The common enemy, of course, is the rollerblader. It takes a pack of cyclists or runners to take over the entire path, but a single rollerblader can do it on his own.
Why just think about it?
I’ve been running for years and the thought of buying super special “running shoes” or any type of “running gear” at a “running store” has simply never occured to me. I just put my sneakers on and start putting one foot in front of the other…
That’s awesome. For you, I mean. Seriously, the fact that you don’t over or underpronate, and don’t have any problems with your knees, ankles, or shins is fantastic.
But a lot of people AREN’T like that. And I speak from experience having given up running once before because my feet hurt like hell. “Oh everybody’s feet hurt when they start running,” I hear you mutter to your keyboard. Yes, but after switching to a more appropriate shoe, problem vanished. Vanished - not went away quickly - but absolutely vanished.
Lots of people ditch running because their joints ache or their feet bother them and they say, “Oh, I’m just not a runner. I just don’t have what it takes to tough it out like everybody else. I just can’t get out there and ‘put one foot in front of the other.’” The problem is that in many cases, it’s the shoes that are the problem. Not the will, not the body, but the shoes.
You can do lots of things the hard way. Want to take up bicycling? Just grab a bike at Walmart and hit the pavement. Want to hike the Appalachian Trail? They’ll set you up with some camping gear at Target. But just because you can do things the hard way, doesn’t mean you have to. Sure, for some people, the problem is motivation and thus put one foot in front of the other is good advice. But for others, the problem lies solely with the equipment.
I just can’t see how it could possibly hurt for the OP to go to a store where they have experience and can start him off in the right direction.
I agree with **Doctor Who ** here. I’m someone who doesn’t under- or over-pronate, but sometimes finding the right neutral shoes is challenging. I went to one of the big box stores and they sold me a pair of “the latest” running shoes. Had to stop running for months because I injured myself really badly. When I started up again, I got professionally fitted into a cheaper pair of shoes, but ones that were right for me.
Once you find the type and style of shoe that works best for you, you can always try to find cheaper alternatives, like buying on ebay or from an outlet. I don’t mind spending the money for the right shoes (about $80) and I like knowing that I am keeping an independent store owner, who does a LOT for the running community, in business.
Don’t do it!!
If we were meant to run cars wouldn’t have been invented
I just started running a couple of weeks ago and of course came here to the Dope to find out more about how to increase my distance and speed without screwing myself up too bad. Bo and leehold, a thread started this very day!
The advice about getting good shoes sounds very good and I’ve been googling around looking for running stores. Any San Francisco Bay Area runners have a good one to recommend, preferably in the South Bay?
No, this is just how cotton behaves. Cotton absorbs sweat, stays wet, sticks to skin, bunches up and rubs and loses cushioning and insulating ability. In cold weather sports the phrase you will hear a lot is “cotton kills” (once you get wet and lose insulation you are looking at hypothermia). It’s all about moisture management.
In warmer weather, cotton will still get you. Years ago I wore cotton shorts and socks for hiking and it absolutely sucked. Chafing, burning, blisters like you couldn’t believe. This isn’t just me, btw - there’s a reason that wool hiking socks have been popular forever. Natural (wool, silk) and synthetic (polypro, etc) fabrics are also used for tops and bottoms because they wick moisture away from your skin; this keeps you drier which helps with temperature control and hot spots/chafing/blisters. This stuff is inexpensive, durable, easy to care for (dries fast!) and most importantly it works extremely well.
I was just about to say “Bah, rubbish! I’ve been running/hiking/biking in cotton for years!” Then I remembered that I actually wear very thin WOOL socks. (Thicker onces in winter.) De-vine!
I can’t really wear hi-tech fabrics. They just make me sweat more and more. Gimme my woolies any day!
Heck, you don’t even need shoes.
Men’s Journal—The Barefoot Revolution
SPORTSCIENCE—Barefoot Running
Barefoot Rick’s FAQ
I am not a big runner, but I have gained some interest in long-distance running because of hearing about ultra-marathon runners like Dean Karnazes. My runs are usually about 5 km, but I’m working up to doing 10+ km runs as I’m getting in better shape after a hiatus due to laziness.
