Casual Jogger Random Thoughts

donfers

I used to play a range of sports but over the last few months I have been trying to jog regularly, usually about three times a week. I am not into heart rates or training programs or anything like that and am not targetting any races - I just want to maintain a general level of fitness. Anyway usually I run about three miles and leave it at that. Last night, I decided to give some short intervals a try, just to vary things up a bit, I intended to run a few 800 metre intervals at fairly fast pace, I did one and then took a break and then did the second one and completely wrecked and thought to myself "eff this....I'll just go back to normal jogging pace" so after the aborted interval thing (I did just two) I set out on my usual jog and ended up doing twice as much as I'd done before (almost 6 miles) feeling comfortbale throughout and going really fast the last kilometre and still having fuel in the tank but I had to go home - this amazed me because before i'd feel done at about 3 miles and I was running at the same pace, if not a bit faster than the 3 mile run. Why the sudden remarkable transformation? Was it the aborted intervals before the jog or was it just a lucky feel-good day? After the intervals took it out of me so much, when I started on my jog the slightly slower pace felt really relaxing by comparison and I felt as if i could go on forever. So is there any method to this madness i.e. really go for it over a short intense period before your long jog, recover for a few months and then off you go

this could all be complete bs but it worked amazingly for me last night so I may try it again



also a couple of other things

1) how do you guys deal with your state of mind? Do you tend to focus on the finish? i.e. I have 5 kms to go, I have 3kms to go etc etc., I wish I could stop thinking like that and just run without thinking of how far I have to go but it is always entering my mind

2) i have a big problem with swallowing back saliva, about half way into the run my throat gets really dry and I am constantly trying to swallow back saliva and it upsets my breathing, am i the only one with this problem?

3) better to run with or without music, before I always ran with music but lately I have been running without it and i am starting to prefer without, no messing with earphones, a better appreciation of the run i.e. i am not just zoning out torandom songs and instead am just enjoying the surrounding environment flash by me, it just somehow feels more appropriate, more right like that

Woddle

donfers wrote: »

also a couple of other things

1) how do you guys deal with your state of mind? Do you tend to focus on the finish? i.e. I have 5 kms to go, I have 3kms to go etc etc., I wish I could stop thinking like that and just run without thinking of how far I have to go but it is always entering my mind

2) i have a big problem with swallowing back saliva, about half way into the run my throat gets really dry and I am constantly trying to swallow back saliva and it upsets my breathing, am i the only one with this problem?

3) better to run with or without music, before I always ran with music but lately I have been running without it and i am starting to prefer without, no messing with earphones, a better appreciation of the run i.e. i am not just zoning out torandom songs and instead am just enjoying the surrounding environment flash by me, it just somehow feels more appropriate, more right like that

1
Could be just a fitness thing, the fitter you get the less you'll think about it and start thinking about ways to save the world
2
Learn to spit
3
I listen to music/talk radio on easy and long runs but for sessions I leave it at home, I never have a problem with earphones. I tied a knot in my ear phones at chest level and then attach with a safety pin to my top so there's no pulling ever, once setup it only takes 2 seconds to attach each time.

Keep up the good work and stay consistent, maybe invest in a running book, google Pfitzinger and Douglas

Emer911

I won't comment on the 'state of mind'... I still (occasionally) suffer with that one - depends on the mood really

Re the saliva - make sure you are hydrated before your run. My mouth gets 'sticky' when I start to get dehydrated. Drink a couple of glasses of water during the day.

Music? I guess whatever feels good. I like to listen to talk radio on my longer runs, but most of the time I go without. It's nice to be aware of your surroundings. I like listening to the birdies and the wind through the trees.

Relax. Enjoy. Good luck with it!

T runner

donfers wrote: »

I used to play a range of sports but over the last few months I have been trying to jog regularly, usually about three times a week. I am not into heart rates or training programs or anything like that and am not targetting any races - I just want to maintain a general level of fitness. Anyway usually I run about three miles and leave it at that. Last night, I decided to give some short intervals a try, just to vary things up a bit, I intended to run a few 800 metre intervals at fairly fast pace, I did one and then took a break and then did the second one and completely wrecked and thought to myself "eff this....I'll just go back to normal jogging pace" so after the aborted interval thing (I did just two) I set out on my usual jog and ended up doing twice as much as I'd done before (almost 6 miles) feeling comfortbale throughout and going really fast the last kilometre and still having fuel in the tank but I had to go home - this amazed me because before i'd feel done at about 3 miles and I was running at the same pace, if not a bit faster than the 3 mile run. Why the sudden remarkable transformation? Was it the aborted intervals before the jog or was it just a lucky feel-good day? After the intervals took it out of me so much, when I started on my jog the slightly slower pace felt really relaxing by comparison and I felt as if i could go on forever. So is there any method to this madness i.e. really go for it over a short intense period before your long jog, recover for a few months and then off you go

When you run fast you are forced to improve your running economy. So your leg turnover increases, you stand a bit taller and you run more smoothly. When you run slow and within yourself the defects in style are more emphasised especially for someone who is just starting.

So when you went back to running slowly you kept some of your fast running form and leg turnover and found you could run faster with less effort.

For that reason and for teh excellent reason of being more completely fit---you should do some of the faster stuff.

Youw ent too hard in teh 800s.

Start with 300s. Run them fast smoothly. Think Run Tall, hips forward, glide.

You shouldnt be dying in these. Do 6 reps to start. Twice a week. Rest for one minute between each one. The last rep should feel hardish but if they all feel very hard you are going too fast. They are a bit of fun so enjoy them.

Add a rep a week. Monitor your other runs for improvements.

These intervals make you use the maximum amount of oxygen you can absorb. In conjunction with the easier running they will really get you feeling fit and healthy. Being fitter also takes the mind off the lenght of time remaining. I bet taht 6 mile run was more enjoyable than teh 3 mile ones? Thats the benefit of intervals for you.