New book offers tips for new runners

(FOX Providence) - For a lot of people, one of their goals in life might be to take part in a road race or triathlon.

But, such an experience can prove difficult, leaving athletes asking themselves 'how should I start training for this?' The task can be especially daunting if you're new to the sport.

John Bingham, who is well know among running, has written a book called "An Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Middle Age" , with a humorous take on running.

He’s a big champion for the “back of the pack” and calls himself an “adult onset” athlete. Bingham's tips prove to be a little different than the serious running types, but are equally as important.

Bingham tells stories of the joys of running—the pride of the finisher’s medal, a bureau-busting t-shirt collection, intense back-of-the-pack strategizing.

Bingham's tips:
1. Try nothing new on race day—except the race, of course! Break in new shoes weeks before your event and run your race the way you trained for it.
2. Anything that can chafe, will chafe. Get accustomed to an antichafing product like BodyGlide during long training runs and you’ll finish your race in comfort.
3. To be a part of something great is better than being considered great!
4. What faster folks don’t always understand is that what binds us as competitors is far more powerful than what separates us by pace.
5. A safe race is a fun one. Visit runrocknroll.com/medical for tips on running a fun and healthy marathon or half-marathon.
6. You don’t have to win a race to feel like you’ve won. Every adult-onset athlete should measure themselves only against themselves.
7. Be warned: Runners talk to each other about bodily functions and parts that are normally reserved only for members of the medical profession.
8. The glamour of the race belongs to runners at the front of the pack, but the glory belongs to any one of us.
9. It doesn’t take hours to finish a marathon, it takes months.
10. The challenge and satisfaction of running can be achieved at any pace.