One of the things I discovered in doing some research about how to get into long-distance running is that recently there are quite a lot of people who are advocating running barefoot. Elite coaches and trainers have incorporated barefoot training for years, but it’s only recently that there’s been much mainstream attention paid to the method.
Seems like a no-brainer to me that our feet are pretty well designed for running with little or no protection. Around the world, going barefoot is more common than shod, and a Kalahari “Bushman” doesn’t stop to pull on some shoes before going on a 4 day antelope chase. Good running form is pretty much what 633squadron described. Your feet naturally land like that when walking or running barefoot, because heel-pounding like many people do when wearing shoes hurts.
A not-so-surprising thing to note is that the walk you use for stalking game when hunting is like an exaggerated sprinting step. You have to lift your leg high to clear obstacles, and plant your foot lightly, usually with a pointed toe, to minimize noise from rubbing against brush and to make sure you don’t step on something that could make noise or throw off your balance.
A piece of crucial advice that needs to be kept in mind is that long-term weight loss is a lifestyle change.
Are you just going to do the running and eat more nutritious / less caloric foods because you want to lose weight? That is a good way to set up yourself for long-term failure. Just look at how many New Years resolutions are broken by February.
You shouldn’t get into running just because you want to lose weight. You should get into an active sport because you enjoy the activity and want to get better and better at it. Maybe even compete in races. Weight loss should be a secondary benefit, the enjoyment of the sport should be first and foremost. Keep this in mind while you are developing your ability to run.
I would recommend you find a local 5-10 km road race a few months into the future and build your running up to that event. Have a time you want to target. That way, your running will have more structure and be more meaningful.
I found it through iTunes, but he’s got a blog here
And yes, I run with an mp3 player, turned low enough that I can still hear what’s coming behind me. (mostly because it’s usually in the dark with my ultrabrigh LED blinkin’ beacon on)
I am also thinking about it so I hope you don’t mind if I ask a question too.
If you run in the morning (before work), how/what do you eat? I am hungry in the morning, I don’t want to run on an empty stomach. But if I eat breakfast first (a smoothie) I will be running on a full stomach.
Also I want to take my dog (a big pit bull) with me; if anyone has experiences with that I’d appreciate it. My only concern is that he’s so tough he’d never tell me if anything was wrong so I need to know what problems I could anticipate.
I am big on breakfasts, too. When I run in the morning I do it before breakfast. I find I’m so focused on running that my empty stomach doesn’t bother me. Morning runs are normally on the treadmill, so I’ve got water handy.
On running with dogs - if you’re just starting out slowly, the dog will be starting slowly, too. This is good. Dogs can overdo it just like people. If you’re running on pavement of any sort, be mindful of his pads. They can get overworn if they’re not used to it. They will toughen up over time, but keep an eye on them. Also keep in mind that dogs can get heat exhaustion. Learn the signs of doggy overheating and watch for them.
Thanks for the info on socks Valgard. I did not know that.
I don’t run, I walk. 3-4 days a week 4.5 miles. When I first started my left hip used to kill me. I got better shoes and the hip doesn’t kill me anymore but I did get blisters on my feet in various places. Now those have turned to calouses. Wonder if I could help that situation with better socks? I’ve been wearing cotton/poly socks from Target. I’ll have to look for something better.
Good luck Tristan! and have fun!
Balance bar. Swear by the stupid things. Get irritable when I have to run and there aren’t any in my pantry.
Excellent advice, Solfy. Couldn’t have said it better and, in fact, deleted what I had typed on preview.
That said, my dog is the WORST at running. Tried it, gave it up. All she wants to do is sniff and poop and drag and pull and sniff and stop and sprint and stop and sniff and pee and drag and pull and poop and sniff. Not a very effective workout for me, although it’s excellent bonding time with her. Now what I do is — I go for my run, when I get back, I leash her up and walk her around as my cooldown.
