The Beginner Running Routine is Money in the “Exercise” Bank
At this age (50), exercise is important. We all feel the age wall pressing up against us, just the TV commercials alone will make you shutter. To get ahead of this, I have incorporated a Beginner Running walk/run program this year, and I hope to stick with it. For better or worse, right?
Basically, I walk for 5 minutes, then go from running to walking again every minute or so, just enough to not get too winded. I do this for 30 minutes, with a 5-minute walking cool down at the end. This helps as you don’t get too sore the first couple of times out but beginner running is just right. I have found that if you just go out and fully get into the program, you will burn out quickly.
This is how most people fail. They try too hard with a beginner running routine, maybe even put themselves back when they were in school, and how hard people made them push. This is not at all what it takes, it takes a new mindset. An old boss of mine used to say, “slow down to speed up!”
I began this beginner running program after reading a research paper on exercise. At first, I just started walking 30 minutes a day. The article I read pointed out that any movement is good for you when done for a period, 10 minutes or more. Even walking! Any movement is better than no movement, or a sedentary lifestyle. These types of movements can help control blood glucose levels and even blood pressure. We must think about that at our age now!
The beginner running article went on to mention that people often do not take advantage of exercise opportunities throughout their day. Opportunities like parking further away at work or taking the stairs.
I started doing both, but I work on the 12th floor, so I usually walk up the stairs until I reach the 4th floor, then I take the elevator from there, and man am I winded! I usually stop in the stair shaft to catch my breath, so I don’t have to explain why I am out of breath on the elevator! The cafeteria is on the 5th floor, so I will walk down the stairs whenever I need to go get a snack or take lunch. I found that walking down is easier, but not by much, I still get tired and I was sore the next day after trying this.
I grew up thinking that walking did not count, that unless you were sweating and panting, you were not getting the proper exercise! I found this to be wrong. Since I started this beginner running routine at work, several of my coworkers are doing it with me, and even without me as we don’t all take breaks at the same time.
Now, don’t get me wrong, you still need to do vigorous exercise to see significant improvements, but as of now it seems that my clothes are starting to fit better, I feel better at night and I am not so run down all the time. With two kids at home, that is very important!
I have always believed that small steps lead to a greater gain over time, think of turning a large ship in the ocean. Little bites at beginner running are all it takes.
Try this beginner running routine and you might find you can easily turn that ship around too!
It’s all money in the “exercise” bank, even if it is just pennies.
Cheers, and good luck!
CC
