With so many people taking running, many mistakes are being made by them because they are not receiving the gospel according the marathon clinic protocol. So in order to save them from themselves, here are the 10 commandments for new runners.
- 1. THOU SHALT GET MEDICAL CHECK-UP BEFORE RUNNING.
This should include a treadmill stress test if over the age 35 or if you have high blood pressure, smoke or have high cholesterol or family history of heart disease or diabetes. Also if you have symptoms of chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, unusual tiredness or shortness of breath.
- 2. THOU SHALT WEAR PROPER RUNNING SHOES.
They should have a heel thickness of at least ¾ inch. Thy shoes should be ½ to 1 sizelarger than your regular street shoes or thou shalt surely get black toenails.
- 3. THOU SHALT WEAR AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE: TO STAY COOL BUT JUST ENOUGH SO THE POLICE DON’T ARREST YOU FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE.
Never, never run in a “jogging outfit” with long pants or thou shalt surely die from heat.
- 4. THOU SHALT NOT RUN WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER EATING.
Or thou shalt have to run to the doctor for indigestion.
- 5. THOU SHALT DRINK WATER FREQUENTLY.
Not only before and after you run, but every chance you get during your run. It will keep thy soul cool but is even better for thy kidneys because it prevents dehydration.
- 6. THOU SHALT NOT RUN ON THY TOES UNLESS THOU ART A BALLET DANCER.
Otherwise, always run like you walk with your heels down first.
- 7. THOU SHALT RUN SOFTLY WITH SHORT STEPS OR THOU SHALT PURELY POUND THY FEET TO DEATH.
- 8. THOU SHALT ALWAYS OBEY THE TALK TEST.
If you can’t talk while running, thou shalt wear your lungs out. Always run at conversation pace.
- 9. THOU SHALT ALWAYS OBSERVE A DAY OF REST.
In between each running day, observe a rest. Never run two days in a row for the first three months of running or the muscles will rebuke thee.
- 10. THOU SHALT NOT BRAG TO THY NEIGHBOR ON HOW GREAT YOU FEEL.
They can see it for themselves anyway. Always try to maintain humble in thy super state of health.
This piece of information was handed to me by a certain elite veteran runner known as “Tiger” of Davao City sometime in January 2009. I noticed them doing their daily training at 6am, and it was only on the second day when he slowed down and paced with me. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to seek tips from him so I used the pick-up line, “How long is this oval in km?”, and our conversation went on and on about how he used to run in the high school varsity and for the past years he regularly joins the Milo marathon leg. He even complimented how fast I run and that I can be faster if I lose more weight! Half-way through my cool-down routine he handed me this piece of paper that containing “The 10 Commandments of Running”. Browsing through it I gave him a sheepish smile when I realized that I just broke rule number 3 because I was wearing, why of all days, my pair of jogging pants!
Note: These commandments were written a long time ago and I think some rules has been modified through time.
