Hey there,
There are people who believe you shouldn't really exercise if you're not overweight.
These are the same people who size up my slim body and ask, "What are you running from?" just because I run five hours a week. That's not a lot, guys.
It's a funny question to me, I must say, but after the chuckling, there's always an understated seriousness to my response, "I'm running from bad health."
And I mean that every time. Studies have confirmed that the less regular physical activity we get, the shorter the years we should expect to live for. There's just no getting around it.
Why is this so? Shouldn't we be 'resting' more to live longer?
Sorry, but our bodies were not designed for the sedentary hell modernisation has brought down on us. We were made to move, not merely from houses to cars, but also everywhere in between. That's how our systems keep functioning as they should. That's why I run.
If we're keen on doing the right things with our bodies, if we want to live healthier and longer in the face of comforts and habits that threaten to keep us physically inactive, we all should move with purpose a lot more. Isn't that why we're here?
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Setting The Pace
In No Need For Speed, his well-reviewed beginner's guide to running, John Bingham (a man who knows as much about running as much as anyone else) makes an important statement:
"You don't have to run fast to be a runner."
What this means, at its core, is that when you're starting out, your only competition is yourself. This applies to life in general as much as it applies to running but we'll leave that for another day.
These are some things you need to remember about your running pace:
1. Listen to your body, not your pride. There's nothing wrong with pushing yourself, but pause when you can't bear the physical strain.
2. If you run out of breath, stop to catch it. It's hard to run when you're crumpled on the floor.
3. Consistency beats speed every time. Running at a moderate pace every couple of days day is better than overdoing it for an hour and knocking yourself out for a week.
4. Focus on building endurance, not beating personal records. Personally, I've been slowly increasing my distance over time. I like to sprint, but how far I run matters more than how fast.
Timeouts
Running is good for you scientifically, a thorough guide to running and ways to increase your pace.
Body Fuel
Running frequently or not, you should eat healthily. And that means getting all food groups in the right proportions without overeating.
Specifically for runners, certain foods have been noted for helping recovery, contributing to muscle strength and of course, supplying energy among other things.
Oats, for example, get the nod for boosting energy without causing a spike in blood sugar while bananas could very well be the perfect pre-run food because they combine carbohydrates (for energy) with potassium (for reducing muscle cramping) and also have the added benefit of not upsetting the stomach (listen, you never, ever want to have a runny stomach on a run).
When you get right down to it, it's interesting how much the right foods can support your running mission. Take further dietary directions here.
Gearing Up
For the longest time, all I took with me on my runs was my phone, and even that was strictly because I needed to be reachable. I didn't use apps or a fitness tracker. But as I ran more frequently and farther, I figured I needed to take things a bit more seriously.
Seriousness begins with downloading a decent fitness app. I recommend Nike + Run Club (Android, iOS) for its activity tracking and training plans.
Step it up with a basic fitness tracker to measure everything from distance to heart rate. The cheapest good option by far is the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 (on Jumia at 11,990 naira).
You should also get a water bottle. It's the sensible thing to do.
Tracks For The Track
There's nothing wrong with running in silence, but if you're anything like me, music will get you going. This week's playlist features twenty-one Afrobeats, house, gqom and dancehall tracks in a deliberate order and will keep up with your strides for well over an hour.
Stream the playlist on Spotify. Otherwise, use it to add tracks to your own running playlist.
Keep moving.
Love,
Ore.
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