The Running Thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

We have some runners on the board, and I thought it might be fun to start a common thread.

We can talk about training, support each other through difficulties, compare times and distances, post race results for attaboys, and best of all, maybe even hook up with other dopers for races.

I think one of the best things we might be able to do is help out new runners, or people interested in running get started.

It’s a great thing to do for your fitness, and self-esteem. You feel different when you run, and the runenr’s high sticks with you all the time. When you feel confident and strong, and your body is brimming with endorphins it bleeds over and benefits the rest of your life.

Running helped me quit smoking. During times of great sadness or pain or stress, I’ve always been able to put on the shoes and go. There’s kind of a zenlike state to long distance running, and lots of times your mind will find its way around difficult problems.

Most of the time though, the problems are still there, but you feel better about them, or at least better about yourself.

It’s a lot easier to control your weight if you’re a runner. As a society we seem to focus on diet as the means to weight loss. When you run for 20 minutes or longer you step up your metabolism and your body burns calories at a faster rate. It keeps doing this for up to four hours after you stop!

I have a large body, and while training for my marathon last year I had to eat like a horse just to maintain my weight!
What do you think?

2

Scylla, very cool!

I ran as a kid - my father was avid; he started a very successful running club on one of the Army bases where we were stationed. Did a bunch of 5Ks, 10Ks and one 20K. Loved the high and the camraderie. I continued into high school by running varsity cross-country all four years - had a blast!

In early adulthood I got lazy and put on the pounds. I got the running bug back a few years ago thanks to my best friend and neighbor who is an avid marathon runner. Since we’ve known each other, I always come out to her races and hold her stuff, cheer her on, etc. Being around all those healthy people enjoying what I once loved made me start dreaming about running again. So here I am, a few pounds lighter and I love running again! Sadly, I hurt myself a few weeks back - but this weekend I get to start again… Perfect timing because the treadmill is coming on Saturday! Even if it snows - I’m not joking, we’ve had such a crappy spring, it’s possible - I can run!

I’m doing the Life Time Fitness 10K in Minneapolis on May 24… But I will be training for the biggie of my adulthood - a half-marathon in Duluth in June.

Runners rock! Thanks again for starting this thread, Scylla!

3

I like this idea.

I’ve been running for about 4 years. I started because a friend of mine said he ran 5K’s on the weekend. I knew he was a big time partier & drinker, prone to lying on the couch all weekend, so I couldn’t believe he ran. I opened my big fat yapper and called him on it.

So he challenged me to show up at a 5K and run it. I did, and at the time was able to run about 3/4 of a mile at a time, so there was much walking interspersed with the running.

After finishing that race, I decided I needed to then run a 5K in which I ran the whole way.

Fast forward 4 years later. Since January of 2001, I’ve completed 3 marathons. Just two weekends ago I ran 19 miles. This weekend I’m sick with a chest cold, so I was only able to run a very ugly 5. When I can’t run, I miss it like hell.

I run to keep off the 28 pounds I lost. I run to stay in shape. I run because there are some really cool people out there to run with. I don’t run because I’m fast.

My next race, with any luck, will be the Flo-Jo Memorial Half Marathon in Orange County, CA. I will be attempting to run under 2 hours for the first time.

Anyone coming out to San Diego in June for the Rock & Roll Marathon?

4

Just how important do you feel stretching is before you run? I do not stretch at all but I start slow and work up to my normal pace. Sometimes I find it difficult to get into a rhythm and am very cranky at the beginning of a run (watch out little dogs!). I run 4-5 miles about 4 days a week. I’d like to try a half-marathon this summer.

5

GKW, I’ve read that it’s best to do the majority of your stretching AFTER you run. When you stretch cold muscles, you can injure yourself easier, I guess.

I believe I’ve read that doing a slower warm up is a good way to warm up the muscles. I think you’re doing okay, as long as you remember to stretch afterwards.

I agree about the first couple of miles. It takes a while to get into the groove.

6

OK. I needed a sign to start running again and I’ll let this thread be that sign.

When I first started running it was hell but I stuck with it. I finally ran my first 5K this past December. It’s been six weeks since I’ve last ran and I miss it. :frowning:

I’ve been super busy with work and haven’t had time to run.

7

I started running twice, in the past couple of years. First, I started running early last September: and we all remember what happened THEN. I started running again about a month ago, and I came down with a Mystery Illness which is still plaguing me . . .

