Personal trainer on your MP3 player
Starting to run is quite difficult. How far, often and how long should you run? There are many construction schemes to be found, but they are not always easy. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a coach guides you through the training and tells you exactly what to do? You can do that with a trainer on your MP3 player.
A few years ago, the Belgian channel One broadcast the program Vlaanderen Sportland. An accompanying start to run podcast could be found on the program’s website: a running course in the form of a series of MP3 files. You download the lessons, put them on an MP3 player and play every time you go walk one file.
Start to run
Presenter Evy Gruyaert takes you on the road for 28 lessons in the Start to run course. She tells you how long you have to run or can you go again to walk, gives tips, encourages you and meanwhile puts on matching motivational music. In about 10 weeks you will learn to run a distance of about 5 kilometers in one go.
“Walking with Evy” became a household name and in 2011 a new version of 30 lessons appeared. An edition has now also been released for advanced runners, Keep running, which accompanies you to the 10 kilometers.
Athletics Union
The Athletics Union developed a similar course, titled Running Coach. This one works the same way. Olympic athlete Gerard Nijboer made the schedules and presenter Renate Wennemars is your trainer. There are MP3 courses available that allow you to train for different distances: 5, 10 and 15 kilometers and 4 miles. Depending on the distance, the courses consist of 6, 10 or 12 weeks, with 3 training sessions per week.
Pros
The handy thing about such an MP3 course is that you don’t have to think about anything anymore. You don’t need a stopwatch and you don’t have to pay attention to the clock, because Evy or Renate will indicate when it is time for a walking break. You can preview the schedules to see what’s ahead, but you don’t have to remember them exactly. You determine your route and pace and if you found a lesson too difficult, you can simply do it again. The music and the enthusiastic trainers ensure that the training is over in no time. And you will also receive useful advice along the way.
Cons
Evy and Renate do give tips, but of course they cannot see whether you are following them properly. There is no one who is your attitude and adjust running technique, like a real trainer does. The music can cause you to run in time and perhaps run too fast. Moreover, the music that Evy and Renate play should just be your taste.
You can start to run and keep running with Evy Gruyaert here find. There is also a book for sale, but the MP3 files are not included. You can download the training sessions with Renate Wennemars if you are a member of Dutch Runners, but you can first download a free demo to attempt.
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