Running Basics: What You Absolutely Must Know Before You Begin  

It's summer! The weather is great (mostly), the gyms are full and claustrophobic and you want to get fit quick before you have to bear your bod on holiday or out and about in town. What do you do? 

Bin the gym and hit the pavements. Running is a great way to get fit and get in shape, but unlike most cardio activities, you don't need a great deal of specialist equipment. All you need is a decent pair of running trainers and the great outdoors.  

Now, many of us feel self-conscious running out doors, but fear not. There are ways and means to bluff your confidence until you get it.  

The first thing that you need to consider is where you are going to run. If you aren't confident at running, I suggest you don't plan your initial route via your ex's house. You will not impress! That is a promise!  

Instead, try to choose a place, initially at least, where there are plenty of runners and you have something pretty to distract you from your pain, embarrassment and general running phobias. A local park or lake is a great place to start. Also, if you try to keep your running location in the same place, you will be able to monitor your own progress.  

Running is the cheapest and easiest way to boost your fitness and trim your weight and best of all; everyone can give it a go, to some degree. Just remember to start slowly. It is no good entering in for a half marathon when you haven't ran since high school. Start slowly and build your way up, slowly. This will mean that perhaps there are plenty of people that over take you and run faster and further than you initially. But you will get better and soon you will be over taking people and beating your own run times.