How I Finally Managed to Do Consistent Strength Training
Even if it’s not perfect
I’ve been running for almost 20 years. Like many people, I started for the exercise benefits, convenience, and the promise of weight loss. The first two had some merit. The third is hilarious — I gained weight training for my first marathon!
Somewhere along the way, I became a runner. I ran in sun, wind, rain, hail, snow — I didn’t always want to do it, but I can honestly say I’ve never regretted going for a run.
I bought running magazines and devoured them. I borrowed running books from the library. Even when I was still following the “run for 30 minutes” programme (I don’t think the term “couch to 5k” had been invented), I was learning everything about running. I knew all about injuries long before I ever had one, but I knew those chapters didn’t apply to me.
I learnt that strength training would make me a better runner. I figured I would get to that when just running wasn’t enough. There were a few half-hearted attempts with the running book propped up on the kitchen worktop, but it never became a habit.
Eventually, I had to accept that those injury chapters did apply to me. A much better incentive to get out the weights! Yet somehow it still didn’t stick. I had a gym membership (went off and on, never…
