Getting started on your training

Hello, Helen here with your second week of training tips.

We are very lucky to have the Great Forest Event in our home town, with a very unique course, run by a group of people with years of experience as runners and administrators.

One of the best half marathons I ever did was the Buller Gorge Marathon. All of Westport supported it, the school children had races of varying distances, there was a mum and pram run, a piper welcomed you into Westport and the locals lined the streets cheering and clapping, plus you got to run down the beautiful Buller Gorge. The total support of the area made this special.

If you are not sure where to run or walk, since the time spent out at the moment is not too long, a sensible approach is to start from home and do a block around your area, and as you get fitter, add another block on.

Once you are used to your training, vary the route to keep yourself fresh. I like to use the track up Queen Street East, it climbs slowly to the top and you notice it when you come back.

Train at a time that fits in with your circumstances. If you are training on road with no footpaths always run/walk facing the on-coming traffic. Keep all your senses alert to danger.

At this stage do not worry about how fast you are going, just go out at a pace where you could hold a conversation comfortable. Beginners try to go faster and longer at the start but 18 April is a while away yet and we will build to it with increased distance and speed.

This week’s training is still part of the getting started phase.

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Monday ................................. rest Tuesday ................... 10 to 20 mins Wednesday ............................ rest Thursday ................. 15 to 25 mins Friday .................................... rest Saturday ................................ rest Sunday .......................................... ............. 20 to 40 mins — if you are running try to run continuously.

As the weeks get busier with Xmas coming up, you may notice that your run/walk is a great destresser and that you start to feel really good.

Next week I will give you three weeks of training guide. Keep safe and keep moving.

Helen