The runner runs through the forest on a narrow path

Running

Start to run again

How to get back on track after a break

Getting back into running after a break: the time is now

To stay fit physically and mentally, you need a little variety and time for yourself. That is why now is the time to think about a running re-start. The advantages are obvious: you need almost no equipment, have a flexible timetable - and you can finally go outside again. Through the release of serotonin and dopamine, running has an antidepressant effect and strengthens body and soul at the same time.

Of course, you should keep a few points in mind if you want to start training again after a long break. We name the most important here and give you valuable tips for a relaxed return.

Conquering your weaker self – and staying on the ball

Two women run vigorously through an old town street with small balconies

You decided to take up running again after a break of several weeks or even months? Congratulations, you have already made the most important step! Now it’s time to put on those running shoes and do your first few careful laps.

Take things slow...

The most important thing to remember is: Start slowly! Your cardiovascular system will adapt to increased physical strain quite quickly. Your body’s support system of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments, however, will take much longer to adapt to the change. This means that the risk of injuries is particularly high at first.

...and don’t give up!

The first few runs after a break are the hardest, of course. The challenge here is to keep it up and conquer your weaker self.

The best strategy is not to work out especially intensely, but to work out on a regular basis. If you exercise every two or three days, you will get back into the “flow” quite quickly, and you will be able to significantly increase the length your workouts after just a few weeks.

What can help you to keep going in the first few weeks?

1. Friends

Seek support if you know that making it through the first few weeks of training on your own will be a struggle. A friend who also wants to exercise more can be a real lifesaver here. The advantage: You are going through the same thing and can relate to each other perfectly. This means that you can motivate and support each other when you are struggling.

2. Running group

If you don’t happen to have any “fellow sufferers” among your friends, you might want to look for a running group in your city. These groups are suitable for virtually any level of performance, including beginners (or if you've gotten out of the habit). Running with a nice group is usually much easier. The advantage: A fixed schedule reduces the likelihood that you will spontaneously decide not to exercise.

3. Running watch

If you can’t find a friend or a running group to support you right now, you can set yourself measurable goals for self-motivation. This may be a particularly good time, or a new personal distance record, or even just running a few minutes more without taking a break. A running watch will also help you keep an eye on your heart rate and reduce the risk of pushing yourself beyond your physical limits.

Bird's eye view: A man and two women in running outfits run a staircase in an old town with graffiti on the walls

Runner Marcel Bräutigam runs up an increase with tram rails and wears white-blue compression socks

4. Music

Listening to music while running is kind of a controversial issue. While some runners swear by a “pure” running experience and find music distracting, others are inspired by the sound of their favourite songs, and may even perform a little better than they could in silence. There are even certain scientific indications that music improves physical endurance.
If you are among those who love exercising with music, you can use a smartphone, MP3 player or even the running watch itself as a motivational aid to playing your favourite songs when you need them the most to give you that extra boost.

5. Routine

Human beings are creatures of habit. We love set rituals that we can cling to in our hectic everyday lives. You can use this effect to stay on the ball with your running training. Run on fixed days and at fixed times.

6. Rewards

Running sessions are often tough and can feel like “work” (which they are for your body, after all). So it can make sense to “run towards” something nice and rewarding, just like you would anticipate a vacation from work. This could be a tasty smoothie or a piece of chocolate after the running session, or a trip to the movies with friends that night. Please remember: You should reward yourself as soon as possible after a workout so your brain will link running with the reward and increase your motivation in the future.

Great aids for your running re-start

Lateral complete view of the black and white compression stockings to run

Run Performance Compression Socks

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Completion of a Rivera colored knee band for sport on the stylized gray leg

Sports Knee Support

£74.99*

Front complete view of the allblack-colored Ankle Support Dynamic on the stylized gray leg

Sports Ankle Support Dynamic

£44.99*

Complete view of the black thighs Sport Sleeves on the stylized gray leg

Sports Compression Sleeves Upper Leg

£44.99*

Complete view of the black lower legs Sport Sleeves on the stylized gray leg

Sports Compression Sleeves Lower Leg

£39.99*

Now how can I do that? How to get back into running successfully

You will be surprised: The first few “running sessions” after an extended break don't actually involve running. Instead, you should walk briskly for 20 to 30 minutes. This applies even for experienced runners since the rule of thumb is: Getting your body back to its old performance level will take at least as long as the time you took off.
The advantage of walking: Walking puts much less strain on your joints than running since you always have one foot on the ground, as opposed to running where your body “lands” with its full weight. You are still burning calories and getting your cardiovascular system going.

Run and walk using the “Galloway Method”

After four or five sessions like this, you can move on to alternating between walking and running. The principle of alternating between stretches of running and walking goes back to the former world-class runner Jeff Galloway from the US, so the method is known as the “Galloway” or “Run and walk" method. The inventor of the method ran more than 100 marathons this way and achieved quite remarkable times. The main advantages of the method include a reduced risk of injury, a better running pace and quicker recovery. This makes the method ideal not only for beginners but also for experienced runners.

Depending on your experience and physical condition, walking may even take up the lion's share at first. Galloway's books specify a particular ratio between running and walking for a variety of different running speeds. For a brisk speed of 4:20 minutes per kilometre, he suggests six minutes of running and 30 seconds of walking. For a relaxed speed of 8 minutes per kilometre, you may even choose a balanced ratio: one minute of running followed by one minute of walking.
With the help of the "Galloway method", even preparing for a marathon can be done in an astonishingly short time, as this example shows.

Recovery is key

Woman with a white jacket and colorful long stockings sits in a house in a city and looks dreamily around

This is true for almost any form of exercise, including running: Progress happens between workouts, not during them. This means that thorough recovery is a must, especially if you are a beginner (or getting back in the swing of things). Factor in at least one day of rest between your workouts. After one month, you can also take off an entire week for recovery.

All the “classics” regarding recovery also apply, of course: drink enough, eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep. This allows your body to replenish its energy reserves and increase your performance gradually.

We wish you a good (re-)start!