Best of the forum: Beginners

Highlights and frequently asked questions from our Beginners forum

Posted: 25 September 2003

These are highlights and frequently asked questions from our beginner forums. They were created by members of Runner's World just like you. If you want to bring a discussion back to life, don't be shy: just add a new message at the end of it. Alternatively, start a new thread on the beginner forum.

HEALTH AND INJURY FOR BEGINNERS

Back hurts!

Blisters - help!

Breathing problems - is there a technique?

Cramps/stitches and how to avoid them

Feet - can I avoid black or missing toenails?

Feet burning on sole

Hay fever has got me in its evil grip

Knee problems advice for professional help

Knee swelling problems…

Knees- strengthening exercises

Sciatica

Shin splints - help!

Smoking - just stopped, lungs feel terrible..

Smoking - want to stop…

Stitch - how to beat them pt1

Stitch - how to beat them pt2

Stomach cramp - yuk

Sweat - do I sweat too much?

SEE OUR FULL 'BEST OF THE HEALTH & INJURY FORUM' INDEX

MOTIVATION FOR BEGINNERS

A success story

Am I good enough to join a club?

Encouragement needed - I've had a break and winter's coming!

Encouragement needed after setback

FeeI like I'm getting nowhere! - need inspiration pt1

Give me a fix for my first race!

I could do eight miles, but now I keep walking…

I want to run, but I have no motivation (great thread!)

I was rubbish on my run…

What keeps you going?

MORE MOTIVATION LINKS IN OUR FULL 'BEST OF THE TRAINING FORUM' INDEX

NUTRITION FOR BEGINNERS

Carbs without dairy and wheat - any ideas?

Food before running

High energy drinks and losing weight…

I want to have energy, but to lose weight too…

Should I eat after a run?

What will fill me up?

RACING FOR BEGINNERS

10K - how to train for one?

5K to 10K - the 10K schedules look complex…

First race - will I be last?

First race nerves

Headaches - tips to avoid them…

Marathon - is it a good idea so soon?

Race pace - what to aim for in a 5K?

Race pace - what to aim for in a half-marathon? I've done 10 miles

Run-walking analysis by professor Tim Noakes

Undulating course - what's that??

MORE RACING LINKS IN OUR FULL 'BEST OF THE TRAINING FORUM' INDEX

SHOES AND KIT FOR BEGINNERS

Bad weather - what rain gear?

Gear - what gear?

Gear - winter clothing (not too hot, not too, cold…)

General - running shoes or a heart rate monitor? what first?

Shoes - decent trainers - help?

Shoes - for heavy runners

Shoes - how do I clean them?

Shoes - too tight?

SEE OUR FULL 'BEST OF THE GEAR FORUM' INDEX

TRAINING FOR BEGINNERS

Children and your running

Complete beginner - all advice and goals welcome

Heart rate - resting HR and HR training…

Heart rate monitor zones seem wrong pt1

Heart rate monitor zones seem wrong pt2

Heart rate monitor zones seem wrong pt3

Heart rate monitors - only for experienced runners?

Hills - how to cope with them??

Pace - what speed is 'normal'?

Progress - does it get any easier? Pt1

Progress - does it get any easier? Pt2

Progress - does it get any easier? Pt3

Progress - how to leap to 30 minutes non-sop?

Progress - I can run for 30mins. What next?

Progress - I've got stuck at 2.5 miles…

Progress - too far too fast?

Progress - was my first three-mile run good enough?

Schedule - I'm all-new. Which programme should I follow?

Schedule - should I run more than alternate days?

Surfaces - road or treadmill?

Surfaces - which are best?

Timing - early morning running - how??

Timing - how do you find time to run?

Treadmill workouts - all suggestions welcome

Treadmills - easier than outside?

Weightlifting tips for runners (without bulking up!)

SEE OUR FULL 'BEST OF THE TRAINING FORUM' INDEX

WEIGHT LOSS FOR BEGINNERS

A 15 stone beginner…

A delay before losing weight…

Eating for energy and weight loss

Half a stone that just won't shift

Losing weight and getting back to running - a long thread!

Over-weight beginner - help!

Runner's World is grateful to Ashley, Foxy, and Josie Jump for trawling over 2900 beginner threads to bring you these highlights and frequently asked questions. Want to suggest some more? Email us the links.

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Steve_SX

Hi,

Just starting out in the running arena, I'm very unfit and not happy with myself for it. I want to improve and so have decided to start running. I can barely walk 20mins at the moment without feeling a bit out of breath, but have got the "Get Started Schedule" from this site and will be doing it! I have my shoes, just need the motivation now!
Oh, I'm also keeping an online diary, www.DiaryofaRunner.Com if you wanna follow my progress.

Steve
Posted: 15/01/2004 at 16:42

Nessie

Good for you Steve. Welcome to the forums.

Get used to that out of breath feeling - it comes with the territory!

Posted: 15/01/2004 at 17:22

*Joby*

Well done Steve!

Just go out and enjoy yourself, don't worry about pace or mileage for now.

The schedules do work.

Good luck! :o)
Posted: 15/01/2004 at 17:58

Johnny J

Good for you Steve. Loads of us have been there and done that. Just take it easy and if the schedule is too difficult then back off a bit. It all takes time and there's no instant fitness routine but that doesn't matter, you need to enjoy it and be there for the long term.
Don't know what your schedule says but 30 mins of 5 mins walk and 5 mins jog is a good place to start. When you can do that, knock a minute off the walking and so on until you jog for 30 mins.
JJ
Posted: 15/01/2004 at 19:22

nrg-b

Well Done, Steve. I used to be a hefty 16 stone. But now 1 year later I'm much slimmer and more importantly, fitter.

My advise would be : Take it very nice & easy in terms of your initial activities and changes to diet. Make only small tiny increases. Make all this part of your normal routine. Listen to your body, not your head, if anything hurts then stop and take it easier for awhile longer.

Remember: Slow is the new Fast ;-)

Good luck, Mate!
Posted: 15/01/2004 at 20:59

ian noble

as one fat boy to another . well done mate I've just got into this lark too, for the same reasons as you,it's all down hill from here ( don't we wish! )
Posted: 15/01/2004 at 21:36

Tubby Tucker

Just to re-iterate the been theres,

Keep it up, its amazing the changes that will happen. 4 months ago, I was 18 stone couldn't run for more than 90 seconds. I started the beginners schedule by RW, and the rest is history.

I'm now running 8:00 miles at race pace, and 3stone lighter to boot. All thanks to this forum, encouragement from peeps here, and a bit of determination from me. Don't look back people.

I have so much more respect for myself now.

Tubby
Posted: 15/01/2004 at 22:18

chris lehane 2

go steve
Posted: 16/01/2004 at 11:02

Steve_SX

Done my first run!!! Woohoo... it wasn't much of a run compared to what you lot do, but I got out there (the hardest bit) and I felt fine, and better for it afterwards... Diary updated!

Steve
www.diaryofarunner.com

Posted: 19/01/2004 at 09:49

lesson # 1: don't compare yourself with anybody but yourself.

:o)
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 09:50

The Evil Pixie

well said JJ!
Well done Steve and well come to madness!
If you are also interested in the working of fitness and running why not check out the Free course called fit to run ....www.fit2run.org (I think!)
Will keep my eye on you!!
Pixie
Overweight and slow but loving it!
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 11:31

The asthmatic gorilla

The schedules definitely work!

Ditto everything everone else has said although my only small pearl of wisdom is to place your schedule somewhere prominant and tick off each session as you do it, the sense of satisfaction in completing it is immense.
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 13:48

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