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A Beginners Guide to Running - A Tale of a Thanet Roadrunner

I was recently asked to write an article for the Thanet Roadrunners newsletter. The remit was to write something from a beginner's perspective, so that hopefully anyone who has never run before could look at the article and think; wow I could have a go at that. What I have tried to do is provide a timeline of my experiences, offer my thoughts and tips on what I have gained out of the last eight months running with Thanet Roadrunners.

I joined Thanet roadrunners about eight months ago when it was still pitch black in the early evenings. I decided to take up road running because the pounds were piling on. I had taken part in Martial Arts for over 10 years of, achieving black belt status, but the ugly head of club politics reared itself, which made me incredibly sad because it was a pastime I had thoroughly enjoyed. I had tried other martial arts clubs and other sports such as Fencing, but these didn't feel right or didn't tick the boxes for exercise and calorie burn. I am not sure why, but I picked up the courage to choose the most radical form of exercise in my opinion. I therefore contacted Mark Foster at Thanet Roadrunners who told me about the club and the benefits I would get out of being a club member.

I can remember my first evening, the weekend beforehand I had just purchased my most expensive type of any shoes ever. I turned up, outside the meeting point at the Charles Dickens School, and was given a nice warm reception. We then started running. After about 800 metres, just past the Pizza Hut, the arches of my feet were becoming unbearable with pain. This is the first lesson I learnt...road running is much different to moving around in a marital arts studio/dojo, you have to run from your heals rather than the balls of your feet, otherwise you will do yourself an injury. However despite this useful advice and other encouraging comments the pain got worse so by the time I got past the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, myself and Mark Foster turned back. On the way back I can remember asking Mark some really lame questions, but fortunately for me at the time, he humored me. My first run should have put me off, but it didn't. I have only experienced real discomfort once whilst running and that was only during my first run. Since then it has become a lot easier and my body has got use to the challenges involved with road running.

Over the following months, Mark corrected my running stance even down to pretending to have plastic cups in my hands when running...useful for your top of the body action. My main running was on a Monday night with the club, but this was backed up by short runs ( 2.5K to 5K) at work which built up my stamina. I was very conscious of the time that everyone was helping me so I had to ensure that my fitness levels rapidly improved.

After a couple of months, the Monday night sessions were getting better and better, I began to run all the way around and then faster and faster with the help of Sharon and Helen who looked after me. It was still a little bit disconcerting being always at the back of the running group. However, one of the brilliant things that I love about the club is that the frontrunners always run back for those at the back of the group which is really great for morale. I guess that most people at the club were beginners once themselves, so they can certainly relate to people starting their running careers and giving it a go.

My first race/fun run was the Man on the Run (5K) in Herne Bay. It was very hot and was my first foray into proper running. Looking back on it was quite a personal achievement. When I listen to the successes of experienced runners at the club, 5K sounds incredibly miniscule. but for a beginner, a very heavy beginner, it was mountain to climb. I was incredibly surprised and grateful to have the support not only of my wife and my youngest daughter, but Sharon and Mark who came along to provide me with moral support. Since this first race, I have run the Deal Dinosaur (10K), Wingham (10K), Sandwich (10K), Faversham (10K), and Pilgrims Hospice (5K). These races set me up nicely for the Sittingbourne 10 which I thought was a 10K. However the night before when trying to find the directions to the venue, I actually found out that it was a 10 mile race...still I did it, really enjoyed the countryside, the running and the support and the conversation of fellow runners.

Shortly after the Sittingbourne 10, I received my first injury and was a really good one as well. It was a fashionable foot injury, the type that only David Beckham and Wayne Rooney have had...a Meta Tarsal injury. After a bit of rest and sensible training. I have since run the Thanet 10 which was my original goal set by Mark and Sharon. My thanks to Donna for getting me around because I was still trying to get my fitness back.

Over the 8 month since I joined Thanet roadrunners I have gained many things:

1. I have lost a stone and a half of weight. Doesn't sound much but I think I have added a lot of muscle to my body.

2. I have found a way of keeping fit that fits in with my lifestyle.

3. I have made new friends.

4. I have put new structure into my life and gained fresh perspective. You get this when you are out looking at the breathtaking Kent countryside

5. I have even established an informal running club at my work place. In the summer, after initial ridicule, there were six of us running in our lunch hour.

6. Gained several athletic personal bests.

I have also learnt the following lessons which I would like to share with you. I am sorry if these tips are cliche's, but I believe that some simple truths are eternal.

1. Don't be too ambitious to start of with ; you aren't Seb Coe or Kelly Holmes. Trying to keep up with fast runners will only lead to injuries.

2. Avoid doing too much, too early. Some people start off with hard regimes which their body and personal motivational levels are not up to. It is better off to pace yourself and enjoy the experience.

3. Listen to the experts. They have been their before and have the experience on what path you should take

4. Don't be to self conscious about your weight. Every human being is different and you weight with a balanced diet and exercise will eventually come off.

5. Get into a routine. If I didn't have my Monday night run to look forward to, I doubt that I would still be running. There will be nights where you don't want to go out. Having an established routine will give you reason to go out and keep the running habit going.

6. Follow the club motto of running back for the slower runners. It is great for beginners to see experienced runners doing this.

7. Always warm up and warm down. It saves on aches and pains and more importantly helps avoid injuries.

8. Find a running partner in a race. Having a chat with someone makes a run more enjoyable and makes the time and distance go quicker.

9. Pre arrange sensible targets. Mark Foster set me the target of doing the Thanet 10 mile race by the end of the year which was achievable.

10. Get to the races with plenty of time and know where the toilets are...most places aren't geared up to having 500 runners scrambling over 3 cubicles.

Lastly, I must give my thanks to Mark, Sharon, Helen and everyone at the club for giving me so much help. Here's to a great 2010 of road running.

Ian Lockyer
www.easimarketing.com

About the Author

I am fully qualified marketing professional with a wide range of marketing and digital experience. Since July 2004 I have been a Chartered Marketer. I am also a Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing.

I have a passion for the internet and using new technology for marketing. I enjoy understanding and using new technology as part of the marketing mix. I passionately believe that the internet and, most recently, social media are fundamentally changing the way organizations need to act online.

Dillon Baxter | USC Spring Scrimmage Highlights 2010 - CollegeLevelAthletes.com

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