Witness The Fitness

Running. 

That exercise we love to hate and we hate to love. I’ve never really been a fanatic about running. In fact, every time I ran I was reminded of how unfit I was and questioned why I was doing this to myself. Whether it was running on a treadmill in a fancy gym or running on the road, I just couldn’t find the pleasure of going the distance. What I didn’t know was that it wasn’t running that was the problem, but the way in which I was running. Now some of you couch potatoes may not be interested in all the technicalities of running – perhaps the very reason why you’re stuck on the couch in the first place. To me running was all about speed but in fact, running is all about the distance. I wouldn’t say I’m a ‘know-it-all’ about all things running, but I definitely found the pleasure in running from following these few tips I learnt along the way.

First things first, keep at a pace. Get the rhythm going. Run at the speed at which one would walk in a fast pace. Focus on that rhythm and perfect it. It’s not all about how fast you get to your destination - we’ll leave that to the speed trainers. It is rather about how much of the distance you can endure at a regular pace.

Running is considered to be very therapeutic. It gets the happy endorphins pumping and secondly it gets you thinking and helps you clear your mind. Focus on your thoughts because as we all know, one thought leads to another and another and another. Before you know it, you’ve run half the block already.

Music is like my mantra! I suggest you put together a running or exercise playlist before you hit the road. On my playlist I have tunes from Zedd, Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Calvin Harris to name a few. Electro-house pretty much gets me going. The beat also helps me find a rhythm. If it means that I have to sing along in my head to help me get through the distance, then that is what I’ll do. Just don’t take it too far and be fist pumping along the road haha, because then you’ll just be making a fool of yourself.  

Another tip I always tell my friends is “Never Look Ahead”. Focus on the ground before you and only on the ground. Looking at the distance ahead just puts your off and ten-to-one youre going to find a landmark and tell yourself that that’s where you’re going to stop. Biggest trick ever is to not pay attention to the distance. Listen to your thoughts, listen to the music, focus on your pace. The distance will melt away the moment you get into that zone.

I often have this debate with people between which route is best: Road vs Treadmill. This could be different for everyone, but I think that road running is by far more advantageous. Too begin with, the treadmill has a STOP button! Haha! That is no good for people who don’t want to run in the first place! From experience, running on the treadmill started off with a half hour run, down to 20mins and down to a further 5mins. I became lazy because it was easy for me to stop. Pathetic you may say. Indeed!  Next thing you know, there’s Husain Bolt wannabe next to you trying to outrun that treadmill and there goes your self-confidence. Sounds like lame excuses I’m making up here – fact is, I just don’t enjoy it. Running on the road you have the scenery, you have the distance pushing you to the end. No-one is there to carry you home. You are forced to run home! May it be running or walking, you are forced to complete that distance and that is what keeps me going. That is what helps me reach my goals and I can come home satisfied, having conquered the road!

Running CAN be FUN, you just have to find ways in which to make it easier for yourself and more enjoyable. Make it a habit. Make a commitment. The moment you start to crave that after-exercise burn in your legs. That’s when you know you’ve got it right!