How to Start Running: The Ultimate Beginners Guide

Posted on October 1, 2021 at 12:09 pm.

Starting something new can be intimidating as well as exciting, but having support along the journey can really make a difference. If you ever wonder how to start running, now is your opportunity to experiment and give it a chance to fit it into your lifestyle.

If running is completely new to you or something that you keep stopping and starting, we thought we would help guide you toward a proactive start with all the necessary info needed for a running beginner.

Irish Runner’s Killian Byrne has featured a blog on the Health Benefits of Running if you’re interested?

We’ll cover how to get started, from your footwear to your warm up and to your training plan, and everything else in between to show you how to start running.

If you’re not new to running and just want to change up your plan, check out our blog on Tempo Runs.

If not, let’s kick things off.

Advice on How to Start Running

Athletics Aficionado Frank Greally shares his tips on getting started:

“If you’re new to running there’s nothing worse than slipping on your trainers and setting out at full speed, only to be out of breath and feeling deflated after a few hundred metres. There’s no shame in starting out walking and building up gradually.

“One thing to remember when training is that A Little- A Lot will always trump A Lot- A Little. In other words, Hasten Slowly! It’s all about consistency and making the best of your Gift Of Days- each of them- One Day More And One Day Less that you have to celebrate on Planet Earth.”

Whether you’re a feisty first-timer or back after a little break, it’s important to pace yourself. Remember, you’re striving for progress not perfection. So why not walk your first run?

Yes, walking uses the same muscles and joints you use when running, so it’s a pretty sensible place to start. Plus, a decent power walk can still boost your mood and burn calories.

Of course, if you feel like breaking into a jog — or even a run — while you’re walking then go ahead. Just don’t pressure yourself into continuing the run once you get tired. It’s fine to stop and walk again. Regular runners do this all the time — they call it taking an ‘active rest’ in between higher-paced runs.

Why not get started today – try walking for a few minutes with 30 seconds light jogging intervals built in.

After a few weeks you’ll have built up your baseline fitness. You can then look at progressing to Athletics Ireland beginner 5k training plan below.

Running for Beginners Training Plan

Having a goal at the start of any exercise programme can be a great motivator and in many cases can make the difference between sticking with it or giving up.

For someone starting an exercise programme for the first time or just getting back into exercise after a long break it can be a difficult and daunting experience.

How much should I do? How far should I run? What pace should I run at? What rest should I have between runs? These are all questions that are common, so if you have asked yourself any of them, don’t worry – you’re not alone!

The good thing about starting out on a beginner’s programme is that the terms ‘walk’ and rest’ are used quite a lot! Once you have decided on the run to take part in you should work backwards to however many weeks programme you are following. This sample programme lasts eight weeks and is aimed at getting you to the finish line.

It assumes that you have no major health problems, are in reasonable shape, and have perhaps done at least some jogging or walking beforehand.

The following programme is only a suggestion and should be adapted to suit your work and home life and the days of the week that is most convenient for you to exercise. As with all exercise programmes you should always do some gentle warm-up exercises beforehand and some stretching exercises to warm-down afterwards. If you have read this then you have taken the first steps towards getting fit enough for the 5km run!

Happy Running!

Terminology:

Walk: Brisk walking pace (faster than walking to the newsagents).
Jog: Gentle running (able to chat easily throughout).
Walk/Jog: Periods of walking followed by periods of jogging (vary the times and number of walks and jogs depending on total target time/distance).
Run: Faster pace than jogging but still able to chat (not continuously though).
Rest: Either a day off exercise completely or other exercise such as swimming, aerobics or cycling.

How to Start Running: Warming Up

Whether you are running for 2 minutes or 2 miles, you need to put time aside for warming up and down – your body will thank you.

Start with a simple fast walk or slow jog before getting started at your normal pace.

A warm-up can take as little as a few minutes. Even when you’re strapped for time, going through a quick list of specific motions will help prime you physically and mentally.

Check them out below.

Knee to Chest:

Stand straight, bring your right knee to your chest while keeping your left leg straight, and rise up on your left tiptoes as you clasp your hands in front of your right knee. Take a step forward and alternate legs, hugging your left knee to your chest while rising up on your right toes. Keep your core engaged and strong.

