As a personal trainer and running coach, Fiona Bugler’s used to hearing why her clients can’t run. And she’s also used to telling them… ‘There’s no excuse!’

I’M TOO FAT
According to a report in last week’s Daily Mail more than nine out ten women (92 per cent) said they continually doubt their looks, and some admitted to calling in sick from work on 'fat days', because they couldn't bear to see colleagues.

As a personal trainer this is something I’m used to hearing. The biggest problem with being overweight is that it is harder to run when you’re carrying around extra pounds. Whatever your weight, each time you hit the pavement you absorb two to three times our own body weight.

However, there’s no reason not to follow a walk-run programme, which will get you started on weightloss and get you in shape for running. And on the plus side, the more weight you carry, the more calories you’ll be burning as you have to work extra hard to move!

IT’LL HURT MY KNEES
As a runner it’s one of those crosses we have to bear…Listening to non running unfit people tell you: ‘Oh no, not for me. It’s bad for the knees’. Well listen up lazy bunch. It’s not! A longitudinal study that started in 1997 set out to evaluate the long-term damage in the internal structures of the knee joints of recreational long-distance runners before and after the Vienna marathon. Ten years after their first knee scan of the seven runners, the runners were found to have no damage whatsoever to their knees.

Knee problems are more likely to occur if you’re overweight and not very active. Losing 10 pounds can take about 45 pounds of pressure off the knee. Running is not bad for your knees – bad running shoes, running with a weak core or muscle imbalances or not running can be.

I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Over the last 10 years I’ve coached runners and set up a running club. I’ve spent a lot of time on the telephone before a session reassuring runners’ that it’s okay if they’re not good enough as that’s the whole point of getting started. Obviously, it’s basic human nature to worry that you won’t be up to the mark. But as the saying (or book title) goes, ‘Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway’, and the sooner you get used to putting yourself on the line, the quicker you’ll get running results!

I HAVEN’T GOT ENOUGH MONEY
A recent survey has found that 37 percent feel their diets have got worse because of the economic downturn – but the good news is that this means for 63 percent this isn’t true. Diet, health and fitness are related and of that 37 percent who think their diets are now worse you can guarantee they will think that somehow money prevents them from running. Running isn’t expensive. You can buy hi tech shoes and tops, and swanky sunnies, but you can just as easily go out barefoot on the grass! Money is energy, it’s a concept, having it or not having it hasn’t prevented people breaking barriers, and records (if anything not having it has motivated people to push themselves harder - read the review of the Town of Runners). And remember, all the advice at the The Runnuing Bug is FREE! So, no, we don’t buy the money excuse!

I HAVEN’T GOT TIME
We all have one thing in common. We all have the same number of hours in a day. Using time as an excuse not to run is just bad time management. Check out David Brown’s tips on planning your time here. If you’re really short on time, just plan better. For example, if you travel a long way to work, can you fit in a commuter run? No showers? Use baby wipes. Where there’s a will…!

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