Luckily, running requires less preparation and fewer materials than virtually any imaginable sport/hobby. When it comes down to it, all you really need is a decent pair of shoes. Nonetheless, here are a few bits of advice for first-time runners.
Visit your doctor
I know many people will neglect this particular point, and that's understandable. But it's never a bad idea to have a check up before starting a new physical activity, especially if you have been inactive for a while.
Find the essential gear
Chances are you may already have all of the equipment you need to run. Although enthusiastic runners have demanded all kinds of crazy gear from gps watches to water belts to traction enhancers, all you need is a decent pair of running shoes and comfortable clothing, including socks. Shoes are arguably the most important item in a runner's arsenal; bad shoes have a knack for causing blisters and sore joints throughout the whole body. However, you don't necessarily need the latest high-tech pair to get started. As long as you have some athletic shoes that fit you well and aren't too worn out, you should be fine.
If you are interested in buying a new pair of running shoes, a good pair will generally cost you from $60 to $100 US. If you can, find a specialized running shop, and take your old shoes with you. The employees at these stores are usually very knowledge and they can match you with a good pair of shoes for your specific foot shape and running style.
Plan your running trail
As a new runner, you probably won't need a very long trail, so this part is also fairly easy. Here are some things to consider when you're choosing your running path:
Avoid hills - you don't want to make it any harder than it has to be right now.
Motor vehicle traffic should be very low or there should be sidewalks available the whole way.
Dirt trails are actually easier on your legs than concrete, but they must have smooth, predictable footing and be well-lit.
Some human proximity is good in case you would need help.
Water fountains and shady areas are bonuses.
Plan on an out-and-back shape so you don't end up too tired to get back to where you started.
Stretch
Stretching is very important for runners, and it should be done before and after the event. You don't have to do anything formal or scientific, just move your all your joints around in different fashions, and gently hold your limbs in their stretch positions for a few seconds. I find it helpful to start with my neck and work my way down to my feet. A comprehensive stretch may take several minutes. At the end you should feel a bit more limber and your heart rate will already have quickened slightly.
Usain Bolt has literally run 100 meters faster than any human in history. On May 31, 2008, the 21-year-old Jamaican sprinter Usain "Lightning" Bolt broke the 100 meter world record with an official time of 9.72 seconds (with a favorable but legal wind of +1.7 m/s). Bolt lowered the previous world record of 9.74 seconds, set by compatriot Asafa Powell in Italy last September. Video below.
The world record holder of the 100 meter dash is generally bestowed the title of "World's Fastest Man." Although it really depends on the length of the race, that is an amazing title to have. I look forward to seeing Bolt at the Beijing Olympics.
The gun goes off and everything changes... the world changes... and nothing else really matters.
Patti Sue Plummer
Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.
Steve Prefontaine
Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity.
Michael Johnson
The will to win means nothing if you haven't the will to prepare.
Juma Ikangaa
No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day. When I look into their eyes, I know I'm going to beat them.
Danny Harris
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
Jules Renard
Quotes on Pain and Pleasure in Running
It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse.
Ann Trason
I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.
Jesse Owens
If you start to feel good during an ultra, don't worry, you will get over it.
Gene Thibeault
Miscellaneous Running Quotes
I cannot have survival as my only goal. That would be too boring. My goal is to come back in my best running form. It is good for me to have that goal; it will help me.
Ludmila Engquist (Olympic champion hurdler facing cancer)
There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open.
Nike Ad
The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.
Will Rogers
Cross Country Quotes
The start of a World Cross Country event is like riding a horse in the middle of a buffalo stampede. It's a thrill if you keep up, but one slip and you're nothing but hoof prints.
Ed Eyestone
The freedom of Cross Country is so primitive. It's woman vs. Nature.
Lynn Jennings
Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better.
Juha Väätäinen
Marathon Quotes
To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind.
Jerome Drayton
We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.
Emil Zatopek
Marathoning is like cutting yourself unexpectedly. You dip into the pain so gradually that the damage is done before you are aware of it. Unfortunately, when awareness comes, it is excruciating.
John Farrington
There is the truth about the marathon and very few of you have written the truth. Even if I explain to you, you'll never understand it, you're outside of it.
Douglas Wakiihuri (speaking to journalists)
You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming.
Frank Shorter
