I always thought running was boring. I mean, how could you run for hours without going crazy? What do you think when you run? Does your body hurt? Iām sure it does.
I started running 3 years ago. I needed something to focus on at that time and running seemed a good option: I had never tried it before, and most of all, it was challenging. I was a complete newbie and I remember feeling excited about it: I started in January and my goal was to run the Hackney Half Marathon in May that same year. I started a training program I found online and I can still remember my first run as if it was yesterday: a disaster. It was so painful that I felt like I was gonna faint anytime.
It was not easy ā it’s never easy to start something new ā but that’s where all the fun is, don’t you think? Running is hard, especially if you’ve never done it before, but I can assure you that once you start you’ll progress so quickly that you’ll feel great very soon, both mentally and physically.
The benefits of running on type 2 diabetes
Running is a great form of exercise for people with type 2 diabetes as it improves insulin sensitivity and helps fight insulin resistance.
It also improves your health and can help you lose weight, which is extremely important for those with type 2 diabetes. Being overweight is one of the main issues and consequences of type 2 diabetes so the sooner you’ll lose that weight the better you’ll feel. The benefits of running are many and most of all, they are true for everybody, not only for diabetics.
Running can help you:
- gain muscle
- fight depression
- improve your mood
- increase the good cholesterol
- lower blood pressure
- increase your energy levels
It’s a great way to stay active and it’s also cheap: you don’t need a gym membership to go running and you can do it anytime, at your pace and when you fancy it. It’s a great moment to be with your own self and the more you’ll practice the more you’ll love it. The only thing you need to do is stay focused and motivated. You can do this, one step at a time!
Tips on how to start running
- Seek medical advice: you should always inform your doctor before starting any kind of new exercise
- Start small: if you’ve been inactive for a while, start with a short walk at low to moderate intensity. You need to build endurance in order to run longer. Don’t worry, you’ll get there one step at a time. The most important this is to start š
- Plan ahead: set up a weekly plan and stick to it. There are lots of free exercise plans online you can start with. You can always change it later once you’ve build strength
- Print your exercise plan: now that you’ve found your weekly plan, write it down or print it and put it where you can see it every day. It will help you stay motivated!
- Get good running shoes: you don’t want to get injured and a good pair of running shoes can support you and help you run better. There are lots of shops that do free Gait Analysis and will help you choose the right pair of shoes based on your running style
Books about running
When I started running several years ago, I was so excited that I bought lots of books on the subject. Some of them focus more on running and meditation, others are more technical. I love them all and I think they are great if you’ve just started. They really helped me understand the practice and most of all, they thought me how to listen to my body. Running can be very painful at the beginning and it’s very important for you to understand what your body is telling you and why.
- Born to Run ā Christopher McDougall
- Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind ā Sakyong Mipham
- Mindful Running ā Mackenzie L. Havey
- What I Talk About When I Talk About Running ā Haruki Murakami
- Brain Training for Runners ā Matt Fitzgerald
If you know any other book please let me know in the comments below! It would be great to add some more to the list š