Getting Started

There is no doubt about it, we are currently experiencing a running boom! Runners are everywhere: running along the streets, through the parks, along trails and tracks. They run alone, in pairs and in groups. They have discovered the joy of running, the health benefits and the fact that it is inexpensive to take part. If you are yet to join the ranks just take a look at some of the benefits to find out why you should invest in a pair of running shoes and discover for yourself the joy of running.

Here, in Northern Ireland, we are fortunate to have training support groups across the country with friendly trained leaders who specialise in helping people just like you so you don't have to do this alone!  Go to our ‘Find your nearest group’ section and make contact, We look forward to running with you!

We should also mention that research suggests that we burn calories when we run but it doesn't stop there. When we've finished our run, our bodies expend calories to get the body back into its pre-run state. There is some debate as to how many calories we burn after exercise but in the article, Exercise After-Burn: Research Update, authors Dr. Len Kravitz and Chantal A. Vella reviewed a number of studies related to after-burn and found that a general range is about 30-120 calories for 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise, including cycling and treadmill, at 70% of VO2 max (about 80% of your maximum heart rate).

This research has been done with people exercising at a fairly high intensity but it is important to start slowly if you are new to running and then gradually build the intensity. The first thing to do is to visit your GP and ask for his or her approval for you to start running. Once you have this reassurance you need to break into it gently in order to allow your body to adapt to a new exercise routine.