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STARTING FROM SCRATCH
For those needing a starting point from square one.
Ron
Shea
Ok, here you are. For whatever reason you have decided
to get with triathlon training program, but with no recent prior experience, you have
to start from scratch. Well,
running is obviously the first discipline you will want to start with. This
is a great exercise. If your goal is to lose weight, running will
definitely allow you to accomplish this.
In my opinion, running IS the super-turbo-charged-mega-energy-consuming-calorie burner.
I would even go as far as to say that I would be willing to bet that if one runs
30 to 60 minutes/3 times per week, you will never be overweight. Coupled
with a moderate 2-3 times a week weight training routine you will prolong the
active part of your life by 20 years - I guarantee it!
Nowadays, when you hit your 40's the average person will
start needing medicine. Medicine for blood pressure, medicine for
cholesterol, and medicine for all these other myriads of semi sedentary-induced preventable
diseases. So let me ask you this: 'how did people live past their 40's
back in the day?' They sure did not have health insurance.' It was two main things:
Walking to get to places and a simpler,
healthier diet. So there it is. We will start with the walking. This
works out great for people who are overweight as if an overweight person starts
out running, I feel that it would be just to much stress on the joints. So
for everybody, start out walking and, if needed, change your diet immediately so that when
you transition to running, it will be a lot more easier on the joints.
Conservative Program
Ok, so you are excited to get started today - huh? For
those who are overweight (to determine this, see the chart
Body-build
) I
have provided you with the link above to a program to get you going - providing your doctor
has no concerns of course.
If you find that running hurts your
joints, try starting out with biking instead. Biking is also great in
shedding excess pounds. Once you have built a bike 'base' over several
months and have lost weight, then you should have little problem starting the
conservative running program. For biking, start out at say 20min and don't
exceed a 10% increase the following week.
Aggressive Program
If you are not overweight, (see the chart
Body-Build
), I have provided you with a 16-week program with the link above, running
three times per week...should be no problem if you are not overweight or you
have had a prior fitness program but currently have been doing nothing.
I would also highly recommend you to
purchase the book Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals as it has a shorter routine
from walking to running that takes only 14 weeks AND you are working out four
times per week while being able to run more minutes at the end- it is definitely more intense. It also is chocked full of tips and techniques from diet to
race day. Plus Steven Jonas, being an M.D., will show you how to build-up
safely and explains these phases better than I do..
MAKE THE COMMITMENT!!!
If you can commit just 2-3 months for this
adjustment period for your body...you will find it a piece of cake from here on out.
Remember, for most people, looking good and
feeling great is not easy - we must work hard at it! No amount of crazy
fad dieting or supplements offered by the fitness industry will
help you.
You must ask yourself 'How bad do I want to be
healthy in my mind, body and soul?' If the answer is a resounding 'YES!!!'
then you have come to the right place. If you are unsure, then go back to
your fad diets and non-intense workouts.
I hope right now you are putting on your
work-out gear to go at least walking or maybe to the gym for your first
weight-lifting experience. Do not submit to the dark side of couch-potatoeness
and fat-free snackfood! Think about it, if they take out the fat, more
carbohydrates go in to replace...biochemistry 101 says that any unused
carbohydrates get converted to fats - easily!
It's now time to get serious, grit your
teeth, put on your game-face and lets do this!!!
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