Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com Andrea-Piacquadio-pexels.com-photo-credit.
April 11, 2023,
The mandated Covid lockdowns are long gone.
Hopefully the voluntary ones too.
If you haven’t gotten out already, it is truly time to go outside and stay there, for long periods of time, since Spring is officially here.
For many, it is time to get some exercise and the best place to start is with your legs.
At FCI, we often like to share our personal experiences with the hope that readers can learn something from it.
One of our friends named Alisa recently shared what she has been doing to focus on the legs.
First off, now that the weather is getting warmer, near perfect temperatures before the hot sun kicks in, this is a perfect time to walk in city parks. She prefers parks with designated walk ways so that she doesn’t have to compete with bikes.
Alisa started with one mile and recently worked up to walking four miles. Part of her reasoning in approaching Spring exercise this way is because she feels she is slowly getting her body, in an exercise sense, warmed up for what is ahead, before she hits the gym and begins to work out on the stationary machines.
Her main focus is her legs.
First, for about a month, she will begin with extended walking. Soon, she will transfer that into basic running, coupled with the walking. She brings plenty of water and sun screen.
About her shoes.
The team at nike.com educate, “When choosing a walking shoe, it’s important that it stabilizes your foot without restricting your movement too much. If you’re trying a pair on, you should feel moderate resistance when you try to twist your foot in the shoe.”
How much cushioning will you need?
It will depend upon the distance. Alisa has one walking shoe at the beginning of the Spring and another, later in the Spring, as she begins to walk more miles.
Alisa tends to look for a shoe with a low heel-to-toe drop, as a high drop can alter your stride.
Soon she will be running.
In terms of attire, Alisa makes sure that she wears compression shorts that help protect the thighs from pulls and strains. Compression style leggings work wonderfully as well.
As Spring progresses, she is ready for some running shoes.
Running shoes come in a range of shapes suited to different running styles and abilities.
Generally, they are divided by running style, the majority are for heel-toe joggers and runners which are further subdivided into ‘neutral‘, ‘over pronation‘ and ‘under pronation‘.
Where do you purchase?
According to the NPD Group, one in four pairs of running shoes that were sold in the United States in 2016 were bought from an online retailer.
As far as where she purchases her shoes, Alisa likes going to brick and mortar retailers because she likes to try them on and feel the fit.
We appreciate your thoughts Alisa.
We’re going to turn to some experts by walking over to the book store.
52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time Hardcover – February 22, 2022
By Annabel Streets (Author)
“We think we know how to walk. After all, walking is one of the very first skills we learn. But many of us are stuck in our walking routines, forever walking in the same place, in the same way, for the same time, with the same people. With its thought-provoking and evidence-backed weekly walk routine, 52 Ways to Walk will encourage everyone to improve how they walk, while also encouraging them to seek out new locations (many on their own doorsteps), new walking companions (our brains age better when we mix up our fellow walkers), new times of the day and night, and new skills to acquire while walking.
Inspirational, backed by science, illuminated with human anecdote, and bolstered with how-to tips, 52 Ways to Walk will inspire, challenge, support, and encourage everyone to become more ambitious with their walking practice, revealing how walking may be the best-kept secret of the supremely healthy and happy, the creative and well-slept–those with the best posture and sharpest memories. Just about everything, it appears, can be improved and enhanced by clever and judicious walking. It turns out you actually can get more from life, one step at a time.”
Very well-stated.
With books like these, we know that everything will not apply but if we can get just one morsel of improvement out of it, we are glad to get it.
One more.
The Ultimate Beginners Running Guide: The Key To Running Inspired Paperback – March 2, 2013
By Ryan Robert (Author)
“Several years ago Ryan Robert noticed his niece was having body image issues. She obsessed about her weight and let it take control of her life. Eventually she even lost the confidence she once effortlessly displayed.
As an avid runner, Ryan knew if he was able to get his niece to start running she would gain self-confidence, better mental and physical acuity. It would also allow her a better focus on health rather than weight. Ryan started writing notes to his niece about different aspects of running. These notes became the impetus for his book Running Inspired.
Running Inspired provides a wealth of information for the non-runner and beginning runner. The book covers everything from proper form, to shoes, to running plans, and food. There is also information on how to stay motivated including visualization exercises. These are the tools Ryan used to teach his niece to run inspired and they will help you too.
Ryan’s writing style is friendly, easy to read, and non-judgmental. If you have ever thought about running, even if you’ve never tried it, Running Inspired is the perfect place to start.”
Self-confidence. That always goes a long way.
One of the things Alisa noted, as the difference between just walking and running, is that, with running, her stomach and the rest of her body have the ability to get far more toned than just walking.
Her goal, before she heavily goes to the gym, is to already have a fairly toned body by the time she gets there.
So, are you making the most of your early Spring exercises?
The weather is typically moderate and the air fresh, so Spring is the right time to get started.
Enjoy.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO Andrea-Piacquadio-pexels.com-photo-credit. Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.nike.com/in/a/best-shoes-for-walking
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakers
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
