There are countless myths about the oldest sport in the universe: running. One might be crazier than the other. But which one is true and which one (absolutely) isn’t? Jussi Peltonen, Senior Researcher at Polar Research Center shares all the ins and outs of 5 running myths.
Fact or fiction: anyone can run
Fact – Whether you are tall, short, broad, thin, young or old, anyone can run. The human body is completely adapted to this age-old sport. “Compared to other animals, we are not too fast. We are not sprinters, but we excel at running long distances,” said Peltonen. And okay, as a beginner you don’t immediately run a marathon, but the more you train, the closer you get to that famous 42.2 kilometers. Let’s run!
Fact or fiction: Runners never walk
Myth – In fact: walking during your running program has great benefits. For example, taking a long walk is a perfect training for the advanced runner during a recovery day. It helps build endurance and gives muscles and joints the necessary breathing space. For novice runners, walking is ideal to start with running and to combine running with walking during a workout.
Fact or fiction: Heart rate training is only for the real pros
Myth – Heart rate training is also good for beginners to check whether you are on the right track. All you need: a sports watch, such as the brand new Polar Pacer, which measures your heart rate during training and provides insight into the personal heart zones, fitness tracker or chest strap. “Heart rate training can help prevent new runners from exhausting themselves too quickly to enjoy running,” explains Peltonen.
Fact or fiction: After a few days off you have to start all over again
Myth – Even staying in bed for three weeks will only cause you to lose up to 25% of your VO2max. Fits well, doesn’t it? Especially when you consider that such a situation rarely occurs. All in all, taking rest and taking recovery days is extremely important and even helps to improve your condition. So feel free to plop on that couch tonight!
Fact or fiction: Running a marathon is healthy
Fact – Okay, the race itself may be harmful, but the lifestyle you’re living by training for such a marathon is actually really healthy. You get stronger muscles and bones, stay at a healthy weight and it increases your self-confidence. O. and no worries: you also benefit from these advantages with more ‘simple’ running training sessions where you do not immediately aim for a marathon.
Fall in love with running? That’s how you do it.
Although running seems oh-so-easy, injuries are always lurking in this sport. Especially when you want to make progress too quickly. Fortunately, when you have access to the best tools that give you insight into your body, little can go wrong. With the latest sports watch, the Polar Pacer, you as a novice runner learn to understand your body, find your pace and run with the right intensity, so that injuries don’t stand a chance.
This new apple of the eye from Polar has several functions to accompany, support and personalize running training. In this way they ensure that you can make a good run from every run and prevent setbacks that can lead to injuries and demotivation to keep running.
Polar Pacer is a lightweight watch with built-in powerful technology, including a vibrant display, long-life battery, accurate GPS and heart rate tracking, plus specialist training, sleep and recovery tools and is available through Polar.com and retail for $199. 90 in the colors Night Black, Deep Teal and Purple Dusk.
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