Maybe it's the convenience of being able to do it anywhere or needing just a pair of sneakers to get started. Perhaps it's the temptation of the "runner's high." For some, the allure of a running event with hundreds or even thousands of athletes boosting each other's spirits is enough to inspire intrigue. Whatever the reasoning or motivation, when people think weight loss, they often think running. With benefits that range from strengthening your bones to improving happiness, it's no wonder that people flock to running, either. And once they get a taste of the track (or neighborhood sidewalk or park trail), they often start looking at more ambitious goals that will test their willpower and determination. "Most people who want to start running often start with the goal of a 5K," celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels explains. "The problem is that they don't have a good program and can end up with an injury like shin splints or IT band syndrome. I wanted to create the ideal 5K plan that also incorporates strength and stretching to help keep the athlete balanced and injury-free!" As with any workout, cross-training is an essential part of running, especially if you're looking to improve your performance and avoid injury. Whether you're brand new to the sport or a seasoned runner who lives for their daily runs, you can benefit from adding low-intensity intervals to build endurance, speed and stamina. If you've been running at a steady state for some time, though, and are confused about where to begin, start with these two interval running plans, courtesy of My Fitness by Jillian Michaels, a new app from the star designed to help people achieve their fitness goals with personalized workouts and unique exercise programs. When you're ready to start running longer and faster, print out one of the workouts from Michaels, throw on your favorite pump-up playlist and get to work.   To print the workouts, click the image to open a new page.
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