Thanks to Podkayne I have decided to start running. I already ride my bike. I usually go 3 for 4 times a week, between 3 and 5 miles a day. However, I’m also a pack a day smoker and 200lbs. I’m only 5’2" and 25 years old. I have a bad knee and a really bad knee. But, I know my knee problems will be helped by strengthening my legs so I’m willing to give running a try.
So, this website Couch tp 5k plan (Thanks Podkayne !), has an easy sounding beginning running plan. I just did my first run. Holy crap - I’m outta shape, despite the biking. I’ve learned that biking and running are two totally different animals. I only ran for about a total of 1 minute and 45 seconds. But, I still ran. I also walked for the rest of the 20 minutes I was out.
Does anyone want to try this with me? The website allows you to view other people’s profiles so we can see how other Dopers are doing. My profile is, fittingly enough - Congodwarf. The password is cecil (not very creative, am I?).
I don’t know if you saw the thread I started yesterday , but I used that same program to whip myself into running shape last year starting in early spring. When I started the program, I had trouble running for a minute and a half – This year I did a half marathon up a mountain.
Stick with that program and you’ll do great. It seems a little slow at first, but you’ll eventually hit some breakthroughs and find it’s all working very well! I’m the same age as you are now, so except for the smoking, we’re in similar situations. I bet if you can replace your smoking habit with a healthier exercise habit, you’ll find yourself feeling great.
Congratulations on taking the first steps, congodwarf! Garsh, I can’t believe I’m responsible for someone starting to run. Fitness role model, I am not. blush
I had a similar experience at the beginning. I was doing other aerobic exercise on the elliptical, pretty intensely: 45 minutes at a heart rate of around 160. But running was a whole 'nother thing! I thought at the beginning that it would be impossible for me to ever run for any distance, but, I stuck with it, and a mere 8 months later . . . (Like I said, not so much the fitness role model!) If you stick with the Couch-to-5K plan, I’ll be you’ll progress a lot faster than I did!
I’ll try the running log at Cool Running. My username is Podkayne, and my password is also cecil.
Congratulations! 3 years ago, I was 22 and 250 pounds (I’m about 6’2"). I started running to drop some of the weight. It took a while to work up the endurance, but I’m now running 4-6 miles per day without really getting worn out. I’m 180 pounds.
I won’t lie to you… it’s rough getting to the point that you’re running a few miles at a time. A bad knee or 2 won’t make it easier for you. I ran though shin splints, sore muscles, sore knees. All of these have gone away as I’ve gotten lighter. When I first started, I frequently had to switch to rollerblading to avoid the shin splints, as that’s a lot lower impact. I bought an elliptical machine for the winter.
I’m in the best shape of my life and feeling great.
What helped me was forcing myself to go a certain distance. When I first started running, I was right next to a track. I’d force myself to do 10 laps, even if I had to walk 9.5 of them, or if it took me all night to do it. Eventually you want to run further just to get your 10 laps over with quickly. Then there will come a magical day that you run the 10 laps in a row without stopping. Its a huge feeling of success and pride when you do something like that.
Good luck. It’ll be tough for you, but its definitely worth it in the end. And give up those cigarettes… they won’t help.
I won’t join the program, but I’ll be running with you in spirit! I took up running about 7 years ago. Right now I’m working on half marathons, which are tough to do, but leave me able to function for the rest of the day.
I’m in. I needed something to motivate me and this is it. It felt so good when I used to run around the pond every day and could chase down buses without getting out of breath. User coffeecat, password cecil
I’d work on bumping up that biking mileage, taking off a lot of weight and THEN running if you have bad knees. Not to be a prick, but 3-5 miles on a bike isn’t much. It’s a start, but it’s not much. You want to be able to stay out on the bike for 45 minutes to an hour.
Check out a site like bikejournal.com for a place to track your bike mileage. It has everyone there from heavies trying to lose some weight to long distance riders to racers. It’s what I’d call a “supportive” and “positive” forum if that’s the vibe you’re looking for.
FWIW, I used to run a lot, blew out my knee and put on some weight (not a ton, but I was about 5’4" 175). Since I took up biking, I’ve taken off almost 35 pounds and I’m FINALLY looking to start running again.
cecil (not very creative, am I?).