Break From The Rain | Jogging

The sun finally cracks out of the crevice of clouds today after some heavy pour during the morning commute. I haven't been a scrupulous runner lately due to the inclement weather. So I've decided to head out there and jog around. I jog like a beginner since I've skipped a couple weeks: start slowly again and build up. Lots of new runners get carried away and try to do too much too soon. This can easily lead to disappointment, loss of enthusiasm and possibly injury. If you want to be able to enjoy running for the rest of your life, start out slowly and build up. I'll do 20 minutes of walking and another 20 minutes of slow jogging for the day.

For those who are completely new to running, I advise them to walk for three weeks. There is a statistically good chance that you will be becoming injured during the second month of running if you do not start with a period of walking. For us San Franciscans, we probably do more walking and negotiating up the hills around town. It takes time for the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones to get used to the impact and mechanics of running.

The overall fitness tends to increase before your body has fully adapted, and that is when you get injured. Use the first three weeks of walking to get into the habit of exercise, and adjust your daily routine, and let your body get a head start on adapting to running. If you have jogged a little, but never run far, it is still advisable to begin a programme of mainly walking before you start running. Consider visiting a physiotherapist or podiatrist.