Getting Started 2

I went to the gym today - finally managed to feel up to it. I ran 5K in 37 mins. Not sure if this is good. I had three walking breaks and I also tried some nterval stuff (very shirt intervals) and was surprised to find that my usual pace felt a little too slow (9Km/hr) so I upped it to 10 and felt comfortable with that. I didn't do as much cardio wise and weights but I was happy to finish with having completed the distance. So I won't be pulling from the race now I know I can do it. I'm pleased I ran and went to the gym. I'm going to have 2 rest days though and only walk the dog. I'll go again on Thursday (all being well with Wednesday's results).

Okay so that is "intervals" and "short" ones at that - not "shirt" ones :o)

Well done Cath! Glad you're feeling a bit better. 5K in 37 minutes sounds fantastic to me! Hope everything goes well on Wednesday - do let us know how you get on.

Glad to hear you're not pulling out Cath. OF COURSE you'll do fine if you just don't put too much pressure on yourself. Remember: you ENJOY running....don't you?

For what it's worth, I've taken a step back in training too and allowing my body more rest days so that I have at least SOME days that I don't ache everywhere! I'm sure my body appreciates me all the more for it and will therefore do more for me when I ask it!! :)

Good morning everyone!

I just discovered this website last week and it's great to hear so much encouragement and tips! I'm hooked!

I've just started running again (I dragged my way round the GNR last year), but class myself as a beginner (I think I jog at about 12 min mile).

I've applied to do the London Marathon next year, and am telling all my friends so that I'll lose face if I back out! I'd been really against doing it, as I think it will take me about 6 hours (quite embarrassing!), but I've now decided that it would be great to be able to say I've done it (I just won't tell people how long it's taken me!!)

So go for it anyone who's thinking for doing it (Carol!). It would be great to have support over the next 7.5 months!

Kazza

Elizabeth & Fiona -- Thanks guys and I will let you know what happens tomorrow. Strange isn't it, one minute it seems eons away and the next it's right upon me :)

Fiona -- I think I decided upon the two rest days after my experiences the last two weeks. After each good run I had really crappy runs and didn't even complete my target distances. So I decided that if my body demanded more rest then who am I to argue :) Anyway, hopefully I'll do the easy thing today and tomorrow with the dog walking and might even get the bike out! But the aim will be to rid the muscles of the lactic acid build up instead of trying to do anything meaningful. Hopefully that way, I'll be able to put in the same distance on Thursday and then Sunday too, after which I'll only have a week to get prepared.

Kazza -- Welcome to the forums. There are loads of us here who are returning to running after a break. In my case it has been a long break but I seem to be doing okay but in other people's (like Running Muppet) it's only a short break and so we're all starting again somewhere :) Glad you like the forums - I've only been running I think 5 weeks now and these forums haven't half been a great source of motivation, encouragement and support!!

Cath - Good luck for tomorrow. I will be thinking of you.

It's funny, my break from running seemed like a really long time and I can't believe how unfit I became but 18 months isn't really that long at all. Since I got back to regular 3 times a week running, it's been surprisingly quick to come back. I mean in the space of 3 months I've gone from running 11 or 12 minutes per mile and having to walk 4 times round a 4 mile flat road circuit to running an 8 mile x-country loop at what felt like an easy pace when I was doing between 8 and 8 and a half minutes per mile. When I first started it took me over a year to do that sort of improvement.

When I was struggling and hurting, I couldn't imagine how I'd ever run along and felt like it was an easy pace at 8 and a half minutes per mile. It seemed completely unnatainable and a very long way away. Now I can hardly believe it's true that I'm doing that again - I feel fantastic.

Fiona G - sorry for the delay in response - I've not had a chance to look in on this thread for a few days. You asked about the karate and running...
I was doing kyokushinkai which is full contact and it was pretty full-on. I started a few months after my second FLM as I felt stale with running and fancied a new challenge so when I started I was running around 12-15 miles a week on top of an hour and a half session of karate.

Then I started twice a week and the sessions were very hard physically. Lots of circuit type stuff and pad work and hundreds and hundreds of sit ups and press-ups. I wanted to run the FLM again so from September, I started doing an easy run of around 4 miles on the days I did karate to build my mileage up. I think it helped that I had been used to marathon training (I used to average 30 miles a week, the most was a 50 mile week). So doing 20-25 miles with the karate on top was okay. I knew though that once I was into January that the karate would have to stop for 3 months until after the marathon because it would have just been too much. But then I got pregnant in January so that was that.

