22 Running Tips For Absolute Beginners

You can achieve a healthier lifestyle through running. It strengthens your bones and muscles, improves cardiovascular functions, and helps maintain a healthy weight. It is a great way to stay fit, meet new people, and even participate in healthy competitions. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure you are off to a great start.

See your doctor first.

It’s best to see a doctor first if you’ve never run or have lived a sedentary lifestyle. Your doctor can tell you if you have any medical condition that would prevent you from running safely. A visit to the doctor is crucial for anyone over 40 years old, obese, or with a chronic disease.

Take it nice and slow.

The secret to running fast and far is practice and patience. Slowly increase your distance and speed. A slow walk will prevent injuries and give your body time to adjust to a new routine. Building up to regular running can take up to six weeks. Slow down and don’t rush to be fast.

Stay hungry for more.

Giving yourself a glimpse of what’s coming next can help boost your motivation. Finish your running session when you notice you can run longer and faster. Doing this will keep the excitement alive, and you’ll be looking forward to the next run.

Implement A Run/Walk Technique

When new runners start to shuffle their feet, many tend to get discouraged and ask themselves, “why is running so hard?” The key to making running not so hard is to use a run/walk technique. In its simplest form, this means that you switch off walking with running. For example, you walk 4 minutes and then run for 1 minute at an easy pace. You repeat this over and over again until your total running time is completed.

Here are some perfect posts for runners wanting to start a training plan but note quite ready for 5k training:

Play your favorite tunes.

Listening to music while running can get you pumped up. You will have more fun running when you are distracted from the reasons why you dread exercise. Music can also help pace your breathing and avoid fatigue, allowing you to run for longer.

Do you need a decent pair of earbuds that won’t fall out? Check out Earbuds That Won’t Fall Out When You Run.

Set realistic goals.

Not accomplishing your goals will quickly discourage you. The best way to achieve goals is by having a realistic plan in mind. Take short walks at first and increase time, distance, and speed every week. It is more motivating to accomplish small goals consistently than a large one once in a while.

Find running buddies.

It’s incredible how much motivation you can receive from your running partner or, better yet, from a whole running group. If you don’t know anyone who runs, you can find Facebook groups for runners almost anywhere. They can help you progress faster by sharing valuable experiences.

Don’t run on a full stomach.

Exercise can be strenuous after eating certain foods, in particular greasy foods. You can also experience nausea and pain. Have a light snack, such as bananas or granola bars, if you need to eat something before running.

What are some of the best foods for runners? Find out here –> What are the best superfoods for runners?

Warm-up and stretch.

Warming up and stretching before exercising stimulates your metabolism and blood circulation, which improves your endurance. You also reduce your chances of injuring yourself by moving your joints and muscles. Stretching again after running will also prevent this. Always warm up with about 5-10 minutes of walking or extremely light, slow jogging. Perform anywhere from 3-4 dynamic stretches. For a detailed post on great dynamic stretches for runners. Check out: What types of stretches should runners do? Includes cool-down static stretching as well.

Here are the best post-run static stretches to perform after a run.

Practice your breathing.

Breathing gives your body enough oxygen and makes it more resistant to fatigue. Taking a deep breath through your nose and mouth will help your body to relax. By breathing deeply into your stomach, you make better use of the entire lung volume and avoid side stitching.

Find a good running technique.

Every person will have a different running technique. A few general guidelines for running include:

maintaining an upright posture,
keeping your buttocks and abdominal muscles tense,
using your arms to perform rhythmic running,
keeping your shoulders relaxed, and
placing your feet under your body.

If you feel pain, that’s your body telling you it’s time to change your style.

Related: Proper Running Form

Drink water and replace electrolytes.

When exercising, it is essential to drink enough water, but too much water can impair performance. A glass of water about five minutes before you start running is enough if you’re going for a short walk. If you run long distances or marathons, it’s a good idea to use a hydration pack or a hydration belt so that your body gets enough fluid in small amounts.

Allow enough time to recover.

Muscles need to rest and prepare for your next run. Alternate running and rest days to reduce the risk of injury; it is essential to rest at least two days each week. You can gradually increase your training days as you progress.

Related: What Is A Recovery Run?

Plan your route.

You should always be aware of your surroundings when running. Keep an ear out for traffic sounds and potential hazards. To reduce the risk of injury, choose flat, grassy areas over hard or loose surfaces (such as sand).

Look for clean air.

Our health is always compromised by air pollution, but some places, like roads, are even worse. You can develop various respiratory and cardiovascular complaints due to vehicle exhaust fumes. Run in the morning or evening to avoid traffic and inhaling air pollution from vehicles.

Dress properly.

Dress appropriately for cold and warm weather. Choose fabrics that swiftly dry and wick sweat away from your skin. Clothes with athletic cuts are easier to move in. It would help if you had good socks to prevent chafing or discomfort while running. Ladies, be sure your sports bras offer enough support and allow your skin to breathe.

Buy a comfortable running shoe.

Get help from a running shoe expert in a specialized sports store. They will analyze your feet and make recommendations. You can also size up, so your toes do not hit the front of the shoe when you are running. If you want to avoid lower leg injuries, opt for comfort over style.

Keep a training log.

A training log will help you see trends on how long it takes you to recover from a long run, injury risk, and improvements. It keeps you on track and helps you accomplish your goals.

Take on a few runner-friendly workouts.

Some weight training exercises can boost your speed and strength. Swimming, elliptical, cycling, and rowing are great low-impact cardio exercises that help you stay in shape, improve your cardio, and prevent injuries. Cross-training will help keep your cardiovascular system up while working non-running muscles. Here is a list of the best cross-training exercises for runners.

Mix up your routes.

Running on a new park or path keeps boredom at bay. If you want to maintain interest and enthusiasm, find a scenery where you enjoy spending time. Wouldn’t it be nice to run along the shore or go on a hike if you can?

Understand why you run.

Have a clear vision of what your main goal is, whether it is losing weight, running your first marathon, or just improving your cardiovascular health. Knowing why you run will keep you motivated if you ever start to lose interest.

Understanding why you run will save you on the days that you absolutely do not want to run! Check out this detailed post about what to do if you lose your why and running mojo.

Be patient.

Improving your ability to run long distances and fast takes time, diligence, and patience. You’re not going to run a marathon after a week of practice. But you can do it if you focus and don’t give up.

If you follow these tips, you will be off to a great start. Happy running!

Related: How To Run Safely At Night

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Coach Scott's Credentials:

Published Author
RRCA Certified Running Coach (Level 2)
RRCA Certified Youth Running Coach
NASM CPT (Certified Personal Trainer).
NASM CNC (Certified Nutrition Coach)
NASM WLS (Weight Loss Specialist)
ACE SFC (Stretching and Flexibility Coach)
ACE GFI (Group Fitness Instructor)

He has published over 20 books including, Beginner's Guide to Half Marathons: A Simple Step-By-Step Solution to Get You to the Finish Line in 12 Weeks! (Beginner To Finisher Book 3), which has become an Amazon International #1 bestseller. Scott specializes in helping new runners become injury-free race finishers. He recently completed his 22nd half marathon race.

To sign up for a FREE half marathon training schedule, log sheet, and pace predictor CLICK HERE.