Basilmomma

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Newspaper
  • Food Indiana
  • Real Life
  • Home Improvement
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel

How to Prepare for Running for Exercise or Fun

February 7, 2011 By admin Add comment

Welcome! Are you a subscriber? Click here to receive my weekly newsletter. Thanks for visiting!

Do you enjoy running for exercise, or maybe even just for fun? Maybe you’ve always wanted to try it, but you don’t know how to start. I’m here with tips to help you.

I haven’t always been a runner. It’s taken me a long, LONG time to appreciate the health benefits of a 30 minute run a few times a week.  Not only does it boost my sometimes boring workout routine, but it gives me 30 minutes of peace.  30 minutes when no one needs me, I don’t have chores looming over my head and I can focus on me.

In middle school and high school I was on the track team.  I really took for granted then, like we all do, that I would not be a fit 110 pound girl forever.  I think I was on the team for mostly social reasons…and I had a boyfriend at the time who played baseball and our practices we on adjoining fields.  Ah to be 16 again!

OK, back to real life.  It was hard for me to start running again.  I would make a few laps at the gym and be exhausted.  I had a friend, Isabelle, who helped me get back on the horse  and kicked my butt in gear.
I also downloaded a program to my Ipod that was very helpful.  It is a free program through itunes called Couch to 5K or C25K.  With this program you have set runs every week.  The first one is a brisk walk for 2 minutes followed by a 1 minute jog.  These times go up incrementally each day/week.  By the time you are done you have run a 5K (3.25 miles) at once.  The thing is, by using interval running it makes it much more manageable.  I have recommended this to so many people and really haven’t gotten much in the way of negative feedback.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

You can use this through an ipod, iphone or Android phone (which is what I have).  My phone program also tracks my progress, mph and distance.  Less thinking for me!
Something else I need for a good run is a great play list of music.  I have 3 running play lists that are roughly 30 minutes long. I would like to say that I have sorted these by my mood/activity level.  1 list is just a bunch of songs I like, 1 is a grouping of songs from NikeBoom and the other is loud, somewhat angry sounding metal.  I blame my husband for that one!

Along with these 2 things I have to have comfortable clothes and a good pair of shoes.  I have gone 2 routes with shoes depending on how much I want to spend.  I have found several great pairs at DSW.  Actually my favorite pair, Saucony, are from there.  I have also gotten a few from the Running Company.  I ran on the treadmill and got fit for a pair that helped with my tendency to over-pronate (my ankle turns in a little) and that has helped a lot.  I tend to be a “clearance at Target” kind of shopper.  My running outfits consist of mix and match pieces that I have accumulated over time.  But they fit and are comfortable so that is all that matters to me!

My husband and I enjoy running now as a hobby.  Well, Matt does a lot more than I do.  He has only recently picked this up and has really taken off!  He can run 7 miles and feel that he could have done more.  Infuriating! Really, though he has gotten in the best shape of his life and really has developed a great runners stride that I admire.  We are always trying to think of new things to do together as a family outdoors.  I found out about this racing series that is based out of Monroe County  http://www.mag7raceseries.com/ that is a series of road races for all ages centered around Bloomington, my hometown.  We have already signed up for several and with the fees for each totaling up much less than a dinner for 4 at a restaurant!  Some are at festivals that are about an hour from our house so we can make a day of it.

Both of my sons enjoy running for exercise, but competitively, too.  My oldest is on the cross country team and my youngest will be someday as well.  Last September I formed a team for the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K run.  I had a small team but we did so well!  My husband came in 4th for his age group and both of my sons WON for their age groups!!!

It was an exciting day for our whole family as well as a beautiful course.  My parents also walked and a coworker of mine, Nancy McDowell ran with me.  She is quite a runner and really had to “slow down” to keep up with my turtle like pace!  She kept me motivated and cheered me on when I just about gave up.
It was a very humbling day and I walked away feeling like a better person for having participated in this.

So, if you decide running for exercise may be something you want to try for the first time or just get reacquainted with, don’t be afraid to try it.  I was very heavy when I started and I had to get over the “jiggle factor”.  It just motivated me to run more.  I have let a few obstacles get me down and I have taken several breaks but I am ready to get back in my routine.  I am healthy, young and I want to be active and experience life to the fullest with my husband and kids.

Have a great week ????

Related posts:

Overcoming Life Obstacles
Cliqstudios.com Can #TransformYourKitchen
Show Indiana Dairy Your Milk and Cookies for Santa! #SantaDrinksMilk
Ladies Evening Out

Filed Under: Whatever Life Brings Tagged With: exercise, family time, ipod, running

« Overcoming Life Obstacles
My Motivation »

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • What are you looking for?

  • Recent Posts

    • Family Meals Do Not Have to Be Boring
    • 3 Keys for More Energy for Moms
    • Bookmaker Market
    • The Guide to Designing a Luxury Bathroom
    • Creating A Routine That Sustains You
    • 3 Keys to More Relaxation in Life
    • 6 Effective Ways to Deal with Stress
    • All The Different Components Of A Teeth Whitening Kit And Its Uses: Explained
  • Popular Recipes

    • Hand Held Lunch Ideas to Power Your Lunch Box Hand Held Lunch Ideas to Power Your Lunch Box
    • Easy Weeknight Chicken Parmigiana from All You Magazine #LifeForLess Easy Weeknight Chicken Parmigiana from All You Magazine #LifeForLess
    • Chipotle Cheddar Sausage Breakfast Pizza Chipotle Cheddar Sausage Breakfast Pizza
    • Butter Cake With Warm Butter Pecan Sauce ~ And A Family Memory Butter Cake With Warm Butter Pecan Sauce ~ And A Family Memory
    • Mexican Style Black Bean Corn Fritters Mexican Style Black Bean Corn Fritters
    • Cold Weather Drink Recipes - Hot Lemonade + Hot Chocolate Cold Weather Drink Recipes – Hot Lemonade + Hot Chocolate
    • Great Northern Bean Pumpkin Apple Stew Great Northern Bean Pumpkin Apple Stew
    • Pork Yakisoba Recipe {Easy 35 Minute Dinner} Pork Yakisoba Recipe {Easy 35 Minute Dinner}
  • Tags

    Appetizers Around the Kitchen SInk Bacon beans beef breakfast cheese chicken chicken recipes chocolate client Column dessert recipes Desserts Easy Recipes entertaining Family Friendly Giveaway healthy Healthy recipes holidays Indiana Indiana Family of Farmers Indianapolis IndyStyle kid friendly kid friendly recipes Main Dish meatless Meijer Pasta popular Red Gold Tomatoes review rice side dish recipes Sides slow cooker recipes snacks Soup Recipes strawberries summer Tomatoes vegetarian recipes veggies
  • Search By Date

  • Copyright © 2018 · Basilmomma.com