Excited new runner

Hey everyone!

I've been reading the boards for a while, but haven't posted as I just haven't really felt like a proper runner til now, not sure why...

Anyway, I went jogging with a friend for the first time at the end of May, and to my utter surprise & disbelief, I did just under 5k! (Albeit with a good few stops.)

I haven't had the confidence til recently to enter any events, so I was just kind of plodding along, 5k once a week, maybe 6 if I felt good.

I then went running with a local running club, with the 5-mile group, and I did it! It was 5.5 miles & v tough but I felt amazing after. I suffered though, (couple of black toensils & an under-sole blister) as I wasn't wearing proper shoes, so I went and got fitted & I've never looked back (pun intended!)

Then on Sat night, I went to a wedding, and ended up leaving with my friend's Great South Run entry!! It was only going to go to waste & I live really close to the course.... I promptly started my training last night with a friend who has also entered, and ran 11k (or just under 7 miles) without stopping - shocker for me! I feel great today but a couple of things I wanted to ask advice about:

Firstly, I felt so sick all evening, probably started a couple of hours after getting back and ended up staying up til 1am as I felt so rough. Is this normal? Can I do anything to help prevent it?

Secondly, am I increasing my distances too quickly? I'm aiming to do 2 x 5k ish runs during the week, & a longer one on a Sunday (8 miles next Sun, 9 the week after etc) as the Great South is just under 5 weeks away....

Sorry for the ramble, I don't know many experienced runners! Thanks in advance

Suzie x

Hi Suzie

I'm new to the forum too and looking for advice on speed distance frequency etc.

It sounds to me like you are a natural as you seem to progressing really well and with few aches and pains. I run 2 or 3 5ks a week and have only stretched to a 10k once but I really felt it afterwards.

Ive never had sickness but I have found it difficult to sleep after late runs and often lye awake til the early hours.

I think the most important thing is listening to your body and if it seems to be ok with the longer runs just keep with it.

Good luck with the Great South.

Hi and welcome

regarding the sickness......it could just be coincidence eg a bug or it could have been connected to when you had you previous meals....eg too much food or too little.......these things are very individual and so a bit of trial and error.......

your plan seems fine as long as you don't push the long run too much...don't do it too fast and as said above .listen to your body

good luck

Thanks for the replies guys

Silvertop, it's interesting you're a newbie after speed/distance advice, speed isn't a priority for me at all. I'm not the slowest I know & most definitely not the fastest but I know in myself that I'm going to take some time to get much quicker (about 11min/mile currently) but for me it's all about the distance. An interesting observation

Seren nos, good point - we've had 3 weddings the last 3 weekends in a row (AKA overindulgence abound!) and I got food poisoning after the last & have been feeling sick on & off all week, possibly a coincidence. Good tip about listening to the body, the run last night was ace til the last km. I'm guessing by your post count you're a v experienced runner?

The other thing I've suffered with is hard painful skin on the balls of my feet, any tips or wonder products to help with that?

Suzie........don't confuse the ability to write lots of rubbish on this site with being able to run

I have only been running 6 years and doing triathlon the last 3.........I love the feeling after the runs............I tend to do longer races as i find I'm not built for speed but have the stamina and mental ability to go long...got a 47 miler in the beacons coming up in November...

so I have run lots of miles and I am still slowly running faster but will never be fast

 not sure about the balls of the feet .I can remember a thread about it once.I will see if I can remember which one

Haha, good point SN

Wow, 47 miles!! I can't even begin to imagine that.... I think I may be similar to you in that I'll never be the first one past the finish line, but I'm seeing that my stamina is better than I imagined.

Isn't it ridiculously addictive? I'm on a rest day today yet can't wait til I can run tomorrow night! I think my friends are getting bored with it, hehe.

Thats why we come on here ...........friends and family who don't run really don't understand and its understandable why they soon get bored of our obsession

Suzie - Hi and welcome to the forum  you sound abit like me to be honest, I started seriously running about 4 months ago.  I have entered a couple of 5K races and one 10K race so far, and finding it very addictive.  I am female (Booey is my nicname and doesnt really give anything away) 43 years old and 5'3 tall and probably run about the speed you do

 I have made sure I listened to the advice people have given me on here, don't try and do to much to soon, just enjoy it and make sure I take rest days

I am about to join my local running club this week and am alittle nervous that I will just slow them down  but hey I gotta start somewhere and sure they will help me progress

welcome suzieQ,...just wanted to echo seren really, yep, your plan looks fine, dont do too much too soon. As for your feet,try "flexitol, Heel Balm"....its good stuff. (you can get it in Boots!)

