Run for your life! Group

by aub_1344 on May 24, 2012 at 7:52 am

Hey Georgeb! It would probably help to have a little more info about you. Are you active now? What's your fitness level? Are you trying to lose weight or just looking for a healthy passtime? I just started running regularly about 5 months ago, so I can share info from a beginner's standpoint.
Good luck! You're going to love it!

by georgeb18 on May 24, 2012 at 2:10 pm

 Thanks @aub_1344! I am active, I do kickboxing! I am trying to lose weight and then bring it down so I can run to maintain my weight. Thanks!

by greend on May 24, 2012 at 4:22 pm

 
follow the couch to 5 k plan. you can find it on the website by google. that will get you started.

by aub_1344 on May 25, 2012 at 10:14 am

Love kickboxing!
I don't know if this is the one you were talking about greend, but it has some good tips.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
When I started I was more or less just jogging a mile, walking a couple blocks, jogging the mile home and I've worked up from there. But this has a structured schedule, so I think it's basically whatever works for you. Best advice I've heard is to invest in a great pair of shoes and to take it easy. Don't get too greedy and overconfident just because you feel good and you're doing well. You can do a lot of harm to yourself if you go too hard too fast.
Don't be afraid to push yourself though. If you're active, you likely already know the difference between being hurt and being injured.

by new_runner on May 26, 2012 at 4:45 pm

 Beyond what's already been said, don't forget the 10% rule - don't increase your distance by more than 10% each week. As aub_1344 said, you could end up doing more harm than good by pushing too hard.
The C25K plan is a great starting place for how much/how often to run. I would recommend running once every other day to avoid overuse injuries and to lift on your off days. Make sure that you get in a good warm up/cool down and stretch whenever you run, as well.
As for time of day, that just depends on you and your schedule. Some people like to run in the  mornings to get it out of the way or because it's more peaceful or cooler. I like running in the afternoons because that's when I'm used to working out.
Good luck! :)

by greend on May 23, 2012 at 5:03 am

Try icing your knee. If it persists I would see a doc. out of curiosity do you have flat feet?

by new_runner on May 23, 2012 at 5:25 am

 Just be careful and listen to your body. I tend to also have pain in my knees when I run. I'm usually pretty good about taking it easy when the pain gets bad, but not always. Whenever I've run through it, I end up sidelined for at least a month.
A few things you can try are warming up/cooling down, stretching more, icing after runs, getting new/better shoes (you may even need orthodics), wearing a knee brace, and taking ibuprofen after runs if the pain doesn't go away. 

by aub_1344 on May 23, 2012 at 6:30 am

I don't have flat feet, but I've always been curious about my form and whether there's something I need to modify.
That's good to know; don't run through it! I don't want to be out of commission for a whole month, as I still have about 10 lbs to get to my goal weight.
I'll definitely give some of that a try. Thanks for the advice!

by janellewinst on May 25, 2012 at 5:43 pm

 My first thought is, running shoes? Form? You need to get on runnersworld.com (Pretty much the Bible when it comes to running...) and look up info on your form. And then you need to make sure you are running in the right shoes, whether that is a minimalist shoe or a ultra support/cusion etc shoe. Or even barefoot... (I am not a barefoot runner... but I have heard amazing things about it.) With the right combination of form and shoes, you should be able to run with out pain. Also as far as how much to increase at a time, not more then 2% increase per week. In other words if you are running 20-25 miles a week. Only increase 2-4 miles a week to ensure your body doesn't freak out and decide to throw in the towel. Good luck and there are TONS of resources out there on the right way to run. Just read, try different things and find out what is right for your body. You'll be able to tell if it's a help or a hinderence. 
Good Luck!

by janellewinst on May 25, 2012 at 5:48 pm

Grrrr. It won't let me edit my comment. I meant 10% increase a week.... DUHHH... :)

by greend on May 23, 2012 at 5:03 am

Congrats keep it up

by mrsshady on May 22, 2012 at 4:51 am

Congratulations!

by scheud on May 22, 2012 at 11:06 am

A friend of mine ran that, Robert Renman.  Looked like a good race. Go Alberta! Go Wainwright!

by scheud on May 22, 2012 at 11:06 am

A friend of mine ran that, Robert Renman.  Looked like a good race. Go Alberta! Go Wainwright!

by new_runner on May 20, 2012 at 6:19 pm

 I think it would be better to space your goals out a bit more. The general rule of thumb is to increase your distance by no more than 10% each week to avoid injury. It's better to go slow and reach your goal than to get hurt and have to start over. I also don't like aggresive goals because they can make you feel defeated if you don't meet them and you end up losing sight of your overall goals and achievements.
If you have asthma, then do you have an inhaler? If so, then use it before your runs and that should help.
As for transitioning to outside, I recommend starting slow. With the treadmill, you don't really need to pay attention to your pace. Once your outside, though, the tendency is to go too fast (or it was for me :p). Once you have a feel for a slower pace, then gradually (over the course of a few runs) pick up your pace until you're going at the speed you'd like.
Good luck. :)

by greend on May 21, 2012 at 4:43 am

first of all I would check with the Doc. to make sure you should be running with your asthma. 2nd like new runner says, take your time and move up, injuries and depression over non-met goals are very real. What's your hurry? You're changing your lifestyle so you have your whole life to accomplish your goals and it will move along faster than you think.

by mrsshady on May 21, 2012 at 6:40 am

Thank you for the advice! I do have an inhaler and take it before every run or workout that I do. I do have an appt with my dr for a physical on the 29th and will be discussing options to control my asthma more. I did not realize the 10%/week increase recommendation. I will definitely take that into consideration! I do not want to get injured and I want to set a reasonable goal that is attainable.
As a substitute teacher, I have off this summer for the most part, so I will have additional time to get in my workouts and runs. Hopefully I can start doing more of my runs outside so I can build up my lung endurance.
 
Thank you again for the advice!