| As we mentioned before, the most grueling part of | | | | going to help you shine on the field). Instead, what |
| hitting the field during a soccer game is the fact that | | | | you need to do is start slowly and progress until you |
| you are never going to have the opportunity to rest. | | | | are able to run the entire distance. The distance you |
| As long as the ball is in play you are going to need to | | | | should begin at depends upon how much time you |
| be active at any given point in time, helping your | | | | have until the season starts (hopefully you have |
| teammates to move the ball into your goal while at | | | | given yourself plenty of time) and what your current |
| the same time keeping it away from the other team. | | | | level of conditioning is. Two miles is generally a good |
| In most other sports you would have the | | | | starting point; almost everyone can run two miles at |
| opportunity to rest after one of the teams scored | | | | a mild pace. |
| as they retake their position on the playing field. | | | | If you do not believe that you can run two miles or |
| Although you will do this while playing soccer as well, | | | | the thought of running for such a long distance |
| the break you are going to be able to get is going to | | | | intimidates you try to break it up into smaller goals; |
| be brief enough that you are going to think it never | | | | for instance, you could decide that you are going to |
| even happened by the time you are once again | | | | run for twenty continuous minutes at a steady pace. |
| moving down the field listening to your muscles | | | | This will probably still take you approximately two |
| scream at you in protest. | | | | miles, but since you will be concentrating on the clock |
| Fortunately, if you have a couple of weeks at your | | | | rather than on the distance you have traveled it will |
| disposal you can quickly build up your endurance so | | | | not feel as far. The important thing when you are |
| that keeping up with the constant pace of the field | | | | doing a timed jog is to remember that it doesn't |
| does not leave you feeling like something vaguely | | | | matter how fast you go just as long as you keep |
| resembling yesterday's garbage. Since the foundation | | | | running. If you are moving in a baby jog that really |
| of the game is based upon your ability to run it is | | | | isn't getting you where you want to go any faster |
| your running skills that you are going to need to | | | | than a quick walk would it's okay; the point is, your |
| focus on. The average soccer player runs five to six | | | | legs are still moving in a jog-like manner. It is much |
| miles during the course of a game at an average | | | | harder to get started again once you have quit |
| speed of four to six miles per hour. (The average is | | | | running than it is to make your legs keep moving, so |
| approximately the same speed as would be exerted | | | | you will be doing yourself no favors by stopping to |
| by a strong power walker; however, bear in mind | | | | walk and catch your breath. If you find that you truly |
| that this is an average, not an exact number. You will | | | | cannot run for twenty minutes try a smaller |
| not be running at a steady four mile per hour pace; | | | | increment, such as ten minutes, and work your way |
| rather, you will have moments of running full out | | | | back up. |
| interspersed with periods of movement at a mild | | | | After you are comfortable with your two miles and |
| lope.) In order for you to be able to keep up out on | | | | or twenty minutes it is time to extend your distance |
| the field you are going to need to be capable of | | | | a little farther. It should take you approximately two |
| traveling five to six miles at a consistent pace to be | | | | to three weeks to become accustomed to a |
| fit enough to keep up with the stop and go traffic | | | | particular distance; perhaps not so much so that you |
| accompanying the ball. | | | | are able to travel it with very little effort but |
| Of course, that does not mean that you need to go | | | | certainly enough that you can stretch it just a little |
| out there right now and run six miles. If you are not | | | | bit farther. Try tacking on an extra mile or an extra |
| used to the exercise that would very likely kill you! | | | | ten minutes to your runs for two or three weeks, |
| (Not literally, but you would be fairly sore the next | | | | then another mile or ten minutes after that, and so |
| day and it is not overdoing it on one day and then | | | | on and so forth until you are able to run a full six |
| having to take the next five off to recover that is | | | | miles or an hour consecutively. |