Totally new? The 2013 new runners thread.

@runforest As I said I started 3 weeks ago and when I completed my first 5k run I went for GAIT analysis and walked (ran) out with a new pair of running shoes!  So that now counts as my motivation to keep going.

As far as training gear goes I picked up some long sleeve running shirts from sporsdirect at £2.50 each and so far can't fault them.

@RunningBella, I agree I cannot wear too much in this mild winter weather at the moment.  Long sleeve running shirt and shorts, don't know how people can run in gloves or warm hats. As a conservative almost 40 year old male I'm not wearing any of the tight fitting clothes - I started with tracksuit bottoms but heated up to quickly.

I just never imagined I could enjoy running as much as I do at the moment.

Hi  I too have a BMI of 45  I managed to lose 3 st last year but still have 5st to lose . I made various attempts at getting back to running last year having run for many years with some not bad times but I gave up to care for my parents as I couldn't fit in working full time and caring for parents plus babysitting grandchildren . Something had to give and it was my running . Now 4 years later I am totally unfit and vastly overweight . I comfort eat . 

I live in a small village and am very self conscious of my weight and kids have shouted at me when I tried to go out . 

I am about to go into the last year of my 50' s and really want to run again but I really don't know how to start  which is stupid as I have all my running diaries from 24 years ago and I see what I did then to start but I was,a lot younger and lived out in the country. No one saw me . 

One thing I notice from.my diary was that when I started 24 years ago I was as overweight then as I am now but then I hadn't already lost 3st . Last year was the heaviest I ever got . I wasn't even that heavy when pregnant . 

So where to start? 

Oooh .. browsing running gear. I am trying to stop myself but I do need something long sleeved. But until payday I will be sweating in my hoodie I am afraid! 

runforestrun - I get really cold ears and earache too! I can't go out of the house for about six months of the year without earmuffs otherwise it's agony. What is with that? I'm going to think about what my reward might be ... me and a friend were talking about treating ourselves to a spa day last year so maybe that?

Speedy ... must be really hard living in a small community and feeling self conscious about getting out again. I have a park next to me and I always think the kids are going to say something but at least I'm anonymous in the city. I'm running with headphones at the moment so I can't hear if they are making cracks. I won't use them when I get up to longer runs I think but they help in cutting me off from the world. Might that help? Or can you get further away from where you live for the first few weeks until your confidence is up a bit? I'm sure it just needs something to get you over the difficult start?

Becky, I am in the same boat.  I wont ever go out in the morning. No point in pretending I will, despite best intentions.  I would need to be on my feet and out of the door by 0530.  My best time to run is in the evening and in the past this has worked for me, but I now have a child to think about and a full time job and the too difficult light just kept coming on.

I think it is a case of reshuffling your routines around a bit. This is my plan.

I get home with the little one at around 1830 and we have about 1 hour to sort him out before he goes to bed.  We then eat dinner - which I cook while OH bathes the little man.

However.  The first thing I do on walking into the house, is remove all my nice office clothes, and throw on some unattractive nasty leggings and a t shirt.  In which I slob around til bedtime.  

If I can do this - but change into my running gear instead, then half the battle is won.  Then,  I can just hand him over to the husband and run out the door.  Home in time for cuddles, then jump in a shower before dinner.

The big problem is dinner.  First of all, I am starving when I get in.  I need to plan a meal at work at about 4pm on my running days.  

Secondly, I need to find something to cook on those days that I can just chuck into the oven before I run out the door and which will be ready when I get back... and which requires minimum supervision.

We dont eat carbs, so it needs to be meat. 

Anyway, the plan is underway.  The first day this will need to be considered is Tuesday.  Ill let you know how I get on!

SpeedyG - I dont live in a small village, but I do live in a smallish town where it seems every time I go out I see people I know.  I reckon you have to suck it up (or as already suggested, drive somewhere and run out of town) as I said before, most people are looking at you and wishing they had the guts to get out there.  I overcame it by wearing a cap.  Im sure it was a crap disguise, but I felt better about it!

And that brings me onto the subject of running gear.  Im a big fan of long sleeve wicking tops, biut struggle to find decent trousers.  Some time ago I took a risk on some expensive Asics trainers which turned out to be wonderful.  They died last year, so  I took another risk and bought some new ones on the internet. It worked for me, but as others have said - gait analysis is the sensible way.  Im a bit blonde and stupid, but I was lucky with my choice.

And a post C25K treat?  I reckon some sexy running kit and I may just enter the GSR in October....see if I can beat my 2 hour time from last year!