I think the problem is combining speed training with something like karate or TKD because basically, the karate was like a speed session with lots of drills and shuttle runs and high intensity work followed by periods of recovery but it's not running specific so it doesn't get you faster in the way that reps or hill work does. I do miss karate though - it's good for the mind in a different way to running and I liked kicking and punching things.

Okay another update from yesterday -- I went to the gym and managed to run quite easily the 5K distance on the treadmill and I also managed to shave 40 seconds off Monday's time of 37 mins, down to 36 mins 20 seconds :) I was very pleased with this. It took me a while to get started but I didn't have any shin splints pain and I felt really strong and healthy despite the lumo and heaviness under my right arm.

Good morning everyone!

I was a bit slack last week - but my excuse is that my best friend got married on Saturday, and so I had to meet up with her on a number of occasions, as she knew I would be happy for her to gush on about her big day!! (And it was a great day!)

Can dancing for 3 hours count as a training session...?

Hope to get back on track this week.

Have a good week - I look forward to hearing about how you all get on!

wow! i've been run/walking for about a month, and have just discovered runners' world magazine, and this site. Amazing! it's so great to see everyone being so supportive- i've been a bit scared of other runners as they zoom past me, but maybe that was unnecessary?! And even though you're all talking to each other, it feelks like you're all encouraging me, too, which is great, all adds to the motivation. That only problem im having now is limitting myself to every other day- i want to get out there every day! i know it'd kill me though, so i'm trying to be sensible. well done with so much progress, cath, i hope it keeps going this well.
Pamela

Hi Pamela, welcome aboard! It is a very friendly, supportive site. Some very useful info too. So are you completely new to running or are you a returner like many? (Not me - 7 months into it and still very much a beginner.

no, still an absolute beginner. i do have a go every couple of months, and have been doing for about 2 years, but always give up within a forntight through lack of motivation. but i've kept it going for a whole month this time, and am having no motivation probs at all! i'm loving it! something to do with finding runners world and corresponding website (ie here) and all the amazing friendly support therein. so thanks to all, for keeping me inspired!

Pamela,

I can only agree with you re Runners world and website. I feel that I do have support to keep on at my running after discovering them both! I am running my first 10K in a few weeks and although I am nervous I am feeling confident that I can improve with the tips and training plans on this site and in the magazine!

Good luck with the race, moomoo, I'm sure you'll be fine! Just go out there and enjoy it!
I've never really been in a race - other than the traditional fathers' day 4mile fun meander, i mean run, when i was small. PLease explain to me the addiction that everyone seems to have to racing - am i a little weird for not joining in, or are there many people who don't but just train for the love of running?
Pamela x

Well the only real reason for doing the 10K as a 'race' was because my father-in-law-to-be??!! is a runner and he was doing it and i had just started toying with the idea of starting running again. I suppose its just a target but I used to do a lot or racing when I was running originally (at school no less) and I suppose its quite good to gauge yourself with others now and again. I also must admit after seeing Paula Radcliffe running in the Commonwealth and then the European I could feel the urge again to get out there and stretch those legs!!!!!!! If you are enjoying your running it doesn't matter if you are racing or not, everyone is different.

Pamela

Welcome to running! I've been running semi-seriously for 10 years and have run thousands of miles in preparation for the 18 (soon to be 19) marathons I have run. You mention you used to give up for lack of motivation and also what is the addiction with racing?

Well (sharp intake of breath!) the thing that motivates me after all this time is - 1. BECAUSE I CAN DO IT!!. I'm always humbled and in respect of those people with disabilities such as one leg or blind who manage to complete the London Marathon. I'm just so thankful that I'm able-bodied enough to finish in relatively fast times.

2. FOR THE SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT - Why do mountaineers climb mountains - because its there!. I get so nervous every time I 'toe the line' in a race, each one is completely different and to complete a Marathon really is a fantastic achievement for anyone.

3. To travel - I've been all over the world racing and its such a great excuse to travel. Imagine going to one of the greatest cities in the world - New York - and finishing your holiday with one of the best Marathons in the world - FANTASTIC.

4. And finally.. 'cos I love it.

Hope you keep the motivation going through the winter - thats the real test!!. Why not enter a 10K and see how much you enjoy it.

All the very best - ENJOY YOUR RUNNING!

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