Tirana Grand Park - 3 Circuits for runners & beginners
“Running and loving it.”
I can say that now and it has not been always like that. If I could go back in time, two years ago, running was not even in my favorite activities. Now, i know that everything that was stopping me from doing that was…trying.
if you can run a few kilometers, you can walk twice as long
All i knew was that I had to start slowly so I would not get tired and quit as a result. I do suggest this in the beginning. For sure, to wake up early in the morning, bike to the park, exercise and return home, shower, breakfast and then get ready for work, feels more like adding another piece to the puzzle. Willpower is necessary in the beginning. But i immediately found something i liked which made me more determined. Those early mornings, when the city has yet to wake up and everything is still quiet. There is no traffic and only a few people in the streets. It is almost like the air is cleanner. Yeah, I still enjoy that too much. Biking to the park before my run. No matter how much loved early mornings, it was not enough to insoire me to start running. The first times I felt inadequate. Not really equipped like a marathon runner. I could not run more than a few hundred meters. Second lesson that i learned: – If you can’t run then for sure you can walk a little faster.
starting to run in Tirana Grand Park...
My first few sessions in the Tirana Grand Park were just focused on walking fast for as long as i could. I started to plan my activities so I could give myself what I needed to start running. I got my first running shoes and made an itinerary to follow. That way i could walk in some parts of the track, while pushing myself to run in other sections. The most Important was that each time I had to run a little bit more, even if it was just a step. After two weeks, I started to feel a nagging pain in my knees. I tried to push through but sometimes it was really bothering me. After doing research I discovered that what I was experiencing was the “runners knee” – a struggle that most new runners endure in the beginning. It meant that I had to adjust the way I was doing it for a better performance. I decided to run slower, with a constant pace and adjust my posture. It is always important to listen to your body and not force it more than what’s needed.
Photo with Athlete Luiza Gegafew
3 running trails in Tirana grand park
In a month I was able to cover a whole circuit of 6K. The first time I did it I was so upbeat of myself and all the serotonin that my body released, for sure that was a very nice hormone to feel. All what is essential to start running is…to try. Now I run regularly. If I can run 10K I can walk the double of it and that’s the real deal for me. I can walk to everywhere.
If you are a runner this could be three circuits that you can do in Tirana Grand Park.
1. Run 6k around the lake
Elevation gain = 85 Meters
2. Run 6k uphill
Elevation gain = 75 Meters
3. Run 11k
Elevation gain = 95 Meters
Wow, going from zero to hero! (i wanted to say Pro but it rhymes better:)
It was floatting in my mind the idea of trying one of these trails, I just needed some infos & motivation and now I got them.
Thank you Mr.
Happy for that Sir!