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Running; the high octane weight loss programme Summer’s coming which means sooner or later you’ll be expected to get your legs out on the beach. If that fills you with fear then now’s the time to start an exercise regime that makes the most of Marbella’s amazing location. It’s free, it’s easy, anyone can do it and it’s guaranteed to get you into shape quicker than any other sport. We’re talking about running or - if that sounds a little too active – jogging. Beautiful coastline Just imagine taking in the views of the Mediterranean, Gibraltar, North Africa and the beautiful Andalucian coastline as you trot along the paseo listening to your favourite tunes on your ipod! It sounds good and it is good, so why not have a go? Running is the ideal sport for most people. All you need to get started is a pair of decent trainers and the determination to drag yourself out of bed a little earlier in the morning or to fit a quick run into your daily schedule. The benefits of running are many and varied. Not only will you feel healthier and fit into your clothes much more comfortably within weeks, but you will also feel better physically and emotionally. The sense of achievement and the natural high you enjoy after completing even the shortest of runs is enough to keep you feeling happy and inspired all day. And if you live, or are staying, along the Costa del Sol then you’re blessed with an ideal racetrack on your doorstep. The beaches around Marbella and Puerto Banus lend themselves perfectly to running and offer a variety of routes to suit the novice runner and the seasoned athlete. You can run on the sand, on the paseo or mix and match. Head west from Marina Marbella to Puerto Banus and you can enjoy an unbroken stretch of beach and paseo for around 10km. Get started If you’ve never run before then the best thing to get started is to run for one minute and then walk for one minute. Repeat the run/walk pattern until you can run for a couple of minutes without stopping. You’ll be amazed how quickly you progress from stopping and starting to going for 20 or 30 minutes straight through. For those who would like to make running a habit rather than a one off, there are a couple of important points to remember to avoid illness and injury. As well as making sure you have a decent pair of training shoes (your old Adidas shell toes just won’t do) you need to drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated under the Spanish sun. Even if you run at 8 or 9 in the morning the suns rays can still be strong and can drain you as you exercise. As you get into your routine and start to see the weight loss, you’ll also notice that your appetite increases – and that’s no bad thing. Running regularly, even for just 20 minutes each time, means you burn off considerably more calories that you’re used to. So that means eating more. Obviously you don’t want to undo all the good work by eating a huge bar of chocolate every day but you’ll need to stock up on more carbohydrates, especially the slow release ones you’ll find in brown pasta, brown bread, porridge and rice. Within around six weeks you’ll really start to see the difference that your new routine is making both to your body and to your mood. You’ll have more energy, sleep better, feel more upbeat about life and you’ll probably feel just a little bit proud of yourself for having made the effort in the first place! So make the most of living or visiting this beautiful part of the world and get out there and breathe the sea air and take in the views as you jog along. It really is worth your while. If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to add them below. |
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