Preparing For A New Running Habit

Running, while seemingly quite intensive and uncomfortable at first glance, can be a habit that helps unlock our sense of freedom, restores our feeling of fitness, and gives us the chance to totally dissolve our stress during those mornings we decide to partake in it.

That said, just like any exercise, it’s important to know what to prepare for before we get started. While running is free, and doesn’t require a gym membership to take part in, some preparatory investments can ensure you enjoy the safest possible time running around your local town, or even while running on a treadmill at home, as well as preventing injuries from taking place in the long term.

Preparing for a new running habit, then, requires diligent thought and care. In this post, we’ll discuss a few tidbits of preparation you may not have considered ahead of time, and where it’s important to invest before you get started:

Find The Right Footwear
The right kind of footwear will not only make running easier for you, but it will help prevent a plethora of injuries you may have experienced otherwise. It’s also important to make sure you wear the right shoe for your foot size and type – those who are flat-footed, for instance, may require a given kind of shoe, while those with high arches can benefit from shoes with more support. Some decide to utilize membrane shoes that try to match the usual span of your foot including toes, but these are meant for smoother running environments. We’d also recommend you bundle this with the right assistive apparel, such as compression therapy that can help your circulatory system in the best possible manner.

Plan Your Route
Planning your route is a healthy way to prepare for your running regimen. This is because preparing a route properly will help you focus on what matters most instead of finding your way anew each time, and that’s focusing on your form, being mindful of your surroundings, and making sure you control your breathing correctly. Planning your route in line with this effort will enable you to keep a relatively nice path going each time, ending your session at your front door quite reliably instead of having to waste time walking back and forth. Planning your route may also help you enjoy nicer vistas, such as through a public footpath in the woods or in a local park.

Nail Your Warmups
It’s healthy to nail your warmups to the degree that you can, because this will help your muscles and joints become prepared for running, lessening the chance of injury. Often, walking is a good way to warm up, as are dynamic stretches like small lunges, squats, and arm circles. If you can do this properly, then you can start running when your body is ready for it rather than when you feel semi-okay halfway through the run itself. Nailing your warmups is difficult and it takes time, but with a little care and attention, you’re sure to get this right.

With this advice, you’re sure to prepare for a new running habit in the best possible sense.

XOXO