Quad Stretch:

Lift one leg up behind your back while holding it with your hand and feel the pull in your quad. Repeat with the other leg.

Lunges:

Step one leg out and bend to a 90 degree angle and bring the other knee down towards the floor and repeat.

Calf:

Stand with one foot in front of the other, bend your front leg while keeping your other leg straight. Keep the foot that is behind firmly flat on the ground and don’t bend the knee. Straighten your back and hold the pose for 10-seconds and repeat with the other.

Toe Touches:

Standing with your feet out wide bend your body over keeping your hips straight and reach your hands down to you toes. Hold 10 seconds. For variations move your hands in between your feet and both hands to one side. Do as you see fit.

Leg Swings:

Get an area of support to stand by, swing one leg in front and backwards and continue for up to 10 motions. Repeat with the other leg.

Hip Rotation:

Standing straight up, make exaggerated hula-hooping-style circles with your hips, rotating in one direction, then the other.

Full Arm Circles:

Keeping your arms straight and out to the side, circle your arms forward and then backward. to get the shoulder moving before running.

Visit Our WARMING UP – WHEREVER YOU TAKE RUNNING for more exercises to warm up and down.

As well as warming up, make sure to warm down too!

We hooked up with Irish long-distance runner Grace Lynch to teach you how to do it correctly.

How to Start Running: Footwear

This is one area that we would advise to get before you start off running, as a good pair of running shoes can seriously improve your run.

If it turns out you don’t run that often at least you will have a solid pair for spontaneous runs in the future.

There are so many different brands, technologies and pricing options nowadays with running shoes and it can be overwhelming to know which pair to choose. Once you know your foot type and what shoe you should be wearing, it’s all about brand preference then.

Things You Need To Consider Before Buying:

Finding Out If You Require a Neutral Or Stability Shoe

You can do this at home by completing a Wet Foot test or you can get your foot analysed in select stores.

You will then choose a shoe that is suited to your foot type.

What does overpronation, pronation/neutral and supination mean?

Pronation is the natural side-to-side movement of your foot as you run or walk. As your foot/heel connects with the ground, your arch begins to flex/flatten and absorbs the shock acting as your natural shock absorber for the body.

Overpronation: When your foot strikes the ground, it rolls inwards to absorb the shock.

Neutral Pronation: When someone has a normal arch the foot experiences a normal amount of pronation on impact.

Supination: (Underpronation) Not as common as the other 2 foot types. It is typically seen with a high arch and as a result the foot isn’t able to naturally pronate.

This guide on how to Run Injury Free will help you pick the right shoes too.

Comfort Levels

At Intersport Elverys, we have 3 levels of comfort in our shoes. Find out all the information that you should consider when choosing the level of comfort below:

Regular Comfort + We would recommend for anyone just starting off or don’t require a large amount of cushioning.
Extra Comfort ++ Perfect for those longer runs, for those wanting an increased shock absorption.
Maximum Comfort +++ These are best suited for those who are looking for best shock absorption, with extra or maximum comfort.

Visit our Top Running Shoes Review for 2024 blog here.

How To Measure Your Feet

Step 1: Standing straight with your feet firmly on the ground, heal flush to the wall and a blank piece of paper taped to the floor beneath your foot.

Step 2: Measure the largest part of your foot (heel to biggest toe) using a pencil to make your markings. Repeat this on the other foot, your left and right foot may vary in size.

Step 3: Using a ruler to measure the markings you’ve made from heel to toe.

Visit our HOW TO MEASURE YOUR FEET AT HOME blog for more information on this and to see different brand size guides.

This blog on the Top Eco-Friendly Running Shoes is not to be missed.

Conclusion

You’re now ready to get out there and begin your running lifestyle, we hope this information will be a lot of help throughout your journey.

If you need additional advice on technical and compression clothing, running tech, accessories and nutrition then;

View all things running HERE and avail of Free Delivery over €60 and store returns.

What is the Science behind Fasted Cardio?

Posted on September 21, 2021 at 4:26 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

WE’VE all heard of fasted cardio and the amazing fat-burning affect it is supposed to have. But do we understand fasted cardio science enough to help inspire the motivation to get yourself out of bed and straight into a workout first thing in the morning?

Fasted cardio works for some, and not for others, but after reading this blog we hope you’ll be able to make that decision for yourself.