To quote Mr. Coolidge, “I do not choose to run.”

8

Scout- I’m guilty of not stretching at the end of a run either but I do walk around for a while to cool down. I suppose I should start.

Say, do you spit when you run? I usually chew gum so my mouth doesn’t get all gooky with saliva.

Also I’ve got a question about running in traffic which I usually avoid. I’m worried that since my lungs are working harder, I’m just breathing in more exhaust and negating any health factor of the run. Opinions?

Eve maybe you should try skipping! I’d love to try double dutch.

9

Thanks, now I’ve got Alanis running through my head. (Maybe that’s how she stays fit. ;))

I’m kinda at the jogging-around-the-neighborhood level, myself. I prefer bicycling, but you can get more exercise quicker by running, so I’ve been doing that this winter and early spring. I’ve got no desire to do a marathon; I ran cross-country back in high school, and that was enough of that. I simply want to maintain a certain basic level of fitness.

10

I love this message board. Whenever I think of something I’d like to hear people’s opinion on, I think of starting a new thread, and I tell myself, just wait. Be patient and the Millions will come through. And y’all always do.

So, I just started running last month. A couple of my friends and I decided we’d run the Bay to Breakers as a prelude to our annual Mt. Shasta climb, and I thought it’d be prudent to get in shape just a little before the big event. I’ve been an intermittent runner over the years, it’s so hard to get myself motivated to do it, but I’m so much happier when I do.

Anyway, I was wondering how often it’s optimal to run? Right now I’ve got myself running a little over 2 miles on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but I miss it on the days I don’t run. I seem to recall, in the murky depths, hearing that it’s not healthy to work out too much more than a couple days in a row? My dad’s a swimmer, and he says his muscles get over-worked if he goes more often than every other day (I know 2 miles is a wussy run, and I shouldn’t be worried about overdoing it at that rate, but I plan to increase my mileage once I get my legs under me).

Also, what’s a good alternative workout to running on the off-days for someone who has no resources and no access to any working out equipment of any kind? Actually, I do have a pull-up bar, but I can only do about 15 of those in one serving, and it doesn’t feel like that counts. Ditto for pushups. My objective is essentially to stay in shape and healthy. I’d like to put on a little muscle, sure, but that’d be a bonus. And running isn’t really the kind of thing to help with that. About eating, though, when should I eat? Some time before the run? Immediately after? I’m a total novice at this.

So, any advice from the veteran runners? Thanks in advance.

11

I tried it once, but ever since then I haven’t been able to understand jogging. I look at the faces
of joggers when they jog & they look kinda weird–stressed out & sort of strained. I think about
their body organs boucing up & down as they jog. One lady did take the time to explain it to me
that it got her breathing in a certain fashion so that later she got some sort of mental high. I
thought I’d rather just practice breathing sitting in a chair :slight_smile:

Jogging Hazards: Rocks, bumpy roads, cars, ferocious canines, road rage.
Jogging benefits: better breathing & higher metabolism.

12

So many questions! Agh! Where to begin?

Well, I’ll tell you that I run 5 days a week. Sometimes I run slow, sometimes I run hard. If you miss running on your day off, try going for a run. Maybe you take it easy, maybe you run less, whatever. See how you feel after that. If you’re injured at all, it may not work for you. But alternating easy & hard runs is a good way to get consistent exercise in.

Cross training…harrumph. I don’t do enough of it. If your means are limited: go for a walk, maybe weight training. An exercise video? You can probably check one out from the library & try it out before you spend money on it.

Eating - if I run in the AM during the week, I don’t eat beforehand. On the weekend, when I’m running long (over an hour), I eat so that I have fuel in me. I usually run during the week at around 6pm. I usually have a snack at around 3-4 so that I’m not starving before the run. But the best rule of thumb is to try different methods and see what works. Some people have no trouble running after eating, others get an upset stomach.

If you’re running long sessions, it’s a good idea to refuel within the hour after you run. So if you go out for a 5 miler, you may consider having a snack afterwards.

YMMV.

13

I’ve been running for maybe 10 years now. I started just running around the neighborhood, then doing 10Ks. I did two marathons and injured myself training for the third. Like many people in that situation, I decided to become a triathlete and biked and swam while healing. My first Triathlon is in two weeks in fact.

