Contributed by Dr Tan Swee Kheng
One of the most common questions asked by the new and uninitiated with regard to attaining one's running goals and potential has been "How or where do I begin?" Some would say running is simple: how difficult can it be to put on a pair of shoes and run?
It’s true that running is one of the easiest activities, and suitable for just about anyone! However, many put it off because of inertia, bogged down by not knowing how or where to start. The thought of getting started or creating a running routine for oneself seems all too daunting.
You are not alone! When I first decided to pick up running as a sport, I found it rather complex, even with my sporting and sports science background. The simplest questions would surface: How often should I run? Where do I run? Am I wearing the right gear? What should my running routine be? Am I causing more harm than good to myself? Over time, I realized that these questions ironically get answered only AFTER you get started.
You will in time discover what is right and what works for you as you understand your body's needs and responses. Even elite runners go through much trial and error as they discover what is right and works for them. No one goes into running knowing exactly what to do, how to do it, and what works for them. It is a self-discovery process, not unlike learning on the job. Everyone is made different and our bodies respond differently to an activity or training program. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you.
The most compelling question would be how one gets started. I have had the privilege of speaking with many women. Most shared a common ‘motivator' when asked how they got started on running. Unintentionally, all of them seemed to set a goal or objective for themselves before they embarked on their very first run. Some of the goals and objectives were related to completing a race or distance while others had reasons related to personal development and growth. Whatever the reasons, it was the intent and purpose in the minds of these women that drove them to get started. Hence, as with anything in life, we need to set goals and purposes for ourselves. The inertia to get started is much more easily overcome with an objective, and the ability to sustain the motivation tends to be more long term too. The women also shared that their objectives have changed overtime. Now, they find themselves running for different reasons than when they first started.
So the most important thing is to set a goal or objective and get out there to take your very first stride!
Running with you! ~ Swee
"Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." Lou Holtz
"If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything." Win Borden
Dr Tan Swee Kheng is a kinesiologist and movement specialist. She obtained her Doctorate of Philosophy in Kinesiology from Michigan State University, USA. Currently, Dr Tan conducts an exclusive running program just for women – The First Stride, designed to demystify training processes to help women achieve their running potential. Recently, adidas has partnered with Dr Tan to offer free running sessions to women via the adidas Women's Run initiative.
Dr Tan was formerly a national hockey player who started playing hockey at the age of 8. She was part of the team that won the first and to date only gold medal for Singapore Women's Hockey during the 1993 South East Asian Games. Dr Tan retired from hockey in 1999 to further her studies in the USA.
Today, Dr Tan still maintains her competitiveness in sporting events such as marathons, biathlons, and triathlons. She has run several local and overseas marathons including the 2002 Boston Marathon in Massachusetts, USA, and has taken part in several local biathlons and triathlons. Dr Tan is also a one-time Ironman finisher.
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