Learning to Run

kikililly

Hi,
I am 27 and have flirted with the idea of leaning to run for over a year now, I joined fit for life early last year. However i don't know if i'm mentally holding myself back or if its just not possible for me to run or if i just don't push myself enough but i never got past being able to jog ( and when i say jog you could walk faster than my jog) half a mile or so.
I'd get tension ache always in on one side of my neck, my feet used to overheat and i was so out of breath i'd feel physically ill.

But i know so many runners who have this bug for running they tell me you get a great high out of it. I'd like that high and the simplicity of it appeals to me....you know no gym, no timetable etc etc

Do you think everybody can do it? I heard of a 10k in the phoenix park in april....do you by any stretch of the imagination think that is an achievable goal?

Thanks for reading

T-rev

google "couch to 5K" and try that

pug_

Absolutely you should be able to run. I started around this time last year at the age of 36, with zero fitness level, and I'm up to running between 30-40 miles a week at the moment. I'm still nowhere near where I want to be, I'd like to go a lot faster, and I still have to take the odd walking break, but compared to this time last year I'm at a whole different level.

There are a number of important things you should be aware of. The first is that running is not easy when you start out. Don't have any great expectations of being able to run at any kind of speed or for any kind of distance without a lot of persistence first. It took me a long time before I could run any kind of distance non stop, and yes it can be frustrating, and at times you may well feel you're not making any progress, but stick with it and you will eventually reap the rewards.

Get a good pair of running shoes!!! I can't stress how important this is. When I started out I just got a cheap enough pair of standard runners from the local lifestyle sports, and within a week or so I had ankle problems. I got a bit of advice here on boards, got a gait analysis done got a pair of shoes that suited the way I run, and I immediately noticed the difference. It was definitely the best investment I've made.

If you're starting out running it's probably a good idea to follow a plan. The Cool runnings Couch to 5k plan is very popular and very good. It follows a run/walk strategy to get you going, and really that is the only way to start.

Don't be self conscious. Might sound silly, I don't know, but for me I had it in my head that if I was out running I should be running and not running/walking. So for a while I tried running non stop from start to finish getting slower and slower, being knackered for most of the way, feeling terrible afterwards, and making no progress. As soon as I decided to stop and walk for a little bit as soon as I started to feel out of breath I started to make much quicker progress, and noticed myself being able to run further every week.

I suppose the most important advice I can give if you're serious about it is to stick with it no matter what. By this I mean don't make excuses to not go out on a particular day, don't skip because of the weather, the fact you might be feeling a bit tired, because your favorite program is coming on telly, or anything. When I started out I decided to treat it like going to work, something that just had to be done, not an optional extra to my lifestyle. I have two small kids so believe me sometimes it wasn't easy, but my wife is understanding so we worked it out. These days I've been out in the recent snow, floods, etc, and other than last Saturday when the snow was too deep to run more than 5 miles I've not missed more than a handful of my runs.

As for the 10k in the phoenix park, yes there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to do it. It was about this time last year I started and I did all 3 in the series (5k, 10k, half marathon) and ran in the Dublin marathon too. I'm currently training for the Rotterdam marathon and I plan on doing Cork and Dublin marathons this year as well, so stick with it and there is no reason you shouldn't be able to do the 10k in the summer!

[EDIT] Just copped you were diong a different 10k in the phoenix park to what I was thinking of, same applies though

Noxin

kikililly wrote: »

Hi,
I am 27 and have flirted with the idea of leaning to run for over a year now, I joined fit for life early last year. However i don't know if i'm mentally holding myself back or if its just not possible for me to run or if i just don't push myself enough but i never got past being able to jog ( and when i say jog you could walk faster than my jog) half a mile or so.
I'd get tension ache always in on one side of my neck, my feet used to overheat and i was so out of breath i'd feel physically ill.

But i know so many runners who have this bug for running they tell me you get a great high out of it. I'd like that high and the simplicity of it appeals to me....you know no gym, no timetable etc etc

Do you think everybody can do it? I heard of a 10k in the phoenix park in april....do you by any stretch of the imagination think that is an achievable goal?

Thanks for reading

The 10k run you are thinking of is the Great Ireland Run.

I started out the exact same way as you. I couldn't really run for the life of me. Always wrecked after about 5 min. Sore legs etc. I decided to do exactly what you are thinking of doing now. I'll train and try run the Great Ireland Run in 2008.
Started out with some light running on a treadmill in the gym to bring my fitness level up a bit. Every so often I would just push myself to do that extra minute or two of jogging. It was very hard at the beginning but after a while it gets a little easier.
For the tension in your neck... I'm not sure. Maybe someone else can answer this but imo, just try to loosen up a little while running. Don't be tensing your whole body during your run.
Feet overheating: Get new runners. Simple. Get a proper pair. When I started I went out and spent €130 on a pair of Asics Gel somethingorother's. The difference they made for me running was great. Much more comfortable.
If you are so out of breath that you feel ill, slow down a little. Do it at a pace that suits. Saying that, do remember to push yourself once in a while, then take a breather.

The goal you set is very doable. When I trained for it I remember signing onto the site and they asked my expected time to finish. I was thinking, crap 10km? I'll be lucky if I do finish. So I put down something like 1hr.30min - 1hr-45min. Something like that. Ended up finishing in 1hr02min and I can tell you now... I was very happy with myself that day.
Proof: http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeplus/emea/v1/race/index.html?datapath=/nikeplus/emea/v1/race/race_run/en/Ireland/&lang=en#/graph?user=1515

I'm 27 now and doing my bit of running each week. Speaking of which... Might sign up for the 10k again this year.

fitzyshea

Hi I started running a few months ago now and like yourself I had zero experience. I love it now and have signed up for the great ireland run. My advice to you is to get a decent pair of running shoes go to runways on parnell street in dublin or elverys in Dundrum and get a gait analysis done, they will show you what kind of shoes you should be using. Then just go out and run. Google 5k training plans to get you started.

Agent J

In a word. Yes.

I started last Autumn or so doing a modified version of Couch to 5k and i havent looked back. I could barely make it down the street at the time and the other week i made it from Dublin city centre to Maynooth on foot. ( Ok i had to run/walk the last 3 miles)

I am still a big guy(getting less bigger over time) and i can do it.

Even if the 10k in april is too soon there are a host of Organised runs in the park over the summer.

Do it. You will not regret it.

moco

I've started trying to run this week, in the gym doing 2 mins of walking and 2 minutes of running for half an hour and I'm going to build it up from there. I'm going to do it every morning.

Would this help to lose much weight or would it build muscles in my legs ?(which I don't want)

Thanks!;)