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48 T3 MARCH 2021The complete guide to...
does exactly the same thing: puts one foot
in front of the other in quick succession.
Needless to say, when it comes to running
technique, there is a huge difference
between a beginner runner and Eliud
Kipchoge, a person who can run a marathon
in under two hours. So it’s not like beginners
really need to worry about correct form from
day one.
The truth is, time makes everyone a
good runner. And when we say ‘good’, we
mean ‘energy efficient’, ‘faster’ and
‘stronger’. These qualities are all subjective:
what’s fast for you might not be all that fast
for the aforementioned record-breaking
Kenyan. It doesn’t matter, though, as the
reason why you run can be completely
different from others, especially elite
runners. Running for pleasure, weight loss
and to improve mood are all valid reasons to
start exercising today.
The best way to start running is to get a
pair of running shoes and run. That’s it. It
will be slow and tiring at first but it will get
easier with each subsequent run. However,
as much as you will get better with every
run, it’s also important to want to get better
at running to actually improve your
technique sooner. An experienced runner
will be able to conserve energy better and
reap the benefits of running even during
shorter sessions.
To get better at running, you will need to
keep at it without losing motivation or
getting out of the habit. The best way to stay
on track and keep yourself motivated is to
get a running watch. These smart wearables
can track and record a variety of statistics on
the wrist without any additional sensors
being attached to your body: gone are the
days when you had to wear little pods on the
shoes and a separate heart rate strap to
monitor all body metrics accurately.It’s worth mentioning that data gained
from running watches will never be 100%
accurate as there are a number of factors that
can compromise it. For example, a watch
worn too loose/tight can alter heart rate
readings. The same goes for built-up sweat
between the sensor and the skin but even the
amount of hair on the wrist can skew
readings. Nevertheless, these capable
running wearables can track runs with a
decent accuracy and give you a better idea of
how your performance changes over time.FINDING THE BEST FEATURES
Modern running watches – or multisport
watches, as companies like to call them
nowadays – come with a plethora of features:
these might include basic stuff such as
telling the time and more advanced features
like GPS or a digital compass. Needless to
say, you probably won’t use most of the
bloatware that comes preinstalled on the
majority of watches but some features are
essential in order to track your outdoor
activities efficiently.
One of the most important ones you’ll
definitely need is a built-in heart rate
sensor. Running watches have optical
sensors – as opposed to the electrode pad
and transmitter found in chest heart rate
monitors – and, by now, most big brands
use sophisticated algorithms and preciseBEST RUNNING
ACCESSORIES
FOR NEWBIES
Running doesn’t require
loads of gear but the stuff
below might help you as
you get startedAFTERSHOKZ OPENMOVE
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
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£79.95, aftershokz.co.ukMEGLIO ASTEROID FOAM ROLLER
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From £7.99, mymeglio.comADIDAS SL20 RUNNING SHOES
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£60, adidas.co.ukThe best way to stay
on track and keep
motivated is to get
a running watch