Looking for Advice on Exercising during COVID-19?
Running- the perfect sport in time of pandemic?
I hope you are well reading this!
Running at least once a day for the last 40 years, and currently working in Toronto as a running ambassador I cannot help noticing a major change in my neighborhood taking place. I see them in all colors, shapes and sizes. With or without proper running gear. Some slow, some fast. Men and women. Children and youth. They have all thing in comon. They run. Runners are changing my neighborhood. How cool is that?! Some are slow, some are fast. Some I have seen a hundred times out there beofre. But most runners are new. Running seems to be hot and booming. Wow, I am thinking. GREAT!
One concern
Even though I am one of the runners who run daily, and know much about the positive effect on health, there is one thing that concerns me though…We are not all build for running. so I am concerned about what’s awaiting down the road for these “back-to-basics-exercise-boom” runners.
Running boosts health
BUT first of all, let’s SUPER EMPHASIZE the POSITIVE effects of running on your health. This week I came across an interesting post from an experienced researher highlighting the positive effect of exercising on the immune system. According to Nieman (a researcher)
Nieman has spent the last 40 years studying links between exercise and immunity and knows what he is talking about. So, getting out there is indeed a great idea for us who are not in self-isolation.
Having said this, and seeing so many new runners out there, I decided to start posting my own running tips regularly through this platform.
How do I start?
Most new ‘want-to-be-runners’ ask me something like this: I have 45 minutes of time to exercise. What should I do in those 45 minutes? Well, here is my suggestion.
Take time to exercise every day. Every bit helps. Be creative. If you start out running for the first time be aware of injuries down the road. Start by running every other day, or with two days in between, doing a workout like this:
- 15 min walk at moderate pace and then for maximum of 15 minutes where you alternate every minute between running and walking. Finally you walk the last 15 minutes at a moderate pace.
- Know this: Only when you have done this workout three times, you could add to you running part of this session. This is call progression which is an important part of building resiliance.
Next week Friday I will post more running tips and exercises for lifelong running joy. Next week: strength and balance 1.0
Have a safe week (and keep washing your hands regularly!)
Coach Jim
(PS! Feel free to email me any question regarding running you want answered here on this platform. jim@torunto.ca)
