Run with me!
 

As some of you may know, I was training for a half marathon over the summer. It was going great (I had gotten up to 6 miles!), but I hurt my knee in September. I've run a few times since then after it healed, but I'm not at the place I used to be. So, anyone wanna run with me?

I don't mean literally run next to me, because I know GCers are all over the planet. I was thinking maybe we could all just check in on this thread and bug each other to get out there. I'd feel bad for letting you down if someone on here was expecting me to get out there on the same day as them.

I have time to go tomorrow morning, so maybe I'll finally do it. I'm not sure how far/long I'll run because I have breathing problems. It's gonna happen, though! Who's with me?! :D

I'm planning on starting the Couch to 5K program again in a few weeks. I did it two years ago, ran my first 5K, and actually enjoyed it even though I suck at running. I need to do something to get rid of the leftover baby weight from kid #2. I'll do my best to pester you. :p

I am a month and two weeks away from marathon 2.0. The road has been tougher than marathon 1.0, for a number of reasons. Sometimes it just sucks to get your shoes on and drag your butt out the door. So yeah, I'll help you keep the running mojo up.

Ok, I definitely didn't get up and do it this morning. Laaaaame! I'm finishing a final essay that's due today at 4 PM. (Don't worry, I'm on CA time so it's only 11 here, and it's mostly done!) I'll run afterwards, because it'll still be light out!

I didn't go after turning in my final, but I swear I have a valid reason. I got food poisoning. AGAIN. I swear I got food poisoning only 2 weeks ago. Ughhhh! I'm low on money, so I've been avoiding buying more groceries. I guess the salad I put together wasn't exactly fresh....ughhh...oh, and I turned my final in late as a result, but it turned out to be ok.

Ugh, food poisoning SUCKS. Don't beat yourself up over missing a run. It happens. And just for reference, one should never punish with combining runs, no matter how close or important a race may be (meaning, if you missed a 3 mile run, and your next day's run is supposed to be a 5 miler, doesn't mean you do 8. Theoretically, you should push everything back one day, or if you're further along, some people say split the difference and do a 4 miler).

Are you following a running plan? If you're not, you can try www.halhigdon.com or one of the plans at www.beginnertriathlete.com (I blog/train there as the same SN and there are a couple other GC'rs there too! I truly love my training log there because it does nifty graphs) and I think that www.runnersworld.com has blogs and plans too.

I've also gotta plug the Chi Running technique. It turned me from a whining fat miserable 13+ minute mile run hater, to a whining somewhat chubby occasionally manic 9 or less minute mile marathoner. It is great if you're starting from zero run experience. If you know what you're doing, then it probably won't benefit you, and some of the advice is a bit on the granola side but the advice on form and such was really helpful for me. The book is called ChiRuning and the writer is Danny Dreyer and it can be found at any book store or on Amazon.

I log my runs at BeginnerTriathlete too, love it.

I'm running a half marathon on Saturday, so have been fighting taper madness all week. Bah!

I use to run 5 days a week but have slowly dwindled down to almost nothing due to a back injury. Hope to get back into it once I have back surgery in May (though I can't start running again until August). I feel like a fat blob. I miss my soothing runs :(.

Ok! This is gonna sound so silly, but I'll tell you anyway. I didn't run today but I did a workout video. Lol! Hey, I did something, darnit! I have trouble breathing when I run (even if I'm in better shape). I've been told I might have exercise-induced asthma, but I've never been to a doctor about it (because it could be expensive).

I am right there with you about the asthma! I've always been an athlete...Like t-ball since I was 4 then to softball from 6 years old til my senior year of high school, basketball from 3rd to 8th grade, volleyball from 5th-8th...even when I only played softball in high school, I kept up with working out during off seasons...but I've always SUCKED at running! Whenever I'm running and I have to stop, it's because I'm so winded, not because my body is tired. It very frustrating! For as long as I can remember, the longest I've been able to run before having to slow down and walk for a bit is 1 mile.I had asthma pretty bad when I was little. For the most part, I've grown out of it, although I definitely benefit from taking my inhaler before I go on a run.

Also, I don't think the exercise video is silly at all! I like to use them now and then when I feel like I'm getting into TOO much of a routine. I can tell that my routine needs some changing up if I'm finding some of the exercises in the video difficult... lol

I'll definitely join in on this thread!! In the past, I would only run on occasion for the cardio portion of my workout. For the most part, I would spend time on the elliptical instead. However, I recently decided that I'm going to spend more time running, because I find that it makes my workouts go a lot faster. Instead of getting ready, walking all the way to the gym (it's like on the other side of campus), finding a locker, etc., I could just go out and run. It just saves so much more time, and I definitely need that. So now that it's nice I'm going to start running outside more!

I'm proud that I was able to do 1.5 miles straight before having to stop to catch my breathe the other day. Then I walked for a few minutes and then jogged another 0.25. My long term goal is 3 miles straight! I know that sounds like nothing, but that's a big deal for me!

