so bored of my exercise routine

ash2008

Hi
I did the Jack Daniels running plan (which is similar to the couch-to-5k one) so I can now run 5k straight. My problem now is that i find it boring - just running for 30+mins straight isnt very fun. I still want to get fitter though - when i run, i dont run very fast - my 5k time is 32minutes which is pretty slow and im absolutely knackered at the end

How can i get fitter and faster - is it just a matter of repeatedly running 5k until my body gets used to it, because i dont think i have the motivation for that anymore. Id love to switch up my exercise routine but i dont know what to do. Unfortunately, i cant afford the gym right now and i dont have a bike to go cycling. Also, being female, if i asked my friends to play football or tennis (which id actually really enjoy) theyd look at me like i had two heads.
any ideas - thanks

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Where do you run?

If you run in a park, why not stop half way through and do some different exercises? Have you tried mixing your jogging with sprinting? Every few minutes sprint for a minute or two, then back to a moderate jog.

What area do you live? You might be able to find a buddy here for tennis or squash. Maybe even a jogging buddy?

landsleaving

Cade Sweet Lottery wrote: »

If you run in a park, why not stop half way through and do some different exercises? Have you tried mixing your jogging with sprinting? Every few minutes sprint for a minute or two, then back to a moderate jog.

This worked for me. I find running incredibly dull, I usually cycle but I'm bikeless at the moment, so adding sprinting livens it up and makes the workout much better overall. You really feel it after. If you find it boring don;t go over 5k, just make it harder like that, otherwise you won't get anywhere.

Set some minor goals other than a total time, like a kilometre every 6 minutes to get you down to 30 mins. Keeps it interesting since if you fall behind you have to sprint to catch up. If you can't measure smaller distances just sprint after 5 minutes for 30 seconds then try build ot a minute.

Don't just run, you'l get fitter quicker overall if you do other exercise. Try push ups, sit ups, chin ups, stretching and some weights (no need to be too heavy, just for flexibility) on alternate days. This shiuld help you get a better overall level of fitness. You could also go for a swim or cycle if you feel the running is getting boring. The worst thing to do is get bored, you'll just quit so unless you're training to run a marathon or something there's no need to just run, although try to get some in, nothing works better to get fit fast.

shootermacg

Being a girl is no excuse, women are made for running distance, ahem or so I hear ^ ^.

Try just doing 1-3K as fast as possible on some days. Jog outside in the air.

If you have an ipod nano why not fork out on a pair of nike plus trainers and the nike plus software for the nano, I found this to be my primary driving force, and it's great to get lance armsrong or tiger woulds congrating you on a fast time! it also maps the distance anywhere so it allows you to change route without worrying about the distance.

I do 5K now then walk and sprint for 1K after. I find I'm fully recovered after a short walk so I stick the sprints in there because I feel it's a good time to kill more cals.

ash2008

Cade Sweet Lottery wrote: »

Where do you run?

If you run in a park, why not stop half way through and do some different exercises? Have you tried mixing your jogging with sprinting? Every few minutes sprint for a minute or two, then back to a moderate jog.

What area do you live? You might be able to find a buddy here for tennis or squash. Maybe even a jogging buddy?

Thanks, i run in a park. Its a really nice park but after a few months in there it gets a bit...meh. Still its my only option cos the roads where i live are too busy so wouldnt be fun. I might try the sprinting.
Also im in Canada at the mo so have to make a few more friends here first before i find a jogging buddy i guess lol

landsleaving wrote: »

Set some minor goals other than a total time, like a kilometre every 6 minutes to get you down to 30 mins. Keeps it interesting since if you fall behind you have to sprint to catch up. If you can't measure smaller distances just sprint after 5 minutes for 30 seconds then try build ot a minute.

thats a good idea, thanks - ill give it a try. My first goal was running 5k and having achieved it, im bored...so a new goal is def needed:)

shootermacg wrote: »

Being a girl is no excuse, women are made for running distance, ahem or so I hear ^ ^.

I didnt mean it as an excuse, but if you asked a group of lads to play football theyd be more up for it than a group of girls...or maybe its just my friends;)

Redpunto

I've heard fartlek training is very good for building up speed and fitness. My OH does it as hes training for the marathon this year (im still at the trying to run 5 k!)

heres a link i found

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/expert/1997c002.shtml

AntiVirus

If you have an iphone you should get sportypal (its free) it will track you using GPS and you can see your actual run overlayed on a map and you can zoom in/out. It will store all your runs/cycles and you can see lots of stats etc..

You can get this app for most phones in fact!

