Talkback: Becoming A Runner

Joining a running club may be a tad intimidating for some people. I would suggest parkrun is a good place to start http://www.parkrun.com/home.aspx , very welcomng but you can also turn up, run and then go if you chose.

Wish I'd found this 'discussion' section sooner - it's brill

Kingsley - how's your Olympic dream coming along ? 

This is a great forum.

I am an absolute beginner, and only dare to run on the treadmill in the gym at the moment. I really need a decent tee-shirt as my cotton ones get soaking, can anyone reccommend one please?

I have now worked up to 5k in 45 mins, I do .75k running, then.25 walk until I get to 5k. The last push .75k is the hardest at the moment.

Where should I go from here?

Tia

Hi Tia, 

I was a complete beginner on when I ventured out on Christmas Eve last year huffing and puffing. I found if I simply went at a comfortable pace but tried to increase distance gradually I was improving rapidly. Last thursday I did ten miles in 1hour 46mins and felt amazing. I always rest for a couple of days after to fully recover. I do as many pressups as possible to keep my back from acheing.

I am filled with calmness after a long run. I also do faster 5K's in 30mins but don't enjoy the speed work...yet.

I am aiming for marathon distance this Christmas. It may be a pipe dream but I'll be happy trying.

Good luck and 'find your niche'.

God Bless

Andy 

I started running off and on over a year ago, and restarted the beginning of this year. I did a 10K on a spur on the moment thing last september, after no training for the previous 3 weeks and came in at 1:08. This year I'm in the BUPA 10K in may, running for the RNLI, and I have found my motivation again.

 Since Jan Ist I'm running 5K 3 times a week, and have cracked the magic(for me!!) 10min/mile over the 5K, and I have just rejoined the gym to start some cardio work and weights, and do a bit of training out of the snow and ice. I enjoy the little improvements (it was great when I went from 10:04 to 9:58) and the feeling after a good run,.. all warm and glowly!!

 Based on my experience, slow and steady is the answer, with small regular goals. I started with the couchpotato to 10K plan (google it) and it worked for me I'm still working on the loosing weight issue (nearly 17 stone is a lot to cart around), but it is coming off slowly. Also go to a running shop, get advice and buy a good pair of trainers. My other toy is a gps/heart  tracking watch.. I'm using a garmin 405, its great to see where I've been, and how I've done on the hills....and no-one else will know!!!

 Wayne

I used to start off too fast and burn out. Then, like Wayne, I got a GPS / Heartrate Monitor. Forgot about the times and ran to a steady heartrate - too high, I would slow down, too low and I would speed up. Brilliant.

A year later I'm running faster, further and at a lower heartrate. Tuesday and Thursday treadmill. Sunday fun!