Today's my first day of spring break. I'm home, and I intend on running as much as I can this week.I've just mapped out the route I'm going to take for my run in a bit. It's 2.3 miles. Hopefully I can do at least 1.5 straight again!

Do you have insurance? My friend has EIA and her inhaler isn't too expensive...she was also able to run track in college using the inhaler. Might be worth it to go to the doctor.

I set a new personal record in the half marathon today!

Congrats!

Well my progress will sound quite insignificant compared to that lol, but I'm still quite pleased. I did the 2.3 miles in 24:18...and thats with taking some walking time, cause I need to... I did 1.5 miles of running straight, walked 0.2, then ran another 0.4, then walked 0.2. Yay!

w00t for PRs! That's awesome.

On the asthma: I've got nothing really. BUT! You could investigate the Galloway Method ( http://www.jeffgalloway.com/ ) which integrates periods of walking and running. Some people swear by it.

Had an awesome 9 mile run on Friday, didn't run today because I've been busy with my swim team kids, and getting ready for a party tomorrow. I'm hoping to try to squeeze in a 12-13 mile run tomorrow before people start arriving. Thank you God for the warm weather though! I'm so done with snow.

Thanks! I went 2:07:47, which though admittedly isn't setting any land speed records, made me pretty happy.

I have a lot of friends, including some with asthma, who swear by Gallowalking (I'm a Higdon gal, myself).

Are you marathon training?

When I was training for the half marathon this summer, I was doing run-walking. I started with 2 min running and 1 min walking, then got up to 4:1. I hate that my lungs hurt when the rest of my body is fine. Yeah, I should check it out. I haven't had a regular doctor I like since I switched from a pediatrician. I think I need to look into it again...especially since I won't be able to use the school's health center after I graduate in June!

I think I need to changed this thread to "Work out with me!" This program I'm doing has me work out 6 days a week. I did it two days in a row (cardio one day and strength training the next), but skipped today because I went to Hearst Castle. So I guess Sundays will be my rest day. I'm doing well so far, but I totally curse at the workout instructor. Hehe...

Yep. The Pittsburgh Marathon has been resurrected this year so I jumped at the chance to sign up. It is on May 3rd, almost a year to the day since my first marathon which was the Belfast City Marathon. I did a 4:39 and some change in that with a bit left to give at the end because I didn't really know how to pace myself at that distance. Not sure how it will go this time round because there's a difference in altitude and hills and such. We'll see.

So what kind of shoes is everyone running in? I started out as a neutral runner running in Asics Landreth, then switched to a pair of neutral Saucony's which were terrible on my feet, then finally realized that my stride had changed and I needed a more supportive shoe and went for the Mizuno Wave Inspires which I love (some people hate them b/c they are too roomy in the toe box, I love them for this reason).

I know a lot of people running Pittsburgh. I'm registering for Marine Corps next week and am planning for that to be my first full.

I started in the Asics Cumulus in high school cross country and have probably owned 25 pairs. I switched last year to the Asics Landreth and it has worked out well.

I saw this thread and realized it's high time I got myself back into shape, and round is not a shape! LOL, I'm not that far gone, but I could definitely stand to lose a few pounds. (OK, more than a few.)

Back in high school, I ran track. My preferred event was the 400m. I am by no stretch of the imagination a distance runner - I ran cross country in the fall to get in shape for indoor and outdoor track, and my 5K times were laughable. I was on the track team during my freshman year of college, but then I got too busy, and long story short, I haven't run since. That's 15 years. :o

I'm not a complete couch potato. I have a couple of 10-minute workout DVDs and a home gym with bike, elliptical, and weight machine, and I try to do something every day. Now, a 10-minute workout is better than nothing, but I've got to do more if I'm going to lose weight and get back into shape.

So I could use some suggestions on where to start. Is the Couch to 5K running plan a good starting point? What about weight training? Also, spring has really not kicked in here in New England (brrr), so while running outside is possible, I'd prefer to work out indoors until it gets a bit warmer. Bike? Elliptical?

Also, what would be a better running surface, asphalt or dirt? When I ran track, I did most of my running on the track, but that's not an option now. There is a large park a short drive from home, that has some mostly-flat hiking/jogging trails... or I can jog on the streets near home.

TIA. I'm not a total n00b, but it has been many years.

I went to a running store to get fitted for new shoes. They video taped my feet as I was running barefoot on a treadmill. They looked over it again to see what parts of my feet were hitting the ground. They also had me stand on a machine that measured where I put the most pressure down. It showed it in different colors like they do with heat.

It was pretty cool, and I loooove those shose. They're Nikes, but I don't remember specifically what kind.

If you do want to run outside, you can layer. I wear a headband (like the kind for skiing) cause the cold gives me a huge headache without it.

I would think running on dirt would be better than asphalt. I know asphalt can be really rough on your joints.

Does anyone do ellipticals? I know they're pretty popular but...I seriously never go to the gym. I would feel so lost if I went in there...

Bumped.

Marathon 2.0 in 15 days!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

Good luck PhoenixAzul!!!

