Run,run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, Im the gingerbread man……

Children run as second nature, without thinking, without getting out of breath, without effort, usually laughing at the same time….. somehow along the way, for many of us, that pure natural ability gets lost as we emmerse ourselves into adulthood and the ability of the mind takes precedence over the ability of the body.

 Oh, to be so lythe and free spirited again!! 

However, have no fear, and all is not lost – its just some of us have to start a little further back before we can even begin to think like the gingerbread man…

 Read on… 

When you set out to run its easy to run too fast, get out of breath and give up, thinking you couldn’t run to catch a bus. Start simple. After a warm up, which could be a fast walk, break into a gentle jog. Go slow, stick to walking pace but with a jogging motion. Set a target – it could be to the next lamppost – jog to it then slow to a fast walk again. Continue alternating a slow jog with a fast walk. Don’t allow yourself to get breathless – you should be able to talk still. A good target time is 20minutes in which you may cover about 2 miles. Aim to repeat this 2-3 times a week with a gradual reduction in the distance that you walk with a corresponding increase in the distance you jog.

Stick with the routine and its surprising how quick you’ll get into the flow of “joined-up” running. At this early point don’t worry about distance, time or speed. Just concentrate on the basics of simply getting out and getting your body used to the physical motion and idea that it can actually run.

 

And that’s it – consider yourself a runner!