Asics and the best considerations and tips to start running
Research conducted by Asics has found a growth in the number of runners who, after starting to run during the lockdown period, will continue to do so in the future.
Since the start of the lockdown Italy has seen a great growth in sports activity, especially running. Runkeeper data show, in fact, that in the months of June and July many more people have run, with an average frequency that exceeds twice a week.
Experts confirm that it takes 91 days for exercise to become a real habit. Now that the lockdown measures are over, do we still feel like running? The results of research conducted by ASICS confirm the positive response of those who started or started running again during the lockdown period, showing that 92% will continue to run or will do so more frequently.
The research then pointed out that 59% of those interviewed decided to do activities because they consider it a benefit to their psychophysical well-being, as well as to relieve stress (47%) or simply to leave home (34%). The results found further benefits of running: a third of people (33%) recognized the activity as a way to escape from daily stress and relax – important aspects especially for the female sample compared to the male sample (38% vs 29%); a quarter of respondents (25%) noticed an improvement in sleep and 21% said that running helped to improve their mood.
However, the research also found that just under half (49%) of the runners who started or resumed their activity during the lockdown admitted that they had not received adequate advice for sports activity, risking injury and giving up their newfound passion. The advice that runners would have most needed are the following:
– How to create a training program (46%)
– How to find the running shoes best suited to their needs (45%)
– How to set realistic goals (38%)
– How to stay motivated (34%)
– How to avoid muscle and joint pain (31%)
As a result of the research, ASICS has developed some simple tips and guidelines for each of the issues identified, so you can help runners continue their training.
Elisa Adorni, kinesiologist and ASICS Frontrunner said: “When I started running I couldn’t not train every day, the enthusiasm and the desire to improve didn’t make me feel the fatigue and I increased the km day after day.
Only when I started a serious training program did I realize how important the day of rest is. The recovery between one session and another is essential to improve our performance in running and especially not to overload the body and risk bad injuries. My advice for the many runners who are approaching this fantastic sport is to listen to each other, understand that tiredness is a signal that our body sends us to ask us to slow down a moment and recover energy. After a day of heavy training I dedicate the next day to other activities such as swimming, pilates or just a little relaxing stretching”.
