With spring nearly in swing, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the great weather and take your workout to the next level. If you’re a runner, or you plan to become one and are just starting out, then this will be your opportunity to meet goals that once seemed impossible.
A new report out of Australia offers some insights into the ways to make the most out of a run. By paying attention to various facets of your run, you can make some slight adjustments that nevertheless offer ample benefits to your body.
First, if you’ve been running for awhile or you’re just starting out, make sure that nothing about your run is actually serving to undermine what you’re trying to accomplish. If something about your stance is off, you won’t be able to run as far or let your body derive enjoyment from what you’re doing.
Keep your arms tucked in relatively close while keeping your entire upper body ramrod straight. If you have your chin lifted upward so that your eyes can scan the environment all around you, not only will you be ready to assess changes in the terrain, but your airway will become less restricted and your body will be stretched out properly. Your abdominal muscles will also post gains where otherwise they wouldn’t if you were hunched over.
As far as your feet go, you’ll want to find some middle ground between spacing your steps out too far and not reaching far enough. Your calves and other muscles are able to achieve the most when you extend your legs so that they’re not dragging but not so much that you’re forced to almost play catch-up to your feet.
If you’re really trying to improve what you’re capable of, then you shouldn’t focus solely on distance work. Be willing to experiment with different types of running workouts so that your body receives numerous types of improvements. If one day is all about hitting the seven mile benchmark no matter the pace, center the subsequent workout around faster sprints that really get the blood flowing. Then, build in rest days so that you also have opportunities to let your body recuperate from what you’ve put it through.
Finally, make sure that you’re not letting those tougher days, like the aforementioned sprinting workouts, cause your momentum to flag. Take a rest if needed, but always be willing to come back to the workout. Once you get put off your game, it’s easy to stay there, so make sure you keep returning to running and other types of exercises again and again.