Running may not exactly be a mainstream exercise, but it can surely save you from the hassle of paying a gym fees and visiting every day. Running can be a wonderfully refreshing exercise if done with the right attitude. It is a wonderful means of workout to keep heart diseases, diabetes and strokes far at bay. Furthermore, running also contributes in terms of weight loss and mood regulation! You will be surprised at how mood lifting running can actually turn out to be. With the breeze in your hair, your heart pumping and the blood rushing, running is a quick fix to a lot of problems!

Here is a little list of advices that can lay down a foundation to the new runners guide, consisting of some of the most essentialrunning for beginner’s tips!

Get the Right Equipment

Here is one important running for beginners tip: Pick the right equipment. Fortunately running does not entail the usage of any equipment, other than the right pair of shoes! More often than not, we tend to pick up whatever shoes are lying around at home and go running in them. The new runners guide explicitly demands getting the right shoes. Usage of shoes that are not suited to your feet can lead to injuries and this is where one of our most important running for beginner’s tips comes in! The correct way to go about this situation is to visit a shoe store where expert salespeople can assess your foot and running style and provide you with the appropriate shoes. Once you have the right pair, it is essential that they be replaced after about 350 miles because this is the time when the cushioning of the shoe wears out and it may cause damage to the foot.

Start Slow

One very important running for beginner’s tip is that we have for you is doing a little background check before you start running. If you have experienced any injuries in the recent past it is advisable to consult your doctor before you start to run. If you have not been exercising for a while, or active for that matter, it is better if you start slow. Every new runner’s guide should consist of this tip on running for beginners: Do not think running too much, too soon and too fast is the way to go! This running mistake is usually made by people who are new runners and it leads to injuries like runners knee. Hence, being an important point of information in our guide to running for beginners! It is essential that people who are new to the activity start off with a short walk, which increases to a jog and then a run. Throughout this process, the distance that is being run and the speed should both increase at a moderate and reasonable pace so that there is no additional stress on the body structure.

Baby Steps

Another tip on running for beginners is to avoid taking long strides. This refers to taking longer strides than normal or landing on one’s heel in such a way that the foot is way ahead of the body’s center of gravity. Beginner runners tend to think that over striding increases the effectiveness and speed of their exercise when in fact it causes a loss of energy and may lead to injuries like shin splints. This problem can be avoided if the runner lands in a way that his foot is beneath his body and the pressure is applied on mid-sole.

Stay Hydrated

Additionally, an incredibly common and highly dangerous mistake is when runners consume less fluid than the amount required. Of all the tips on running for beginners, this is probably the most beaten about one! People tend to underestimate the amount of fluids their body is losing and want to prevent side stitches hence taking in less fluid than required. This can lead to dehydration which is very harmful for the body. A runner needs to gauge the amount of fluid he is losing and regulate his intake accordingly. The average recommend amount is 16 to 24 ounces of non-caffeinated liquid or water an hour before the run and 4 to 8 ounces right before the run. Sports drinks like Gatorade are also recommended so as to replace the minerals lost during sweating.