You’re right, that’s not quite a beginner program. Damn. Looks like this may not be the time to try a marathon after all.
I’m almost 4 years into running, and it still might not be the time to try a marathon—I’ve attempted marathon training twice and have gotten injured each time. I understand the urgency; I really wanted to complete one before turning 40. But…I didn’t. and marathons are not going anywhere!
As a friend of mine says, you have to respect the distance. 26.2 miles is greater than the sum of five, 5.2something mile runs.
Keep at it, and you’ll get there—at least that’s what they tell me!
Another setback - my constant sinus infections have been enough trouble, but yesterday I tried to run after just starting a few days ago a steroid step-down pack and new antibiotics, and not only was I super-fatigued, but my knees and ankles started screaming at me and then I turned my ankle stepping on a stick. Go home and look up the side effects and it seems like I just may have to take a running break until I stop the steroids.
I’m running a steady 14 minute pace now, which is way slow compared to some of you but is now something I can maintain over the course of a run. I’m trying to increase distance now that I got my ForeRunner for Christmas by essentially approaching three or four miles the same way I got where I am now - going back to intervals and working on increasing them. My sinuses have thrown a wrench, though. I need to be able to do 3-4 by mid-February, because that’s when my half marathon training plan is supposed to start.
lorene, give it another try. Pick a marathon 12-15 months away, find a 3-4 month program and just stretch to fit. If it call for a mileage increase every week, make it every three weeks and so on. Also, it just may be you are a runner who breaks down when attempting high mileage no matter how many years you have been running.
Zsofia, You need to pick another race. Putting pressure on yourself to keep a schedule in the face of a major setback like this leads to either overtraining,illness and/or injuries.
Once you have the sinus problem under control, work your way back to your current level, then pick a race to shoot for.
Well, I want to try to shoot for it. I have to extend my distance somehow - I’ve been stuck for a while, mentally I think, and I kind of feel like a specific goal is what I need. If I can’t keep up with the schedule I’ll skip it, and if I have to have sinus surgery or something I’ll skip it (or I think you can defer a year with a doctor’s note.)
well, I quit running. Here’s why: it got to be too much of a time commitment at a very busy time of year, but that wasn’t the main reason. The main reason is my left foot hurts too much, even with the new orthotics. I do not have time to run one day and spend the next day off my feet to feel better.
I need to get back to the podiatrist (I may go to another one entirely), but first I have to get through a VERY busy next 2 weeks in January. Between dress shoes, work shoes, athletic shoes, and every day shoes, my feet are pretty much in constant pain. It sucks.
I can walk and not have the pain so bad, so I have taken to walking in my running shoes (the ONLY shoes I find truly comfortable for more than 2-3 hours). I make sure I double the distance (I’m walking about 2.5 miles or so each time) to maintain the weight/inches I’ve lost.
Good luck to all here–I have been thrilled to watch your progress and share the woes and joys of running with you. Walking while it’s snowing is just as fun as running, so I plan on enjoying it.
Yesterday was my first run in over 2 weeks. Slow pace, but I did it. Last night and today, my thighs, not the rest of my legs, are aching just a tiny bit. Due to other compromises, I cannot run today, so that should give them a rest until tomorrow.
I’ve been a bit of a heel runner, so today I tried toe running.
It went well: the run went by more easily and I improved my time by a couple of minutes. Also, there’s no knee pain, but I can certainly feel my calves a bit more.
I’m planning another hour run on Sunday. Last time I seemed to hit a limit - I’m curious as to whether that will happen again.
I got the go ahead from the doc to go back to running today. I’m still surprised it is my thighs, not the rest of my legs, that are complaining. Oh well, at least I hope I can get back to them being used.
Well, I am on the treadmill again. I figured out how to make it go faster, yay me.
First time I did three miles, 44 min
Second time 42 min
Today I did it in 38.
This includes warm up and cool down, and I am pretty sure I could go the whole time without stopping, but I’ve been walking for 2 min, running the rest of the mile, walking another 2 min, running the rest of the mile, etc. Even though I am pretty sure I am capable of running the entire 3 miles, it is a mental hurdle for me.
Still it is pretty impressive for me, the woman who hates running and always has. Now if I don’t run for a day or two, it feels it wrong. Lots of progress since I started.
My calves were still a bit sore on Sunday, so I decided against doing another one hour run. In fact, since I’m changing to toe running, I think I should be doing some gentler runs, so I can get used to it.
So today (Monday) I did a 6k run on a track. It went pretty well (time 33:27). Although again, I can feel my calves.
You do run fast, Captain.
I didn’t run this weekend, I was trying out the aerobics classes they have this semester at the gym. I’ll buy the pass when it is half off (and all the preppy freshwomen have left 
).