Hey Booey Thanks for the reply, it's comforting to meet others similar to me! I'm 31 with 2 young daugters, so running just fitts in really well, esp as i can go whenever!

I think I'd like to start some form of speedwork, but not til after the Great South, one thing at a time! But I definitely need to keep at the races, my motivation has increased ten-fold since last week.

Good luck with the running club, do they have different groups to join? Ours does, & I had intended to go with the beginners but I spotted a colleague in the 5 miler group & ended up going with her. But within in each group, there were people up front, people in the middle & the 'leader' at the back & even I couldn't have gone as slow as him! I think you'll do better than you think. It's definitely daunting though, the fear of the unknown I guess. Keep me posted

Thanks for the info Towner, I'll definitely give the Flexitol a whirl!

I don't usually carry water during a run, should I be doing this for the Great South?

Hi Seren

I thought it was just my friends and family who didnt understand or care about my running but it seems to be a common theme.

It's a bug for sure. I now travel everywhere with my kit in the boot looking for any opportunity to have a sneaky run.

Hi silvertop.....its a great way to keep running fresh and interesting......running from different starting points

 Suzie....sensible to wait with the speed work until after the Great South......more sensible to get the legs used to running more mileage.........too mant people go into the speed work too soon..........and if you haven't learned to recognise the warning signs it can lead to injuries.......

I tend to avoid speedwork ( personal choice)  but do the 5k Parkruns on a saturday which I count as my speed work...........that really helps my speed pick up a bit......

after the great south might be worth seeing if they are any in your area..........infact I would advise those to anyone taking up running............free and open to all abilities and help you focus on a pace you would never achieve on your own

I've been thinking about a 5k Park run for a while now. Just need to get over that first race anxiety!

My nearest Park run is Black Park in Slough which is nice and flat with some lovely tree lined paths.

I'm busy this Sat but if all goes well I'll pitch up next weekend and give it a go?

do try and get there silvertop.....you won't regret it.......you have nothing to lose...its free and if you have a bad day you can always go  back a week or two later and get a better time............they remind you that you can't always have a good race/run but if you keep going then overtime you will improve

Yep same ere, my family and friends don't get this whole running obsession either.  They very rarely ask me how its going even though I always let them know when I have done a race  my hubby is very supportive though and thats all that matters to me

With the exception of a couple of the dads at my boys football I can safely say that nobody is interested in where, how, if I run! I could be out for 30 mins or 3 hours on a Sunday morning and my wife and boys wouldn't care. Not that I mind too much but sometimes you just want to share the highs and the lows! Still I guess that's what we are doing now.

I think my wife's interest quickly dissappeared when I started to lose a lot of weight from running while she failed to lose anything working out to the Shred DVD. Not that she's jealous or anything......

Right that's it I have decided to set myself a goal and I have entered the Reading HM with a colleague at work. It's not til next April which gives me plenty of time for training (even with a couple of weeks off for Christmas)

This will be my first winter running so I'm not sure how I'll cope with the change in weather and the dark nights but I'll give it a go.

Not cheap these races are they -£30 and not even a free T-shirt!

Anyone want to join me?

Silver - I have to say that my hubby is a tad jealous about my weight loss since I started   its just little comments I pick up on.  He windsurfs and is pretty fit to be honest but has let a few pounds creep on since we first met, as we both had until now

When I first started seriously running a few months ago I entered the Silverstone HM next March  to give me a goal to work towards, I am still pooping myself that I might not be capable haha

Its my first winter running also  its my b/day the end of Oct when the clocks alter so hubby is buying me all my hi-viz gear  also joining a running club so I can run with others

Hi Booey

It's great that your hubby is supportive. If he's pretty active himself he would understand your passion for running.

The Reading HM finishes in Madjeski Stadium so I'm hoping the family will come and cheer me along at the finishing line. I have to say I'm filled with fear at the thought of 13 miles but it gives me a goal to aim for.

The running club is a good idea as hopefully it will help you get through the winter months. I'm thinking of doing the same if I can fit it round work and home.

Let us know how you get on with training for the HM?

Well I ran my first Parkrun on Saturday with 64 others and it was great. Really good to meet and run with other runners. I was pleased with my time too at 25mins.

I was away visiting family so this wasn't my local run but it was v well organised.

I really need to join a club now as I think I can get much more out of running with other people. Strongly recommend Parkrun to anyone at the 5k level.