Top tips for an Olympic workout
With the Olympics in full swing there has never been a better time to get out of a rut and into the fresh air with RunBreeze, the leading online specialist seller of running socks, clothing and accessories.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never run before – RunBreeze co-founders Richard Edmonds and Jamie Smalley are on hand to give you all the advice and motivation you need to shape up this winter.
Keen athletes and fitness instructors to the stars, Edmonds and Smalley launched RunBreeze to provide kit for runners made by runners and are strong advocates for running outdoors as the best path to fitness.
“If you’re looking to lose weight or just tone up and stay fit, running is the best way to exercise as it’s a form of cardio which specifically helps to burn fat. All you need to do is open your front door and go. Better still, it’s free!” Says Edmonds.
The RunBreeze team give their top tips for new runners below:
Know your route
Decide the right distance for you depending on your running experience - then either take public transport or get a lift to that distance away from home. Changing the route regularly will keep you motivated and inspire you to carry on running.
Fuel up
What you eat and drink before your run will help determine your performance. Eat too much and you could end up with painful cramps, eat too little and your lack of energy could slow you down. Morning runners should try eating half a bagel before they leave the house, or take an energy gel with water to give them a boost. Lunch-time runners should eat one to three hours beforehand, depending on how fast they digest food. Try a mid-morning snack of high-carb, low-fat foods, such as energy bars or wholewheat toast. If you prefer to run in the evenings make sure you eat healthily throughout the day and eat a little and often. Hydration is always crucial for runners and not just while you’re running, so try to drink regularly throughout the day.
Wear appropriate clothing
The beauty of running is you don’t need a lot of kit to get started, but the kit you do use needs to be right. Invest in quality trainers from a running store that will test your running style to find the best pair for you. A runner’s feet are the most important part of their body so wear technical running socks from RunBreeze. There are several types available so visit Runbreeze.com and use the sock calculator to see which type you need. Wear something lightweight, breathable and durable such as RunBreeze Performance Tees available for men and women, that help wick the sweat away so you get more out of your run.
Prepare some beats
Music will not only make your run more enjoyable, but the beats and pace of a song are scientifically proven to help you run better. Make sure your iPod has a dedicated running playlist which will help stir you on to do that extra half a mile. RunBreeze recommends:
1. How You Like Me Now - The Heavy
2. Off that - Jay-Z (Feat. Drake)
3. Like a G6 - Far East Movement
4. Louder - DJ Fresh
5. Get Shaky - Ian Carey Project
Remember to breathe
The key to breathing is control and relaxation and it’s important to breathe from your diaphragm. Breathe in through the nose and out through your mouth and find your own relaxed rhythm to keep. Don’t gasp for air and make sure you breathe out as much as you breathe in.
Visit RunBreeze.com to browse the full range of performance-enhancing products.