But I’m out of shape. 
The weight training class that I did last semester? I tried doing the same weights as I finished with yesterday, and I couldn’t keep it up. They felt so heavy! Sigh
Today I’m running, sculpting, and then back to training.
You all inspired me to start a week ago. Week one in the bag. Week 2 day one done. I was in the service and had to run for PT, but once I retired, I just dropped every form of exercise as a form of rebellion (the standard six year old, “you’re not the boss of me anymore”) for two years. I started gaining weight, coughing without having a cold and just plain feeling miserable. I decided that if I keeled over too early, I wouldn’t get my return on investment from the military retirement so I’m starting to run again.
I currently run on an indoor track (hate the cold–I’m in CO and won’t even ski). I know from experience that running on a treadmill is not equivalent to actual running on a track or road. The problem is I’m going to be travelling for work most of Feb and it will be cold and hectic for running so my only choice is the hotel treadmill. What’s a way to set the tread mill to get an equivalent road run?
BTW, When I run every other day, I no longer cough, but on my two consecutive days off (run every other day for three running days and have an extra day left over in the week) the cough returns. May have to stick to this running stuff.
Welcome, aboard, turner.
Have you read through the whole thread?
Also the first thread.
Lots of good stuff in both.
I’ve been following this thread and wanting to start, but my right foot has hurt for the last 6 months. I finally went to the orthopedist, and it turns out my sesamoid bone has been broken this whole time! :smack: I was being stubborn thinking it would fix itself, but apparently walking on it wasn’t helping. So now I"m in a boot for the next two months, and we’ll see if it’s mended after that. If not, I’ll have to have surgery.
StG
It’s been weeks since I’ve done any running. I’m posting that fact in hopes that it will shame me into getting off my butt again. I was in bed sick all weekend (there is a serious stomach bug going around the monastery).
I have my energy mostly back today and I’m planning on going outside to run on Wednesday. I think I’m going to do a five minute warm-up walk, and do three blocks of running alternating with walking and just see how long I can do the runs, followed, of course, by a cool down. I figure that will give me an idea of which week I’m back to.
I’ve also made the decision to give up the treadmill. My lone outdoor run was significantly more interesting than the treadmill runs and the sidewalk systems are great around here, so I’ll have lots of places to run. We’ll see how that goes…I kind of loathe running where people can see me.
MissMossie, Go back in the schedule at least one week for each week you’ve been off then go back another two. You will not need to take the same amount of time to work your way back, but this will give you a safe starting point. You should be able to get back to where you were in 2-4 weeks depending on how long you took off.
Good luck getting back into it! I still have issues with running outside in plain view too, but like you said, it really is so much more interesting! I just try to tune out all the people. Just me and the pavement, baby!
On a more serious note, I have my first 5k at the end of January! It’s actually being put on by my workplace and my boss knows I’ve been running this program so there’s no escaping it. Hopefully it’ll go well! It’s been in the mid 60s here lately, but winter finally hit this week, so I’m not sure how cold it’ll be the day of the 5k. Hopefully I won’t freeze to death.
Also as an aside, since I started this program, I’ve lost 17 lbs. I really never expected to lose that much from just this - it’s great.
I had been off for about a month, so this would have had me more or less restarting the program. The thought of restarting combined with my stubbornness led me to disregard your advice. I just went out there and saw what I could do without killing myself. As much as I loathe exercising, it is unlikely that I’ll ever overdo it in the physical fitness department, in fact, I could probably be the queen of under-doing it.
So, just now (when I said Tuesday or Wednesday, I obviously meant Saturday…that was clear to everyone, right?) when I geared up and braved the cold I walked 5, ran 5, walked 3, ran 3, walked 3, ran 3, and cooled down. It wore me out and the cold air sucked to breathe, but I feel good about the workout. I think I’m going to restart on week four and see how it goes from there.
In related news, not only did I look pretty cool in my running gear (I was only moderately embarrassed to be running where people could see me because, if one disregarded my slow pace, I totally looked like a runner) I was mostly comfortable temperature-wise throughout my run. It’s about thirty degrees out and I wore wicking running tights and matching long sleeved turtle neck top (in black), a fleece vest (in bright blue to match my running shoes), and a hat and gloves (also black). I was slightly chilly when I started, but comfortably cool once I got going. My face was the only exposed bit and therefore the only cold part of me.
MissMossie, I was coming from 32 years of seeing runners try to come back from a layoff to quickly and get injured or sick. I was just suggesting a safe point to resume from. You would not need to follow the whole schedule on the original time line. As long as you have good awareness of your limits, let that be your guide.