Getting Started
A lot of people ask me what they should do to start a running program. The answer depends on a number of factors:
- How much running they are currently doing (if any) and what types of workouts they are doing.
- What their goal is.
- If their goal is a race, how far off the race date is.
- If their goal is a particular race time, how close their current performance is to that time.
From this information, it is possible to determine whether they have a good chance of achieving their goal and to lay out a program to get them there.
After working with them for a few weeks and seeing how they respond to training, it’s possible to estimate their performance improvement with greater accuracy and refine their training program accordingly.
Some of the variables involved in determining the rate of improvement for a runner include:
- Physical and genetic makeup (fast twitch vs. slow twitch muscles, etc.)
- Previous running and racing experience
- Ability to withstand pain/discomfort during training/racing
- How many days per week they are willing to run
- How much time they can devote to training
- Whether they are injury-prone or not
Some very gifted runners will improve very rapidly, while others will have to work much harder to reach their potential.
No matter what the end result, the process of running will teach them a lot about themselves and will deliver tremendous health benefits.