The only other l could add to yourself bella and you too becky is to think about preparing meals over the weekend that you can then freeze in suitable containers that can be chucked in the oven on your return from work, get the kiddies sorted, get into ya running gear and head out the door. When your out running it's a great feeling to know tea is cooking with every step you take

Also throwing everything into a slow cooker for a stew/hearty soup/a small roast joint etc etc before heading to work in the morning. Prepare everything by chopping the veg etc before going to bed then just lob it all into the slow cooker before you head off to work in the morning.

Doing a bolognase sauce that way is the only way to roll

I fully understand your time limits folks . If I tried to run in the mornings I would need to be out the door at 5am as I leave for work at 7am getting home at 7.30pm it's darkdark, I am.tired and hungry by then . How do others mmanage when you work/travel long hours?

l think it's a case of trying to fit it into your current schedule if possible speedy.

Do you travel to work by car or bus/train?

If it's bus and train could you incorporate a run into getting home or to the station or something?

Failing that mate it's either a case of forcing yourself out once you return home or getting a lot of running in at the weekend.

Evening all!

Failed to get up in the morning to do my run (pre-back to work insomnia kept me up till 3) but got out in the evening for first run of week 3. Good sized lunch, banana when I got home and lunch just now ... worked today. First time I've run in the dark so it involved up and down the river in front of my home instead of the normal route, so probably amused the neighbours but got it done. Hi-vis something now on my list of things I need!

Kate - I read about the zombie app and wondered whether it would be any good - I love zombie films. What stopped me downloading was thinking it might actually be scary?! Does it not freak you out a little?

Mrs V - do Lidl and Aldi sell there stuff at any particular time of year? I expect there'll be a thread in the gear section ... think I'm going to have to seek out some chep stuff. Runnin in my hoodie a wooly hat from Iceland (the country) today!

Maisie - No, it's not scary at all, it's not a shoot 'em up or anything like that. As you walk/run you get little messages through your headphones telling you that you've picked up items like medical kits, boxes of ammunition, sports bras, etc. When you get a zombie warning you have to speed up. If you don't go fast or far enough, you simply drop some of the supplies you've collected to distract the zombies and make your escape. It would defeat the purpose if they actually let you die! After your session you log into their website and distribute your loot around your compound, the more stuff you come back with, the stronger your town becomes. It's that simple, nothing to be scared of

Becky, I am in the same boat.  I wont ever go out in the morning. No point in pretending I will, despite best intentions.  I would need to be on my feet and out of the door by 0530.  My best time to run is in the evening and in the past this has worked for me, but I now have a child to think about and a full time job and the too difficult light just kept coming on.

I think it is a case of reshuffling your routines around a bit. This is my plan.

I get home with the little one at around 1830 and we have about 1 hour to sort him out before he goes to bed.  We then eat dinner - which I cook while OH bathes the little man.

However.  The first thing I do on walking into the house, is remove all my nice office clothes, and throw on some unattractive nasty leggings and a t shirt.  In which I slob around til bedtime.  

If I can do this - but change into my running gear instead, then half the battle is won.  Then,  I can just hand him over to the husband and run out the door.  Home in time for cuddles, then jump in a shower before dinner.

The big problem is dinner.  First of all, I am starving when I get in.  I need to plan a meal at work at about 4pm on my running days.  

Secondly, I need to find something to cook on those days that I can just chuck into the oven before I run out the door and which will be ready when I get back... and which requires minimum supervision.

We dont eat carbs, so it needs to be meat. 

Anyway, the plan is underway.  The first day this will need to be considered is Tuesday.  Ill let you know how I get on!

SpeedyG - I dont live in a small village, but I do live in a smallish town where it seems every time I go out I see people I know.  I reckon you have to suck it up (or as already suggested, drive somewhere and run out of town) as I said before, most people are looking at you and wishing they had the guts to get out there.  I overcame it by wearing a cap.  Im sure it was a crap disguise, but I felt better about it!

And that brings me onto the subject of running gear.  Im a big fan of long sleeve wicking tops, biut struggle to find decent trousers.  Some time ago I took a risk on some expensive Asics trainers which turned out to be wonderful.  They died last year, so  I took another risk and bought some new ones on the internet. It worked for me, but as others have said - gait analysis is the sensible way.  Im a bit blonde and stupid, but I was lucky with my choice.

And a post C25K treat?  I reckon some sexy running kit and I may just enter the GSR in October....see if I can beat my 2 hour time from last year!