3 Beginner Running Tips You NEED TO KNOW!

We believe that anyone can become a runner...as long as they have a plan. Here's a few of our most powerful beginner running tips that will keep you healthy and motivated to improve daily!

Be sure to also download our 2-WEEK QUICK START PROGRAM by clicking below. It’s totally free!

Beginner Running Tip #1: Regularly Practice Your Breathing

Take note of your current posture. Are you slumped over in your chair, car, or couch reading this?

Sit (or stand) up straight!

Optimal oxygen intake means creating space for the maximum amount of air to get into. Sitting and standing up straight gives your diaphragm maximum room to expand and take in oxygen. Who knew our mothers were onto something way back when at the dinner table?

Here's a little breathing drill you can add into your run routine:

* Before leaving for the run, take 10 big belly breaths. Keep one hand on the chest and one hand on the belly to feel full expansion with each breath. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
* For the first 5 minutes of your run, breathe only through your nose. Take the speed down if you need to, but stay committed to this type of breathing. It will set you up for efficient breathing for the rest of your run, as well as encourage your shoulders and neck to relax into your stride.

We believe this to be one of the most important beginner running tips to implement.

Beginner Running Tip #2: You're An Athlete, Not Just A Runner!

As beginners, it's easy to categorize ourselves as runners...and just runners.

When we do this we limit ourselves to thinking we only need to run to get better at running. This is not the case!

Strength training and conditioning built into your weekly training regimen can make a world of difference in your ability to stabilize the shoulders, core and legs for optimal run form... as well as help you to prevent injuries before they occur!

Take for example a lunge:

* It helps us access, identify and address weakness in the glutes & hamstrings
* It forces us find our core strength when balance is compromised in a split leg position
* It opens up our hip flexors for an improved range of motion in our stride
* When done alternating continuously for a set period of time, it challenges our breathing and ability to maintain good form through fatigue

Here's a little challenge for you:

Try to continuously alternate lunges for 5 minutes. Step out with the right foot, come back to two feet, step out with the left foot, come back to two feet, etc. For an additional challenge, hold dumbbells (either down by your hips or up on your shoulders).

Beginner Running Tip #3: Don't Overdo It!

As a beginner in anything, it's tempting to jump in head first! We can definitely relate to that excitement of starting something new and committing to it with all of your effort. Not to mention, there's no better feeling than officially being able to call yourself "a runner" :)

But just because you're new, doesn't mean you don't have to train SMART.

Here are a few ways to build a solid training plan:

* Schedule both your run & rest days. Recovery is just as important as accumulating mileage.
* On your rest days and for at least a few minutes on your run days, do something good for yourself. Mobilize, take a bath, foam roll...work on something.
* Mix it up. If you run hills one day, run flat the next. If you ran on a treadmill on Tuesday, run outside on a dirt trail on Wednesday or Thursday. *Here's some advice on that terrain transition.

Bonus suggestion for your rest days: spend 3 minutes in the bottom of your squat position. Watch your hips, ankles and knees open up instantaneously.

There are hundreds of beginner running tips to choose from out there. Feel free to implement the three shared here to make your "rookie runner season" as enjoyable as possible. Good luck out there!

Connect With Us For More Great Training:

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Check out one of our best videos yet: "How To Run Properly For Long Distance | 4 Important Tips"
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[GracieAnimations]

My first training run of the season was 25 minutes for 2 miles. Im in junior high. The fastest girl on my team is 14 minutes. I hope to train more and be faster. Wish me luck on making the team!

[farmboyjude]

very nice videos for biginners like me, , do have a beginners streching before running video

[morkmies]

Hello!

Have you made any video about heart rate and how to take care of it ? I myself have really high heart rate when I'm exercising and I'm kind of baffled about it. My heart rate bumbs up to 165 easily but I usually start to breath heavily after 175. Everywhere I look information about it I find the same things that I should do easy running on about 60% of my max HR and that would be just walking fast for me. Of course it is individual thing for everyone but do you have any advice if I should just ignore my HR at the moment and just enjoy the running if it doesn't feel too hard for me ? (when I'm doing my easy runs).

Thank you for your videos, they are really helpful!