Beginner runner

kave2

Hi everyone, started running nearly 2 weeks ago, 5 times a week. Also run the 10k race in October Mudfest in Ballinalee last weekend(loads of fun)

Today I hit 5km for the first time, more accurately 5.4km in 35 min. Average pace 6:33. Felt very good after run, could've keep going.

My understanding is that I should be trying to increase the distance and not decrease the pace if I'm my goal is to loose weight. Am I right? Thanks.

28064212

If your goal is to lose weight, you should be decreasing your calorie intake. Running will make comparatively little difference.

lenihankevin

+1 on the above post...my advise would be to join a local athletics club...it was the best move I made...the weight loss is all down to diet...the running will help motivate you to not put it back on.

Glonass

kave2 wrote: »

Hi everyone, started running nearly 2 weeks ago, 5 times a week. Also run the 10k race in October Mudfest in Ballinalee last weekend(loads of fun)

Today I hit 5km for the first time, more accurately 5.4km in 35 min. Average pace 6:33. Felt very good after run, could've keep going.

My understanding is that I should be trying to increase the distance and not decrease the pace if I'm my goal is to loose weight. Am I right? Thanks.

Congratulations on having courage to go out and run despite fear or whatever excuses were holding you back ! If your goal AT THE MOMENT is to loose weight then dont worry about increasing distance too much but consistency ! most beginners run too much too soon get injured and give up running.its all about consistency and changing habit that you used to for months and years it doesnt change instantly.you need patience...

Really the secret of loosing weight is just cutting sugar/carbs from your diet !!! In modern world people consume sugar from almost everything with or without knowing. I mean sauces, bread, honey, crackers, biscuits,cakes,so called orange apple juices, salad dressings we dont even read whats in it except that lovely taste that people are addicted to and refuse to change their habit as well as our brain LOVES burning sugar as a primary fuel so it craves more convincing you are hungry ( in reality not hungry) Running alone wont help much if you keep shoveling too much sugar/carb content infact after run you want to eat more in the beginning. Main stream media and giant companies want you to believe that there is a magic pill , clothes, tea or food will turn you into like the photoshopped skinny model you see on glamorius magazine and also want you to believe that fat makes you fat but fat doesnt make you fat even higher good fat content will speed up fat burning process likes of avocado and coxonut oil.its the carbs /sugar that spike Insulin and all those excessive calories end up as fat because your body doesnt need excessive fuel but to keep them around your body incase used as an emergency fuel when you are in starvation mode.similiar to alcohol and nicotine addiction eating too much food is an addiction itself and combined with inactive lifestyle. But wait...

Of course you need motivation and want to run further and faster but dont push it. Do shorter runs on more days if possible in the beginning listen to your body your brain will be against you in the beginning after a while it will be on your side.faster high effort runs will burn more calories and MORE sugar/Carb in short time on the other hand long slow low heart rate runs will burn calories at steady rate in longer duration. throw your ego out of the door pay no attention to other fast fit runners passing by you. I have noticed majority of new runners give after short period of time due to wanting too much too soon not assesing their current physical fitness level, peer pressure from other negative people or comparing themselves to fitter people and enforcing their insecure thoughts.

Again huge congratulations on picking up running and remember you are much fitter and luckier than people sitting at home or in their wheelchair.

HigginsJ

Congrats in getting going

Glonass has hit the main point to keep in mind really, don't try to over do it. You need to take it slowly in the beginning and build up a base.

There is a very good running for beginners thread that you could have a read through to get some hints and tips.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057592164

It might also be worth taking a look at some of the runners logs in here. I have found running a huge benefit to my weight loss to be honest. I started out in April at 14 stone 11lbs and and down to 12 stone 2lb now, part of it has been diet but I found the running has given a huge boost.

I would also suggest looking up some races to sign up for so you can have targets as you are going along. Having a race 6 weeks away will allow you to stay motivated.

Peregrinus

28064212 wrote: »

If your goal is to lose weight, you should be decreasing your calorie intake. Running will make comparatively little difference.

. . . unless you find it helps to suppress your appetite, and therefore makes it easier to limit your calorie intake. Some people do find this.

Should you be going for more speed or more distance? Whatever you enjoy most, to be honest, since that is what will make it easiest for you to maintain a regular running habit. The main problem with more distance is that it takes more time, and if your runs get longer and longer in duration it becomes more difficult to fit regular runs into your daily routine.

On the other hand, you've signed up for a 10k, which is good if it gives you a goal to work towards and so helps you to maintain regular running. But if you typically run 5k then suddenly running 10k will come as a bit of shock. So I'd be inclined to stretch out my runs, or at least some of them. Maybe keep your weekday runs at 5k or below, but push the weekend runs out a bit?

ger664

Parkrun

kave2

Thanks very much for all the replies. I understand what I need to do regarding my diet. My question was about running. I'll keep slowly increasing the distance.

Peregrinus

I should add, if you've only been running for two weeks, you're likely to find your performance continues to improve modestly (as regards both distance and time) for several more weeks without any great effort on your part to target either. Changes in diet and exercise regimes take a few weeks to work their magic on your body. It's only when you plateau (after six weeks or more) that you need to think if you're happy to maintain your current level of performance and are enjoying it, or you want to target some improvement in speed or stamina.

kave2

Peregrinus wrote: »

I should add, if you've only been running for two weeks, you're likely to find your performance continues to improve modestly (as regards both distance and time) for several more weeks without any great effort on your part to target either. Changes in diet and exercise regimes take a few weeks to work their magic on your body. It's only when you plateau (after six weeks or more) that you need to think if you're happy to maintain your current level of performance and are enjoying it, or you want to target some improvement in speed or stamina.

Thanks a lot for advice. Last 2 runs I managed to do over 6k but got very tired afterwards. Taking a break today, even though I would love to go out for a run.

Fbjm

Sorry I think I'm missing something, my brain is currently fried so you'll have to excuse me if I've misread something. You say you did a 10k in October, then go on to say you just hit 5k for the first time today? I'm not understanding.

kave2

Fbjm wrote: »

Sorry I think I'm missing something, my brain is currently fried so you'll have to excuse me if I've misread something. You say you did a 10k in October, then go on to say you just hit 5k for the first time today? I'm not understanding.

Here. Sorry for not being clear about it. 10k race was the Obstacle course race at October Mudfest in Longford. Not sure if you are familiar with those, but it's very much stop and go, going over obstacles and dragging yourself thru the mud, loads of mud. Thats why I didn't count it. In my normal running, currently at 6k.