Training: Easy
Regular Training
The first step on any training programme should be to build in regular exercise, intensity is not necessarily important. One of the best ways to maintain fitness is to build activity into normal tasks; wherever possible, drop the car, lift and escalator and put a little effort in. If you are going to join a class, group or team to engage in sports and activity, pick groups that are welcoming where the people involved are supportive and helpful. Always give clubs a few weeks so you can make a good assessment of how much you enjoyed the session and how you feel about it, but if it does not feel right after a month try another club – some clubs are exclusive and some inclusive, its best to find the clubs where you feel you fit in.
Pick a role model
Ron Hill
The next day you think getting up for a run will be challenging, conjure up an image of Ron Hill still running well into his 70s and turning up for the odd local race. You cant help being impressed with the guy who once held the fastest marathon time and whom still gets out for a local run with Barnsley Harriers. Ron is renowned for running everyday, almost, and whatever the circumstances. Apparently even in his day his training involved running to work. At a race in December 2011, Silkstone Shuffle, walking to the car I briefly had the chance to speak to Ron. He was totally approachable and came over as a lovely down to earth guy, someone definitely to look up to.
Born 20th Sept 1938
In 1970 Ron Hill recorded the fastest undisputed marathon time 2hr 9min 28sec, at that juncture.
Hill also won the European title on the Marathon to Athens course in 1969 but never scaled the heights of the Olympic podium as a marathon runner, finishing 19th in Tokyo in 1964, being picked only for the 10,000m in Mexico in 1968 (crossing the line seventh in the final) and placing a distraught seventh in Munich in 1972 after an experiment with altitude training in St Moritz backfired.
