BRV 3: How to Start Running
Knowing where to begin, where to start, how to start, is the hard part and one of the most critical for anyone who wants to become a runner. In this episode of the Beginner Runner Village Podcast, I aim to help you to decide where to start your running journey.
Almost every beginner runner tries to start out at a level that is just too advanced, too intense, either running too much, too far, or too fast. It’s imperative that you figure out where to start your journey to become a runner. That is your starting line, and it is the only starting line you need to worry about for a few months. The secret is to get started with a solid foundation and smart training that will keep you progressing, keep you healthy, and keep you progressing toward your goal. Knowing a good place to start will make the journey to your goal smoother, and it will certainly make it more fun. Yep, more fun because it will provide just the right level of challenge.
Like Goldilocks, you want a level that’s not too hard and not too easy.
You want it to be a little challenging, and that is the level that will be just right. It’s not always at the beginning of a schedule. Any schedule is somewhat arbitrary. No two runners share the same level of fitness – or ‘unfitness’ – or the same physiology or ability. For that reason, in my program, some people start with Week 1, but some are better suited to start at Week 3 or Week 5 and progress from there.
My goal is for you to actually enjoy running. That way you’ll stick to it until you achieve your goal.