Talking about Running

What's the deal with running?  Well my personal deal is this: 

 I lost probably the first 15 kg through portion control alone.  At a certain point, it seems that one's metabolism gets the news and starts trying to conserve energy.  I hit that point, and decided that I needed to start some kind of daily exercise, hopefully to build some hungry hungry muscle, also to try and kick my metabolism into gear.  I had started the couch to 5 programme before, on a hired treadmill, and hated it- it just sucked, and I hurt my knee right away.  

This time I thought I would try it again, on the road, and just do it til I hurt myself or it got too hard, at least I would be exercising! Luckily I mentioned it to a blogless online friend who was a big lady herself, but still an experienced runner.  She recommended the book "ChiRunning" by Danny Dreyer.  I snagged the Kindle version and settled in that night to read it.  I firmly believe that the excellent advice on form in that book is almost solely responsible for me still running happily (and a lot more than 5 km!) months later.

My point?  If you are someone who has never run, or run before but hurt yourself somehow, please give Dreyer a whirl before you start.  He teaches running like a child runs, with a natural gait and posture that doesn't stress the body mechanically.  There is a lot to take in, but it is explained so well that one can easily incorporate the information a bit at a time into your practice, it isn't an 'all or nothing' proposition.

Resources:

Couch to 5

Chirunning

Also, and this is a topic for way more discussion later- if you are wanting to start running, consider starting in simple, non-orthotic shoes, like cheap Chinese sneakers/sandshoes.  Barefoot running is its own "thing" with its own controversies- however simple footwear that allows a natural gait, and allows your body to strengthen and work with its pronations and dysplasias.  We are evolved from runners!  Your feet aren't special, no matter what shoe salesmen have told you.  Don't let a perceived need for expensive shoes stop you from starting.