How can I...?

Question
Hi, my name is Matt, and I am 13 years old. I just want to start a process of running and get in shape. How can I train myself to improve my running distance? What should I eat to get in shape? What kind of schedule should I have, the distance I run each time?

Answer
Matt,

At your age you should make running fun. Start out running easy and try for 10 minutes. you want to run easy when you run and work on gradually increasing the time you run. YOu don't need to worry about distance. Work on getting to the point where you can run 30 minutes comfortably 5 days a week. Food won't get you in shape, but it will improve your health. Try to avoid refined sugars (cakes, sodas, sugary things)When you get to 5 dyas of 30 minute runs, then we can start to add some workout type runs.

Ryan