RUNNING EASIER

Resting properly and avoiding injury.

Running easier is an important lesson to learn when one is taking up running for fitness or for competition. Starting out too hard too soon often leads to injury and discouragement.

Running easier is often not a consideration when people take up running for the first time.

As a result they find it very difficult and painful and their foray into running ends up being a discouraging experience.

Most of the time it’s the problems are caused by not “easing” into running and stressing the body before it has time to adapt to the new demands they are making on it.

INCREASE DISTANCE SLOWLY

Running easier is an important consideration as there is risk involved with demanding too much from the body too soon.

Take up running. You just might like it.

If a runner wants to reach the point where long distances become very manageable and less physically stressful, then it’s essential to build up running distances very slowly over time.

Running is considered a “high impact” exercise because of the jarring effect it has on the body with every single foot-fall.

Although the knees bear much of the burden, the impact that results when each foot meets the ground effects the entire skeletal frame.

By starting out by running easier the body will adapt to the constant demands as muscles, ligaments and tendons eventually strengthen as the runner’s conditioning improves.

AVOID INJURY

The human body is a miracle of creation and has the remarkable ability to adapt to the demands that are made on it.

However, if runners insist on extending their training distances without giving their bodies time to adapt by running easier in the early days it could easily result in runs that are are not that much fun and have a high potential for injury.

With that in mind, it stands to reason that one of the key ways to make long runs easier is to work up to those longer distances slowly.

REMEMBER TO REST

It’s also typical that most runners will be unaware of the importance of rest days in the fitness equation.

Although it might not seem too bad at the time, running day after day and running too far too often will eventually result in the body rebelling and finally breaking down.

Long runs are much more enjoyable if they are carefully scheduled and easier running days are worked into the weekly training program.

For instance, longer runs should be scheduled after a full day of rest from training. Another rest day or a very easy run should be scheduled for the day “after” the long run.

The first rest day allows the runner to attempt the longer run fully rested, and the second rest day allows for recovery after the long run.

WHAT YOU EAT IS YOUR FUEL

Diet is also an important consideration once a runner begins to take on longer distances in training.

Having the body properly fueled with the optimum balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats will help combat fatigue and physical stress that often results when runners begin to run longer distances.

Of course a major part of the fueling process includes being properly hydrated going into a long run and having enough fluid replacement during the course of the run to sustain an optimum level of hydration.

If a sound diet is incorporated into your training along with some easier run days it will be a much more enjoyable experience.

HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE

Proper preparation and planning are major keys to ensuring that long training runs are not an overly stressful and physically demanding experience and will make the miles pass effortlessly by and will help ensure those long run days are an experience to look forward to.