What is Your Single Best Piece of Advice?

by Hank
(The Netherlands)

I have always been active in sports but now have three young children and I'm no longer as active in team sports.
Running seems like a great thing to do (when the kids are in bed) to get back into shape. Can you suggest a running program?

What is the single best piece of advice you could give a guy just starting?
I'm not completely out of shape; I ran a 5 km run a few months ago with relative ease.
I would love to get to the half-marathon stuff in a few months if possible.
Please help,
Hank


Answer by Dominique:


Hi Hank,
Yes, running is a great thing to do to get back in shape.
My main advice to you:

1) Increase mileage safely and slowly
Do not get overenthusiastic and build up too fast. That is the fast road to injury.

2) Make sure you have got good running shoes and socks.
If you know you'll stick with running, go to a specialised running store and invest the money in running socks (non-cotton) and shoes fitted to your foot type.

Overenthusiasm, socks and shoes are the biggest causes of injuries/blisters/foot issues.

If you are already able to do a 5k in relative ease, then I'd say:

build up your mileage so that you can do a 10k in relative ease

Look at my 10k running program; maybe not follow it religiously, but consider how to build up your running training week by week

Then when you can do a 10K, do my half marathon running program.

There are faster ways to get to the half marathon, some people advocate going from 0 to a marathon in four months. I don't agree. See this as the start of a long and happy running life and realise you don't have to do it all in one day.

Once you really get into it, pick a local race to compete.
There is a lot more stuff to read and learn. Visit my running training page for a few articles. Also, last piece of advice, Daniels' Running Formula is really THE running training book out there. I love that book.


Good luck, enjoy your running.
Cheers,
Dominique