Beginner's Guide to Running

Running is an exercise many people enjoy for cardiovascular health and as a complement to dieting or weight training. Learn how to start running for health in this exercise video.

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Don't run every day
Begin easy
Find quality shoes, fitted at shop
Stick to soft surfaces for low impact
Vary pace

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Dave has been an endurance athlete for over twenty years and is a swimmer , runner and cyclist that has finished the Iron Man triathlon. Additionally he has represented the US at the world championship. He coaches in Newport and has seen his team win the district title. He has a great passion for racing, training and coaching.

DAVE CAMPBELL: Hi. I'm Dave Campbell, and this is a beginner's guide to running. First off, don't run everyday. Start with every other day and begin easy, just with perhaps jog a block, walk a block, jog a block, walk a block. Visit a reputable running store, get fitted for a good pair of running shoes that suits your style, suits your gait and alternate running every other day, perhaps with some cross-training activities. Another common mistake that beginning runners make is to do all the running at the same pace. You're going to want to do some easy aerobic runs, and the goal is to build to 20 minutes of running nonstop. But once you get to that level then try to vary your pace with what we call some Fartlek running where for perhaps pole to pole on a short prescribed distances or even random little things like hills, you can go faster for short periods of time and then return to your easy jog. Try to stick to soft surfaces, things like your local running track, trail, the beach. Soft surfaces like grass are going to be more forgiving and easier on your legs. You can also do some relaxed sprints - we call them strides - in the beginning--excuse me, in the middle of a run or towards the end of the run. Again, you can vary the intensely, mix it up and train yourself at a variety of levels.

Beginner's Guide to Running Video

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