Just read Dr Christian Jessen’s column in the Evening Standard (9/02/11).
‘Every year around this time several of my habitually unfit patients march in to my clinic and proudly announce that they have decided to do the London marathon to get fit. My heart sinks. Running the marathon will not make them healthy. It will probably do quite the opposite.’
The point he goes on to make is that trying to prepare for a marathon from their low level of fitness is too big a jump. I usually suggest to my clients that they find a copy of ‘Physical Fitness’ published by Penguin, if they are determined to become fitter. Not only does it give a series of graded exercises (one set each for men, women and children) which become more challenging as you progress but gives an indication of how long it will take you to make progress as you exercise depending on your age.