I wanted to bring this back up, because I think it’s good advice. There’s always a 5k or a 10k to support some sort of charity going on. If you sign up for one, it can help get you through lazy days.
“Oh, man, I don’t feel like running today … BUT I have that 5k for the indolent ex-wives of underprivileged millionaires next Friday. I should probably at least do a quick run or I’ll be dying in that race.”
Also, if you’ve never run one of those races, they’re generally a very rah-rah, go team, communal atmosphere. Everyone is usually super supportive and encouraging. Can be tons of fun.
Huh, I must have super-human skin or something… neat! 
Spent years running/hiking during summer in Colorado (100+ F) and Oklahoma (100% humidity) in the crappiest cotton whites available at the local department store. I’ve always known had I had a super power of some kind. I guess “Imperviousness to the ill-effects of cotton” is almost as good as “Ability to shoot deadly mind-beams”… sort of, anyway.
Agreed. Just don’t get suckered into those “$50 for a 5k” deals unless you have a lot of loose cash or you really like the charity in question.
Everything I’ve read on the Cool Running boards say not to worry about speed until you’ve been running for several months. Speed will come as you get used to running. If you try to run faster now, you’ll either exhaust or injure yourself. Also you shouldn’t increase your distance by more than 10% every week. It’s tough but you have to be patient. I am still at a glacial pace but I know if I keep up with it, I’ll gradually get faster.
I must be lucky because I run in my old beat-up sneakers and cotton socks but I haven’t injured myself or experienced any pain.
Fasting cardio, running without eating in the morning, is apparently a good way to burn more fat. The benefit of doing your cardio training in the morning also carries over to the rest of the day because your metabolic rate stays elevated for several hours. It’s a trade-off though. If you feel like crap because you didn’t eat, and therefore avoid doing your runs, then it’s probably better for you to eat first.
Try doing a couple of runs on an empty stomach and see how it goes. If you hate it and feel sick, try having a very light and easy to digest snack first. A full breakfast beforehand will undoubtedly make you feel logy, so you should probably avoid anything more challenging for your stomach than a shake, or some bread and jam, stuff like that. Avoid fiber-rich foods; they’ll give you cramps.
I’ve done both ways, and for moderate activity I find that I totally forget about hunger after a couple of minutes. I eat right after my cool down, though, or I will feel pukey pretty soon. On the other hand, when I was about 20 I worked out too hard doing high intensity exercises on an empty stomach and just about passed out from low blood sugar. I found out that non-cardio workouts on an empty stomach is a definite no-no for me. Any running longer than a sprint is a moderate activity—if it isn’t moderate, then you won’t be able to sustain it for long—so things work a little differently than short-term, intense exercise.
If you end up doing fairly long distance runs, I’ve read that you’ll end up having to train yourself to run while digesting stuff. Under about 15–20 miles you can usually run off glycogen reserves and some fat metabolism, around that point you get into serious wall territory and will have to have something other than body fat to use as fuel or your performance will seriously drop. I’ve read a couple of books about serious long-distance runners (double-marathons, 100-milers) and they ended up puking a lot until they got used to running with food in their stomachs. Neither one of us is going to have to worry about that for quite a while since we’re not running anything like that distance yet.
Mix up your training too. Doing sprints can make a significant difference in your performance at longer distances. Even the long-distance guys train sprints and hills so that they’ve got some explosive power for when they need it. Your goal is probably overall fitness, not necessarily just running, so keep in mind that competitive sprinters have lower body fat and comparable cardiovascular performance with longer-distance runners. In other words, distance isn’t everything. I also find sprints or fun runs more enjoyable than longer stuff.
IRL, I’ve only met one person who lost weight after beginning running. Everyone else got more fit, had better endurance, probably strengthened their hearts, may have even lowered the body fat percentage, etc. But weight loss? Hardly, not even for the ones who ate reasonably balanced diets. The increase in activity got offset by an increase in appetite - so they (and I include myself) were transformed from an X pound person to an X pound person who could run a marathon.