If you’re new to running itself, why not check out our blog featuring Kilian Byrne of Irish Runner who writes about the health benefits of running.

What is fasted cardio?

It simply entails engaging in a heart-pumping exercise while fasting. (However, you can and should drink water beforehand!) In a nutshell, the purpose of this type of workout is to burn more fat.

This would generally happen first thing in the morning after sleeping overnight, but if you practice intermittent fasting, it can also happen later in the day.

Fasted cardio science is suggested as a strategy to accelerate fat reduction as compared to nonfasted cardio. And, while it sounds fantastic, its efficacy has yet to be established.

Let’s take a closer look.

What are the benefits to fasted cardio?

Fasted cardio science works on the theory that if you fast overnight and work out first thing in the morning, your body will be drained of glucose – its primary source of energy – and will instead turn to stored fat for fuel.

The evidence for this approach’s success is mixed.

Fasted exercise resulted in higher metabolic performance after the workout in multiple studies, according to one review. However, eating before a long aerobic workout improved performance, according to the same analysis – check it out HERE.

Fasted cardio provides some other possible benefits as you will see below, however more research is needed to make more clear claims on the benefits.

If you’re short on time, fasted cardio eliminates the need to prepare, eat, and digest a meal
Fasted cardio allows you to exercise before you eat for the day if you observe intermittent fasting
Fasted cardio may be an excellent alternative if you prefer working out on an empty stomach, especially if you have a sensitive stomach or feel more energized without a meal before a workout.

Is Fasted Cardio safe?

Yes, for the most part.

If you’re in good health, incorporating short or moderate-length steady-state fasted exercise sessions into your training should be fine.

Fasted cardio, on the other hand, can be harmful if you’ll be exercising for a long time or undertaking a high-intensity workout because of the potential side effects of low blood sugar or dehydration, such as light-headedness, dizziness, shaking, or even passing out.

How does fasted cardio affect heart rate?

At rest, most people’s hearts beat between 60 and 100 times per minute.

During exercise, your heart rate rises. The more vigorously you exercise, the higher your heart rate will rise.

When you exercise in your fat-burning heart rate zone, your body uses fat stores instead of simple sugars and carbohydrates for energy. Fat loss occurs as a result of this.

A tempo run might be your ideal workout, read more about What is a Tempo Run here.

Your fat-burning heart rate is currently around 70% of your maximum heart rate.

The maximum number of times your heart should beat during activity is your maximal heart rate. Subtract your age from 220 to get your maximal heart rate.

A 35-year-old woman’s maximal heart rate, for example, is 220 minus 35, or 185 beats per minute. Her heart rate should be 70 percent of 185, or roughly 130 beats per minute, to enter the fat-burning zone.

One of the best ways of tracking your heartrate on the run is with a smartwatch or wrist monitor – check out our range HERE.

Bodybuilders have employed fasted activity to help them lose body fat before competitions for years. This is because fats are the principal fuel source for low-intensity steady-state (LISS) movement below about 70% of your maximal heart rate.

Working out in a fasting condition should focus on LISS, which is when the intensity is low enough that you are sweating but can still chat easily while exercising. Fat, which is digested with oxygen, is the principal source of fuel while you can talk while doing out.

Is it better for weight loss?

Burning more calories than you ingest is the most important part of weight loss.

While the evidence on whether fasting cardio aids fat loss is divided, with research showing mixed results

Fasted cardio, on the other hand, has been shown to improve fat-burning effects throughout a workout in several studies.

While fasting cardio burns more calories during the session than nonfasted cardio, the difference in overall daily calorie expenditure over a 24-hour period is negligible, according to research.

In general, increasing your daily mobility, whether fasted or not, is still the greatest approach for losing weight.

Walking, climbing the stairs, getting up from your desk on a regular basis, and playing with your kids will have a greater impact on weight loss than a 30-minute fasted cardio session.

Or why not take a run through nature, our blog on How to Start Trail Running will help you get started.

The Bottom Line

Cardio, whether fasting or not, is beneficial to your health. While diet is important for weight loss, cardio can also help you achieve your goal.

While data on its metabolic impact is still unclear, fasting cardio may suit your lifestyle or preferences better, so if you’re otherwise healthy, go ahead and try it.