On the Run – Is Now the Time to Take up Jogging?

With restrictions on the ways we can exercise, as well as how much time we are allowed to spend outside, more and more people seem to be taking up running.

Jogging, running and even power walking are excellent ways of getting and staying fit and certainly those involved in the modelling industry may be keen to have a go. 

Whether you are a fashion model, or someone involved in clothing modelling – whether you are a male or female model, older or plus size model – now might be the time to consider taking up jogging. 

Regular running offers an array of benefits, from boosting your mental health to helping you to keep your weight under control.

It can also reduce your risk of long-term illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. 

Furthermore, running is free, you can do it anywhere from city pavements and parks to the countryside, and it burns more calories than any other mainstream exercise.

Before you start running, however, here are our top tips for making it work well for you:

*Check with your GP if you have any concerns about your health. This can usually be done by simply emailing your surgery.

*Make sure you have the right equipment. Running shoes are essential but you might also wish to invest in a sports bra and other clothing too.

*Start gently and set yourself achievable goals. Begin each session with a walk to warm up and then run for just 30 seconds; then walk for a minute or two before attempting another short run. 

*As your fitness improves, lengthen the runs and shorten the walks during each session.

*Try an app. There are lots of great apps out there that will help you go from couch or zero to either five or 10km at an achievable pace.

*Plan your runs by looking up distances on maps and considering the environments you are running through. 

*Decide when you are going to run and put the dates and times in your diary. You might wish to consider the heat of the day and how busy certain places are at particular times.

*Eat sensibly to give yourself adequate fuel and make sure you take water with you on your run.

*Ensure you stretch properly after each run to minimise the risk of injury. Look for a good post-exercise routine on-line to follow.

*Set yourself a long-term goal but give yourself adequate time to get there. Aiming for five or 10km by a certain date can help with this.

*Go running with someone in your household for company and to spur each other on.

*Try listening to inspirational music through your headphones as you go.

*Vary your routes to keep each run different and interesting – look on the internet to find routes posted by other runners.