going. Then you have to think of a good reason NOT to go running, rather than having to think about why you SHOULD go running. Really it’s much easier like that!

I can’t run for 2 minutes without being exhausted! How can I really expect to be a runner?

You weren’t born able to read, or ride a bicycle, and I wasn’t born being able to run. Everyone starts out running sometime. They all go out the first time and come back puffing and panting after a few minutes, wondering what the hell just happened to them. Even people who go to the gym are surprised at how demanding running is. But that’s a good thing. The more work you give your body, the more benefit you gain from it. What makes a real runner is perseverance. If you make sure you get 30 minutes exercise a day, five days a week, even if you start with 2 minutes jogging and 28 minutes walking, you will make progress. After a few weeks you will be able to run much further than you could before, and do it faster. After a few months, most people can start entering races or fun runs. After a year, almost anybody could be ready to complete their first marathon. That’s 26 miles! Don’t believe me? Try it!

Is running addictive?

Yes. But wouldn’t you rather be addicted to something that’s good for you than something nasty? The only downside to being addicted to running is the envy that you can create in some of the lazy, fat, self-pitying people you know. They are killing themselves with their gluttony and laziness, and the only way to help them is to show them that they can take control of their health, improve their fitness, and enhance their self-esteem. If they choose to ignore the lessons, that’s their look-out.

Won’t people make fun of me while I’m running?

While you are running, some people will make comments. However, any runners will only ever say ‘Hi!’ or something supportive. There are the occasional comedians in training (e.g. ‘Watch out for that speed camera’). I can also guarantee that if you run anywhere in England on London Marathon day, some wag will shout out directions to London Bridge (this happens to me and I live over 300 miles from London!). Anyone else who makes any kind of comment is probably too fat, lazy, ugly and stupid to have an opinion worth listening to. So just ignore them, safe in the knowledge that you are improving yourself by running, while they are degrading themselves by being snide.

When is the best time to start?

NOW! It’s so easy to procrastinate and end up never starting. Just get your running shoes on and start today. Once you feel the buzz of those endorphins when you get back from your first jog, you’ll realise what you’ve been missing all these years and have to keep going with it! In no time you’ll be a running bore! Running for fitness really is addictive!

So now you really have no excuse. If you start running for fitness, you can get fit, lose weight and feel healthier than you ever have before. So what is stopping you?

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Source by Rob Knowles