Beginner Plans: Couch Potato to Roadrunner!
At first, running any distance seems like an almost impossible challenge, but with time and hard work it is achievable. I have had similar experiences to the GIF shown above. I joined the track and field team my freshman year of high school with no previous experience in any sport. Slowly, I built up my endurance to compete in all of my races.
There are many different plans found on the internet. With so many options, I find that it can be overwhelming, so I will share a few plans that I think are most effective. Remember to always take everything slow. This will prevent injuries and help your muscles grow.
1. This plan found on Shape.com involves splitting the time running with some walking. Over the next few weeks, the mileage increases.
2. The popular national magazine, Runner's World, provides an 8 week plan on pdf. This will help beginners by giving them more time to adjust to weekly exercise.
3. Active.com, another popular fitness website, provides a 10-week beginner's plan. This website provides more information on what to do for each week.
In a matter of weeks, you will find yourself running distances with more ease. Once you feel comfortable running small distances and have given yourself a good base of endurance, you will be able to move on to longer distances and faster times!
