Running with a personal trainer
As a personal trainer, I’ve worked with many people over the past decade, and have often heard people say they’d love to run, but just can’t ‘get into it’. Some say they get bored or that their legs hurt, while others say they simply don’t know what to do!
Well, rest assured, we have all the information and advice you need to become a confident and successful runner – no matter what your budget or fitness level.
Starting from scratch
If you’ve never run before and don’t know how to start, have tried in the past but felt unsuccessful, or really don’t like the idea of running solo, a good lace to start is with a personal trainer. A trainer will be able to ensure you have the right footwear and work at the correct intensity for your level of fitness. This is vital, and, in my experience, is where many people fail: they either set off at full speed like Linford Christie and have legs of lead within a few minutes, or they head out with an unachievable goal (for example, ‘I’m going to run for 20 minutes’). When they find they can only run for three of those 20 minutes, they feel a complete failure!
If you’ve never run before and don’t know how to start, have tried in the past but felt unsuccessful, or really don’t like the idea of running solo, a good lace to start is with a personal trainer. A trainer will be able to ensure you have the right footwear and work at the correct intensity for your level of fitness. This is vital, and, in my experience, is where many people fail: they either set off at full speed like Linford Christie and have legs of lead within a few minutes, or they head out with an unachievable goal (for example, ‘I’m going to run for 20 minutes’). When they find they can only run for three of those 20 minutes, they feel a complete failure!
A trainer will assess your fitness, ensure you warm up properly and then gently increase your speed and duration appropriately for your fitness levels. They will also see f you have any biomechanical imbalances (for example, tight hamstrings on the back of your thighs from long hours sitting at a desk) and work to address those issues to help prevent injury. As a trainer working with new runners, I always add in some strengthening exercises for the legs and core – your all-important midsection which supports your spine.
Your personal trainer should be able to give you a programme, so if you only want to pay for one session per week, you can continue to train alone until your next session. Many personal trainers will also arrange to see you once a month, and can write a programme to keep you progressing for four weeks at a time.
What’s your fitness personality?
If a personal trainer is beyond your budget, get together with a friend or colleague who matches your fitness personality.
1) Competitive and driven: If you thrive on challenges, you’ll benefit from training with someone slightly fitter than you, as your competitive spirit will drive you forwards and compel you to train harder and improve.
2) Wallflower: If you prefer not to stand out, having a running buddy who is much fitter than you may leave you feeling overwhelmed or lacking in confidence, making you more likely to give up. Choose a running buddy with a similar fitness level to you, who can empathise with you and offer support and encouragement.
3) The team player: If you love being in a group, work well in teams and enjoyed team sports, such as hockey and netball, at school, look for running buddies at your local running club. You’ll find lots of different levels of fitness to grow with, and being a part of a club can be very motivating.
Content provided by Women's Running
Content provided by Women's Running
Share this article
Daily Horoscopes
-
Sagittarius
One of your greatest virtues is your easygoing nature, even when the pressure is high. Yet now you're on edge, and are finding it extremely uncomfortable. This probably has more to do with the increasingly intense feelings you're experiencing in the run up to early June's emotionally intense Sagittarius eclipsed Full Moon. By Shelley von Strunckel
Comment on this article
blog comments powered by Disqus