In response to WhiteLightning regarding what is the optimal amount of running; it’s very dependent on what your goals are and why you are running. If you’re training for some event, or a goal time, you can direct your efforts in that direction and structure your training appropriately. If you’re doing it to maintain your fitness it’s a different approach. Recovery time is always important, and you have to build that into your schedule. It’s also very important that you never increase you training by more than 10% a week. Increases more than that leave you very vulnerable to injury (I know).

But most important – it’s about enjoying it.

14

I ran when I was inthe Navy - no choice, as we had those semi-annual PT tests. Once I got out, I quit, even tho I felt good when I kept up with it.

We just got a family membership at the Y - they open at 5AM and the three of us are there by about 5:20, all on recumbent bikes pedaling away. After one week, I’m working at a harder level - yay me!

At this stage of my life, this suits me better than running the streets. Plus this is steamy, hot, buggy Florida - I’ll take the air conditioned comfort of indoor cardio workouts. I may work up to running on the treadmill, but for now, a 3.5 MPH walk is my best so far. I’m in no hurry - I’ll work up to it. And some day, I may actually enter a race. Or not. We shall see…

15

If you’re just starting a running program the big thing to watch out for is overtraining. Your cardiovascular system will improve faster than your leg muscles. You’ll feel good, but you may hurt yourself. The 10% a week increase is a good limit.

One of my favorite runs, and it’s good for all levels of training, is the fartlek. Yes, the fartlek.

A fartlek is simply this pattern: 5,4,3,2,1,1,2,3,4,5.

It’s a fantastic one hour workout that anybody can do. You don’t have to be a runner, you can be like FairychatMom and do it on bicycle or any cardio device.

The way I do it is I take a nice easy jog and warm up for ten minutes. Then I do the fartlek. I run hard for five minutes, trying to wind myself. Then I jog easy for two minutes. Then I push it for four minutes, and jog for two, etc. all the way through the system. The goal is to do the second half better than the first.

The reason I say anybody can do it is because it’s just interval training. You might start off with a warmup, jog the fartlek intervals and walk the 2 minute rests. Or, if you’re a walker, you might just walk fast the intervals, and slow the rests.

You can do it at any level of fitness.

The nice thing is, even if you’re just getting started, you can easily do the whole thing. And, I’ve found that fartleks get you into shape and help you increase speed and endurance like nothing else.

If you’re running every other day, through a fartlek into the mix once or twice a week.
My best advice is don’t worry about distance ran, worry about time spent running.

16

Great thread. I’ve got a problem though. Hope someone can help. About 6 years and ten pounds ago, I used to run four miles in about 42 minutes–definitely not going to get pulled over for speeding, but nice steady exercise.

I stopped running and started biking for a while and treadmill running (definitely NOT the same as road running).

I’ve been trying to get back into running outside again, but I just can’t make the three miles (my goal based on time) without stopping after about a mile and a half. I 've been trying to build up to it, but I’ve hit a wall for distance. Any help?

17

turner:

The fartlek is specifically to help you both increase your speed and endurance. Do one once or twice a week at a pace you can manage, even if you’re walking the rest periods.

I’d hit a speed wall at about five miles in 45 minutes. Even though I could run ten miles at that pace I couldn’t get the five mile time down.

I made every third run a fartlek and broke 40 minutes in a month.

I still try to do one out of four as a fartlek. You can really scale them to your level, and they’ll improve your abilities faster than anything else. The great thing is it’s not a killer timewise, and you feel good after them.

Fartlek. Trust me.

18

I’m an on-again-off-again runner. I definitely feel better when I run.

The commander gives us and extra half hour at lunch if we are working out. Getting away from my desk is great incentive for me. I run for 30 minutes on a treadmill and also do a little nautilus training.

I am so lazy that I don’t think I’m in any danger of overtraining. :slight_smile: I base my workout on heart rate. My goal is to get my heart rate up to 160 beats per minute and keep it there for 30 minutes. I’m running 11 minute miles, which is pretty slow. Theoretically, as I get in shape I’ll have to run a faster pace to get the same heart rate.

If it doesn’t work that way in practice I’ll consider subjecting myself to Scylla’s fartleks.

19

Who would fartleks bear/To grunt and sweat under a weary workout…

No, sorry. That wasn’t even worth it.

20

GKW, my best friend the marathon runner NEVER stretches. The fitness experts tell her that she may not be able to get away with that forever… She’s 30. We’re starting yoga class this week, so maybe that will inspire her.

Everything I’ve read says to stretch before, during and after… The more stretching, the better. I even stretch in the shower!