- Don’t try to pick up where you left off. Just because you used to be able to run five miles a day, that isn’t necessarily still the case if you haven’t laced up your running shoes in quite some time. Your body loses some of its athletic ability when it isn’t used, so you’re going to have to start at a lower level of running and begin to work your way back up again.
- Alternate walking and running. A great way to break yourself into your old running routine is to alternate between walking and running until your body can handle running the entire course without needing a break. Pay attention to how you feel though, and slow down if you experience pain or extreme discomfort.
- Consider getting new shoes. If your old shoes have a lot of miles on them, you may want to consider getting new ones prior to starting to run again. Don’t just put them on and hit the trails or treadmill either as you’re going to want to break them in first. Spend some time in them when you’re just hanging around the house so you don’t end up with blisters and sore feet.
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