I haven't really been updating. When I last posted I was talking about how I've never been able to run more than a mile straight cause of asthma, but I finally for the first time did 1.5. So here's what's been going on since...

I've been okay with keeping up the workouts. I go AT least 3 times a week, but usually 4. However, I really haven't been running too much as part of my workout. Maybe once or twice per week. I've been doing the elliptical more often instead.

But the good news is, the times I do run, I can tell I'm getting better. I'm pushing myself little by little. Even though I have to do the running and walking thing still, the amount of time I'm running is getting longer and the amount of time I'm walking is getting shorter. And last week, I actually did 2 miles straight before taking a 1/4 mile walk to catch my breathe. I can really feel an improvement with my asthma. Yay! How is everyone else doing?

Haven't started the C25K yet this year due to a cold that Won't Die. Plus, I'm a wuss and want it to be a leetle bit warmer before I start running outside. And I'm lazy. Any tips for getting my butt out of bed earlier to exercise? When I did C25K two years ago, I ran at night after the kiddo was in bed. But I don't know if I can do that anymore.

I just found out a sorority sister ran the Boston Marathon on Monday. That makes me feel like a total schlub.

Ugh....sorry to top this again, but I have some bad news...I was out running on thursday, just for a short 45 minute tempo run. I clipped the curb with my right foot, my left leg was fully extended and I landed on it straight. I immediately felt horrific pain and collapsed. Ambulance, ER, 2 hospitals and 30 hours later...diagnosed with a broken astabula(sp?) bone. Essentially, the boney bit that surrounds the end of your leg bone in your hip joint. It usually only happens to 90 year olds and people in car accidents. I cannot put weight on it for 3 months. No lifting, no bending, no putting my shoes on, no sitting up more than 45 degrees, no car rides. No marathon, and no museum's conference next week. I've had to move back in with my parents because my apartment is on the top floor of a 100 year old building with no elevator and their house is a ranch. Gotta take blood thinners and some intense pain pills that make me pretty sick to my stomach.

I'm pretty annoyed at life right now.

PhoenixAzul, I'm so so sorry to hear about that :( I can't imagine how hard that must be. I'm praying for speedy recovery!!!

PhoenixAzul, OUCH! I'm so sorry this happened to you. I wish you a speedy recovery. Take care and follow your doctor's orders.



So, I started the C25K plan today... or rather, I tried to. By the end of my 5-minute warm-up walk (up a ~15-degree gradient - funny how you hardly notice it when you're driving) my feet were hurting. I stuck out 3 60-second jogging intervals but then had to walk the rest of the 20 minutes. I was wearing new shoes... maybe they just need some breaking-in.

I may have to stick with "Week Zero" for a bit, but I am out there and running for the first time since college! :D

I crossed paths with a few other walkers and joggers this morning, and they all said "good morning". It's nice to know I'm in a friendly neighborhood. :)

what is the Couch to 5K?

On the shoe front: Which shoes are you wearing, and where did you get them fit?

Women especially can have a hard time adjusting to wearing shoes with more support in them, because our normal every day shoes (think heels) tend to not have any support in them. This is fine for your normal every day work, but when you run, you're putting 3x your weight into your feet, and then the support and padding become absolutely crucial. The adjustment period for shoes can be about a week, and then your feet/legs get used to the adjustments that the support levels make.

If you feel pain on the outside of your shin bone after you've broken them in, that can be an indicator that you may need more support than that pair of shoes provides. You can also feel that same feeling after your shoes have bitten the dust (3-6 months depending on the frequency and length of your runs and your weight (heavier people need to replace their shoes more often), or 500 miles, whichever comes first. I take a Sharpie marker and write the date of my first run in that pair of shoes so I remember to replace them on time. After they're dead, I use them in the gym for weight machines and general kicking about).

I worked in a running store for a while, and I really learned a ton about shoes and how important they are. I truly believe that the best investment for any triathlete is good, properly fitted shoes.

Happy running guys, do a mile for me while you're out there!

Saw your thread on BT -- I'm really sorry! How awful for you.

Aww I'm so sorry, Phoenix! That's awful!

They are Nike Air Max 180. I bought them in an outlet mall several months ago (read: no one personally helped me), and then they sat in my closet for a while (read: aephi alum and snow do not mix). I've walked in them once or twice, but yesterday was the first time I actually jogged.

I seldom wear heels, even though I'm short. My dress shoes and dress sandals each have 1/2" heels.

I'm encouraged by the fact that nothing else hurt aside from my feet.

I wish this thread's title was “Row with me!” :(

Haha well I don't know anything about rowing but feel free to share!

My running = nonexistent, btw. I strained the arch of my foot after going on a long hike (I think about 4 or 5 miles). It's taken a surprisingly long time to get better. Argh!

I finally started the C25K program again last week. Week one went well. I'm trying to run in the mornings, and it's actually working out okay even though I hate getting up early. I'll do W2D1 today over lunch because the hub is out of town and there wasn't anyone to stay home with the kids this morning.