A little tip for almost beginners

yeneewss

Hey there. Just passing on something I have learned in the last week or so. There is a wall of sorts no matter how short your distance but you can get over it. At about 3 miles I think "Oh My God, I can't do this! It's too hard. My legs are killing me". I don't run fast, I plod along, but when I ignore this feeling and keep plodding, next thing I know I am on four miles. I have done up to 4.76 and at least 4.3 miles three times last week and yesterday. I even went out on my own with my MP3 and didn't give up at 3 miles! Of course, if you are doing more than moaning, i.e. if you are in actual, real pain, then you should stop, but muscle tiredness and heavy legs don't count as pain! Just keep plodding!

racheljev

Thats funny, because I was about to post a thread called "how long before I DON'T feel crap for the first 20 mins of a run"! I ran yesterday morning and at 25 mins, was about to head home because I felt really bad. But I kept running and ended up doing 8.2 miles - longest I've ever done. Good to know others feel the same! Btw, will I ever NOT feel crap at the start of a run

TheBandit

I'm in the same boat as you racheljev. I feel like crap for the first part but then get over it. This has seriously damaged my motavation. I haven't ran in a week and a half now. Damb you first 20 minutes...shakes fist at the sky

TFBubendorfer

racheljev wrote: »

"how long before I DON'T feel crap for the first 20 mins of a run"

Btw, will I ever NOT feel crap at the start of a run

Bad news, I'm afraid. Five years are not enough to not feel lousy for the first mile or two.

Pherekydes

At least now you understand the need for a 20 minute warm-up before doing anything serious like a session or a race.

yeneewss

If I spent 20 minutes on a warm up I would never get going. I stretch like crazy for a while and just get going. After that first few miles I feel better - is that a warm up. And as for races, I don't think I am into that, just run for the feeling I get from finishing it. Hoping to lose weight too but haven't lost a pound - but then that's nothing new after five years of gyming, running, etc. etc. etc., but I am fitter!!!

yeneewss

racheljev wrote: »

Thats funny, because I was about to post a thread called "how long before I DON'T feel crap for the first 20 mins of a run"! I ran yesterday morning and at 25 mins, was about to head home because I felt really bad. But I kept running and ended up doing 8.2 miles - longest I've ever done. Good to know others feel the same! Btw, will I ever NOT feel crap at the start of a run

Hoping that as I get better, I will spend less time feeling like it's too hard. Here's hoping!!!!

Jay Pentatonic

Cool, I never knew there was a thread here for beginners :eek:

Anyway, I'm with everyone here, I always feel horrible for the first 20 mins, but I just keep at it, & once I change my mentality as well, before I know it I'm doing grand

But lately it's not as easy, I'm now actually feeling a significant amount of pain in my calf muscles & shins, & it's really affecting me.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, has anyone else had this???

Should I be warming up/warming down more?, not jogging as often?(every 2 days) should I eat more protein?
Or should I just see a physio LOL :pac:

...

leana

yeah i'm getting a lot of shin pain aswell that can last for over a week or more. its really annoying as i'm just getting into running this year and i'm really enjoying it but this stops me from progressing:(

P

Mink

Ah so I'm not the only one regarding the first 20 minutes!
I figured it was because I needed to get my "2nd wind" & it takes about 20 mins for your body to sort itself out & get rid of lactic acid or whatever it is that it does.

eliwallach

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Bad news, I'm afraid. Five years are not enough to not feel lousy for the first mile or two.

+1 to that.

From my (limited) experiences I find that after about 35min of running my body finally stops rebelling and accepts running as the norm.
It's at this stage that I stop sweating, breathing is 'normal' and the mind can drift to wherever. That's when you feel that you can run forever!
Alas, the body doth get fed up with this too..:rolleyes:

Started last week. I feel crap throughout my runs. Then again only doing 25 mins each time. Was fit-ish anyway, but still surprised at how hard it is, and motivation is a real issue. At least I'm recovering quicker now and getting a bit more used to it.

yeneewss

Jay1989 wrote: »

Cool, I never knew there was a thread here for beginners :eek:

Anyway, I'm with everyone here, I always feel horrible for the first 20 mins, but I just keep at it, & once I change my mentality as well, before I know it I'm doing grand

But lately it's not as easy, I'm now actually feeling a significant amount of pain in my calf muscles & shins, & it's really affecting me.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, has anyone else had this???

Should I be warming up/warming down more?, not jogging as often?(every 2 days) should I eat more protein?
Or should I just see a physio LOL :pac:


...

Shin splint used to bug me when I ran in a hall for warm-up in tae kwon do. But general calf/shin pain for me means that I have either not drunk enough water during the day or am not stretching enough before and after runs. Stretching is the best thing ever and is not just something for jog days. You should try and get yourself as flexible as posssible and find as many ways to stretch every muscle as you can. Physios are good for showing you a lot of stretches. Flexibility definitely decreases leg aches for me.

yeneewss

leana wrote: »

yeah i'm getting a lot of shin pain aswell that can last for over a week or more. its really annoying as i'm just getting into running this year and i'm really enjoying it but this stops me from progressing:(

P

Reply as per above. Shin splints used to bug me when I ran in a hall for warm-up in tae kwon do. But general calf/shin pain for me means that I have either not drunk enough water during the day or am not stretching enough before and after runs. Stretching is the best thing ever and is not just something for jog days. You should try and get yourself as flexible as posssible and find as many ways to stretch every muscle as you can. Physios are good for showing you a lot of stretches. Flexibility definitely decreases leg aches for me. Also, of course, make sure you have good runners. Asics and New Balance I find are great and Elverys usually do them quite reasonably. Bought the "150 euro, super duper ones but I don't think I run long enough for them to warm up. Love my 60 euro (or 40 on sale) Asics! Nike, Reebok etc. don't really do proper running runners, no matter what they say. Feel the sponginness in a pair of asics and the lack of same in a normal pair or trainers.

yeneewss

Deleted User wrote: »

Started last week. I feel crap throughout my runs. Then again only doing 25 mins each time. Was fit-ish anyway, but still surprised at how hard it is, and motivation is a real issue. At least I'm recovering quicker now and getting a bit more used to it.

Conor, when do you feel better? If you don't have a point at which you say "Hey, okay, this is getting easier" in a run, you probably haven't hit that point yet and in 25 mins. I can't imagine that you would hit it. Just once, try going as long as you possibly can. Ignore the "God this is hard" stage and see if you can come out the other side of that. It's disheartening when you think that it's hard and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you run for as long as you possibly can and you still can't catch that "okay" feeling, try going out two days later, taking the pace way down to my "plodding" level and see how long you can go for. It's not about speed it's about making it as far as you can no matter how long it takes you. Look up John Bingham on the internet. He called himself the penguin because he waddled at first - now he runs marathons and organises them. Of course, I have no intention of doing marathons but he is inspirational and gives you that "buzz" you need to decide you are going out for a run today!;)