Getting Started Schedule - Beginners

john cuzen

14/04/2003 at 12:22

Hi

I`m following the plan as advised on how to get your stamina and runnning ability up to scratch.

I am now up to 2 15 minute runs with a walk in between. Although I am dead at the end, truthfully I feel dead for the last 5 mins, I can do it. My question is how have other people made the transition to 30 minutes which seems impossible.

Incidentally I`ve noticed the comments from others regarding no weight loss and I have also been bemused by my exercise and diet making no impact

John

CCSH

14/04/2003 at 12:58

Hi John
not sure what the plan says, but there are two ways of doing it in my experience.
1) you can add another walk and then another run until you can do run walk run walk run.
You will then find that it easier to start extending the length of the first run.

2) you can go straight into extending the length of the first run. Say from 15 to 17, then to 20 etc - but gradually.

Re 1) above - there's nothing to stop you building up to doing considerable distances running and walking. Quite a few people do marathons like this.

Don't worry about your weight to start with. Make sure you've got enough energy and fluid intake for your running. When you start increasing the distance, and your muscles have developed accordingly, you will start noticing improvements in your physique.

hope this helps

Chris H

yoyo runner

14/04/2003 at 16:55

Hi John,

when we trained for the half-marathon last year we did the second method Chris suggests. We made a real effort to slow the first run but to make it longer and it worked. Once we could do the whole 30min really slowly we started running a little faster.

Hope this helps.

MJ

14/04/2003 at 17:02

John -- just to second what Chris & Maggie said, I'd go with the lengthening the first section and improving the speed later. When I started running it took me 38 mins to run 5Km and I didn't much care because I knew I was getting somewhere. Gradually I started introducing speed intervals - where I'd run at a higher pace for a minute at a time and eventually my 5Km time came down to around 27 mins I think (can't remember).

Oh and don't worry about the weight - once you're running for longer and eating properly, it'll sort itself out. There are lots of stories on here of people who have dropped 2 stones once they kicked their training into gear. The trick is to keep motivated - as long as you're enjoying what you're doing you shouldn't go far wrong.

keith howells

14/04/2003 at 19:05

Dont worry too much about time or distance travelled or am i loosing any weight.Follow the training instructions in the latest RunnersWorld magazine. I did,some Ten months ago now,and im already one and a half stone lighter,than i was. The summer is comming up and there might be some sun out, just enjoy the moment and the time and distance along with the weight will sort itself out.

john cuzen

15/04/2003 at 12:39

Thanks for the advice, I like the idea of extending the first run and doing that way.

John

Thom Board

15/04/2003 at 13:39

When I started running I was daunted buy going "round the block" and by the end of it was truely done in. I honestly believe most of the exhaustion is mental.

Go out for a run, don't time it, don't measure it - just run. Take a left and then nip along a road you haven't been down for a while, cross the park, look for a friends car..... do anything but anything than think about what you've done and how far to go.

My experience was that after about a month I could easily run 5K and running was enjoyable. It is at this point you should buy your gadgets and start looking at training. Once you can run for 30 minutes you're motoring!!!! Good luck.

_Mel

15/04/2003 at 21:21

Hi Everyone,

This is my first message.
I am a completely new runner and find this discussion very interesting.
I only run with my wife who took up running a couple of years ago and got as far as competing in 10k races. She let her running lapse and we are now starting together.
I'm not sure how committed I would be without her running by my side.
She gives me great encouragement even though I am sure that sometimes I slow her down.
So far I have been pretty happy with my progress but it's still very early days.
The one problem I have is some degree of pain in my shins. I think this is called 'Shin Splints'.

I look forward to many more conversations with you all.

Mel

yoyo runner

16/04/2003 at 08:24

HI there Mellers

Just to say don't worry about slowing your wife down. I run with my boyfriend who's a foot taller than me (so longer strides) and quite a bit fitter. I used to worry about slowing him down but, as he says, he wouldn't even go out if I wasn't there.
The company and encouragement is far more important than speed, especially when you're starting out. You'll soon find a pace thats right for both of you.

MJ

mikie

16/04/2003 at 11:48

I have started the beginner plan, I'm up to eight minutes of running. and my legs are dead weight afterwards. My friends says that I should try drinking a high5 protein drink afterwards. Does anyone know what this could be. Thanks.

Thom Board

16/04/2003 at 12:18

Mikie,

I'd stay clear of any supplement drinks - water is the best method of hydration. As for dead weight legs I'm afraid there is pain before gain. The sensation will pass once you're running regularly over 15 minutes which will be sooner than you think.

mikie

16/04/2003 at 16:43

thanks thom. I guess I better stick to good old water for the moment. Apart from feeling that my legs are dead weight is it common for workmates to call you Mad for running in the first place?

Thom Board

17/04/2003 at 09:32

Some may call you mad but when you're 40, 50 or even 60 years old and are still active AND enjoy a beer.... are you mad or healthy?

Ice maiden

18/04/2003 at 14:43

I've been using the Getting Started Plan but have tweeked it to include a longer distance at the end of the week still with the same intervals in it. It seems to work too as I then find the first repetition of the increased running time more managable.

I use one of the Carbohydrate based drinks (currently lucozade sport, but I am switching to Isostar) and water to hydrate me, everything else is just a healthy diet

You complain now that you feel dead for the last five minutes, try looking back to when you started, did you feel dead then, and how easy did you manage to increase to the next step?

mikie

18/04/2003 at 19:23

My legs don't feel that bad now. But I run again on sunday morning. Even though I'm a slow runner, I still manage to sweat a lot. I'm not dripping wet but you know what I mean. I always take a bottle of water with me and drink it during the walking parts. I have cut down on the beer and even though I'm 30, I still find a lot of people think I'm silly for running! I just don't get! I don't smoke and I wanted to get myself in shape. So with a lot of parks here in Ealing, I thought why not go running.
Did anyone else run into some strange comments from friends or family members when you told them you were going for a run?

Linca

18/04/2003 at 20:02

mikie - When you get back indoors after a run try drinking a small glass of orange juice.

Ice maiden

19/04/2003 at 16:29

Not yet. and your further into the getting started plan than I am (I did my first 5/2 run/walk day yesterday) given the fat blob I was last year I expected the local "youff" to make comments along the "knees up mother brown" , instead I've had lots of "your doing really well" comments from neighbours so be encouraged.

My husband thinks I'm mad setting sights on next years FLM, and my inlaws are surprised to say the least that I am doing GNR this september.

I hope things continue to go well.

mikie

19/04/2003 at 19:14

nice one ice maiden. I have still have had a lot of your "your nuts!" and "why do you want to go running" ???? I will try your orange juice tip tomorrow morning Linca, thanks

Ice maiden

19/04/2003 at 20:11

Mikie, have you thought of a good answer to why do you want to go running? You know the sort of one liner that stops people in their tracks. What about asking them "Why not?" You probably have good reasons yourself ie. to get fit, so that you don't have a heart attack before your fifty etc, but ask yourself why they aren't doning the shoes and kit and joining you in ealings parks!

mikie

19/04/2003 at 21:40

yeah that's right. I run to keep fit (boring deskjob) and I have used the why not. that stops them dead in there tracks. and funny enough they all come out with "well I would, but I don't have the time!"