Any Newbie Runners Out There??

[SedonaSun]

I've had this desire to start running. Never have liked it, never have been all that good at it when I had to run in high school. Well, that's not entirely true... I was decent at sprints, but never long distances.

But... Now I want to. Went running (which at this point is mostly walking) two nights ago up and down 2 streets. Tonight I went to the local junior college and ran (okay, mostly walked) again. Went further this time and I hurt more afterwards, which I'm taking as a good sign. I'm afraid to stand up right now :eek:

But it feels good. My pulse is a little better now than it was 2 days ago hours after I went. Small improvements are acceptable :p

Anyone else out there venturing into the running realm recently?

[Conscious Midwife]

NEw for me too.

I only ran by force 17 yrs ago in Boot Camp, US NAvy.

Recently set a personal goal of running 40 legitimate races by the age of 40
1 mile fun run all the way up to a marathon. I'm 36.5yrs now so I have a little time.

I went to a website today to get a marathon training plan for beginners. The websites assumption was that I'm already running at least 5 miles max...NOT

So baby steps it is.

One lap around a quarter mile track during this time a year is good for me. I can do more on a treadmill, but I guess it's because I can lean and drink water at the same time :D

Anyway I'm determined. My 2 oldest daughters and hubby are so very athletic and I want their endurance.

NEWBIE WITH U

[SedonaSun]

I can't even do a lap yet. I'm extremely disgusted with how far down I let my health go. So I don't expect to be able to run far overnight, but I am going to push for little gains here and there. I can't wait to be in a place where I can run for miles and get into "the zone". Never have been in a running zone.

I am not even at a place to follow a training plan yet :( but I, too, have plans for a running lots of races. Even someday a marathon, but I don't have a date for that yet since I have no idea how long it will take to be able to run even 1 mile. Man, that will be an exciting day... running one whole mile! :D and then... TWO miles... then a 5K... and then.... :D

[sungoddess]

That's the spirit!!!
I think back on last year, how I ran 4 miles a day on a treadmill not knowing that I only had half the hemoglobin that I should! It is so slow to get the endurance, and takes so little time to lose it! I have let it go so much, 2 miles would be lovely. I am right here along with you!

[michigan roman]

theres this dude raw athlete / triathlete that has a site = www.brendanbrazier.com . hes a world class athlete . def a runner you could learn from .

then i cant remember name exactly but this guys BAD , hes like the godzilla of runners . he runs through wild country like 100 miles at a time , one time he said he was so exhausted he started halucinating that giant donuts were rolling by him on the road . he then laid down and went to sleep right in the middle of the road but miracuously wasnt killed . his names something near dale carnzarres . try to find this guy cuz he'd def be an inspiration .

and i run and can tell you that other things that build your leg muscles like biking (could be stationary or mobile) or jumping rope etc shall build your legs for running . so if dont always have time to run could jump on stationary bike or jump rope for a couple minutes to keep working at it .

[Raw Magwene]

Get Jeff Galloway's book on Running! Sound, practical advice on the sport that is applicable to anyone, beginner to advanced.

When I started running in 2003, I had never run before (except to catch a train), was already convinced that I hated it, and couldn't go 50 yards without having to stop and clutch my chest. 2 1/2 months later, I attained my goal to run 3 miles without stopping in under 35 minutes. I was so proud of myself.

For me, there were several things that really helped:

Intervals. Give yourself Permission to walk. Try running 1 minute, walking for 2. repeat until you've compleated your workout for the day. If that feels easy, go 2 minutes running, 1 walking. then 3/1, 4/1 and so on. This gives your running muscles a break, too, which reduces fatigue and post-workout pain. This is not "wimping out", this is smart, cause if you hurt yourself, you're less likely to get back to your workout.

Start with a half hour, 3 times a week. Walk out your front door, set your watch to countdown 30-35 minutes, and go! Walk 5 minutes to warm up, then start your intervals. Give yourself 5 minutes to cool down at the end. 3-4 times a week is plenty. No need to overtrain.

Vary your route.

Jog, don't run. The point is to get your heart rate up. You may not need to get all crazy to do that. I can get a nice aerobic workout at an easy jog-trot, and a fairly slow pace (12-14 minutes to the mile). Shorten your stride if you need to. Big steps might not be best.

