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If you're thinking of adding running to your resume, consider these three tips before you hit the ground running. Considered one of the most accessible activities, running is also considered one of the best activities you can do for your heart.
Exercise Physiologist, Libba Shannonhouse says before you lace up the running shoes, pay a visit to your doctor. “If you have any kind of risk factors for heart disease, any prior muscular skeletal issues, it would probably be prudent to meet with your physician to make sure you can start a program safely.”
Next on the list, make sure you have the right equipment. Try shopping for running shoes at the end of the day when feet are the largest. Running shoes should be a snug fit. When looking for clothing, wear something visible with bright colors and reflective gear.
“Think about it from the sense of when you’re driving and you see someone running. How easily do you actually see them?” Shannonhouse said.
When it comes to music, “consider wearing just one earphone because you need to hear what’s going on around you.” When out on road, run against traffic for the most visibility.
And number three, start slow. “You want to be sure that you started a program where you build slowly so that you don’t end up with an injury.”
Listen to your body. If there is any pain or discomfort, Shannonhouse says to slow down and try something different. Remember, it takes time to build endurance. “It’s not about how fast you do it or the distance. The fact is you’re out there, you’re moving.”
Start out by doing a run/walk, switching between the two every three to five minutes. “It’s a lot less fatiguing on the body so you have little time to recover.” Warm-ups should be a walk or a slow jog, stretching only at the end. Little by little you'll be making strides in your goals towards better health. “It’s strength, it’s nutrition, it’s sleep, it’s recovery and it’s the effort that you put behind it,” Shannonhouse said.