Acer, Apple, Asus, BlackBerry, Gigabyte, HP, HTC, Huawei, i-mate, LG, Motorola, Nokia, O2, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sharp, Sony Ericsson, T-Mobile and Toshiba

http://www.sportypal.com/Home

shootermacg

AntiVirus wrote: »

If you have an iphone you should get sportypal (its free)

Nice app mate cheers! I haven't got an iphone but maybe now they're on vodefone I may get one, thing that always stops me is..I have a PC at work and home, I cycle to work, when I'm home I hit the gym, after I may go for a run lol. I don't thnk I could give the iphone the attention it deserves.
My phone atm is regulated to expensive alarm clock ^ ^.
Still it's one sweet app. I'm tempted!

I can't stand running, I think it's the most boring thing known to man. And running on a treadmill, Jesus, don't even go there...

shootermacg

Deleted User wrote: »

I can't stand running, I think it's the most boring thing known to man. And running on a treadmill, Jesus, don't even go there...

Hehe I hear ya! I wouldn't run on a treadmill, I do find the road much better.
I turn up the sounds and concentrate on my pace or let my mind wonder. After a few weeks you kinda want to get out and run, strange I know ^ ^.
I play footie on wednesdays and I have to say it's more grueling but a lot more fun (better workout too, sprint/jog for an hour and a half).

AntiVirus

AntiVirus wrote: »

If you have an iphone you should get sportypal (its free) it will track you using GPS and you can see your actual run overlayed on a map and you can zoom in/out. It will store all your runs/cycles and you can see lots of stats etc..

You can get this app for most phones in fact!

Acer, Apple, Asus, BlackBerry, Gigabyte, HP, HTC, Huawei, i-mate, LG, Motorola, Nokia, O2, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sharp, Sony Ericsson, T-Mobile and Toshiba

http://www.sportypal.com/Home

Very very cool iphone app...

metamorphosis

^^ running on a treddie is not really running, considering it propels you.

OP - Is there a local running club? If so, join. There will, without a doubt, be many others of your standard there.

changhe up the exercise too. Don't just run for exercise. Do other stuff too. Variety.

shootermacg

ULstudent wrote: »

^^ running on a treddie is not really running, considering it propels you.

OP - Is there a local running club? If so, join. There will, without a doubt, be many others of your standard there.

changhe up the exercise too. Don't just run for exercise. Do other stuff too. Variety.

There are pros and cons to treddies, if you adjust the incline 1 or 2 degrees it's similar I've heard. Also with a treddie, once a pace is set you can stick to it. I do find I can slack off easier on a road run sometimes I do catch myself running a lot slower at certain points maybe after/during a hill stage (maybe this is actually an advantage ^ ^).

What actually gets me on a treddie is the fact that you're watching the milage on the machine, I find that soul destroying.

I don't think it's so much the fact you are being propelled as it is the wind factor. When on a treddie you aren't displacing air, 14km/h run outside(on a calm day) = 14km/h wind resistance.

corkcomp

AntiVirus wrote: »

If you have an iphone you should get sportypal (its free) it will track you using GPS and you can see your actual run overlayed on a map and you can zoom in/out. It will store all your runs/cycles and you can see lots of stats etc..

You can get this app for most phones in fact!

Acer, Apple, Asus, BlackBerry, Gigabyte, HP, HTC, Huawei, i-mate, LG, Motorola, Nokia, O2, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sharp, Sony Ericsson, T-Mobile and Toshiba

http://www.sportypal.com/Home

im downloading it as we speak:)! im liking that username btw

AntiVirus

corkcomp wrote: »

im downloading it as we speak:)! im liking that username btw

It's a cool app! I'm suprised more people don't know about it.

And its FREE!!!!!!

discombobulate

AntiVirus wrote: »

Just downloaded the app to give a go.

Max speed you hit was 37.88km/h

AntiVirus

discombobulate wrote: »

Just downloaded the app to give a go.

Max speed you hit was 37.88km/h

That must have been when I tripped up! lol

That's not my work out, you can look at your friends or anyones workout around the world. I think that person (Paul) had his on as he was driving to work!

ellipse

It provides very useful info, I have it on my HD 2, works just fine, two weeks ago i tried on skiing also, it has some fix to automatically differentiate the chair lifts from skiing down the slopes,
http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/187773

metamorphosis

shootermacg wrote: »

There are pros and cons to treddies, if you adjust the incline 1 or 2 degrees it's similar I've heard. Also with a treddie, once a pace is set you can stick to it. I do find I can slack off easier on a road run sometimes I do catch myself running a lot slower at certain points maybe after/during a hill stage (maybe this is actually an advantage ^ ^).

What actually gets me on a treddie is the fact that you're watching the milage on the machine, I find that soul destroying.

I don't think it's so much the fact you are being propelled as it is the wind factor. When on a treddie you aren't displacing air, 14km/h run outside(on a calm day) = 14km/h wind resistance.

Im just bias as a distance runner. I partly figure it's also because i would prefer to eat my own face than run on a treddie. Even intervals on the dreadmill makes me sick. id hop on the bike instead. I don't know where my hatred for the thing came from.