Learn to breathe and manage your breathing. I inhale 3 steps, exhale 3. Find the rhythm that feels most natural to you. I discovered that most of my breathing issues while exercising were mental.

Relax. You might get all tight in your shoulders. Or a stitch in your side. I sure did at first. Running feels hard right now because your body and mind are not used to it. Anything new can be stressful at first. Try to accept it for what it is, and know that it will change for the better if you keep putting positive energy into it.

Finally, IMAGINE yourself running effortlessly. I'm still a jogger at heart, but I like to picture myself flowing effortlessly along my route, even if other people are passing me by, I like to think of myself as gliding along serenely at the perfect pace.

Love yourself, forgive yourself. And try not to feel anger, shame, and disgust just because you are new to the activity and it feels alien to your body right now. You are doing exactly the right thing for yourself. If you set a measurable, realistic goal, you can acheive it. You will feel so proud and happy.

Happy trails.

[ktkat]

Glad to hear you want to run. Me too.
BABY STEPS

I was really horrible at running for like my whole pre-adult life almost with the exception of one spring in 7th grade when I was on the track team. It about killed me, but by the end I could run a mile!
I tried it twice more in the last four years, and got good results. Took major baby steps. Started out just walking normal then briskly for as long as I could. After two or three weeks of that I started jogging short distances (like the long side of a track) for every one lap, then graduated to two short distances (two long sides of the track) for every 1 lap.
Eventually I got a lot better, shoes made a difference when I switched from cedar chip terrain to limestone, my shoes had absolutely no shock absorbtion whatsoever and we're 8yrs old :o, I also started concentrating on my breathing (running and walking), breathing like I did in yoga, deep down to the stomach so it expands and exhaling from the stomach first and being very rythmic - it made such a difference for me, no more gasping for air and stomach cramps.
Both of those and some persistence I finally got to two miles easy (didn't even break a sweat the first mile) in about 16 minutes and could have gone longer, but I ran after work outside in a park that closes at dusk.
I stopped after that because I got busy in the fall, and couldn't run in the winter.
I'm determined to start again and have a treadmill now :) .

Moral of this long post BABY STEPS - I'm back to walking as long as I can focusing on my breath.

[ktkat]

Oh, one more thing. I found that keeping a log of how far and how long really helped me motivationally because I could really start to see progress.

Have fun

[michigan roman]

just to pitch in here that i run and ive found that during the times ive quit using salt ive much deeper breathing and better endurance .

ive never read this but thats what ive come to believe , its like to me the salt holds more fluids in the body and these excess fluids clog up the lungs .

and one other thing is that when i run i always spend some time during the run going backwards to work on my coordination .

also , ide buy some grass type soccer or football cleats (rubber cleats - i prefer high tops) so you can go to grassy places like soccer fields etc and do some sprinting on nice soft grass . to me sprinting helps improve coordination and your long distance running stride . and while doing this ide work on making sharp cuts like your a football running back avoiding tacklers to again work on coordination .

and in closing ive come to like listening to a favorite song right before i run out the door on a long run cuz i keep that rythym in my mind and sorta coincide my stride to it , it like keeps you focused on making same stride over and over helping you get in THE ZONE where you are most efficiently functioning .

runners on your mark , get set , GO ! :)

[kmik]

WooHoo!!! Welcome new raw runners! IMO raw and running is the most awesome combo!

I like what Raw Magwene said. I started with the Galloway method in Sept 2005 and just finished a marathon last weekend! I mostly run non-stop now, but will be doing the Galloway method for an Ultra-marathon I'm doing on November 11th... just for the sake of saying I've done one :)

Also agree that Brendan Brazier is a great inspiration. While not 100% raw, he is mostly raw and a vegan. And yes, a tremendous athlete. Check out his book "Thrive."

In the works... the RunRaw Team hopes to offer beginning raw runners coaching, as well as year long marathon training for beginners and coaching for experienced runners. Stay tuned!

[Aasyah]

I am a newbie to running, i walk/run 30 mins 2xs per week, no formal running experience. I will be adding more time and days as my weight reduces and become stronger. Runner's world has a 10 week "walk/run way to weight loss" that inspired me to start. Here is the link to the plan. :-)

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-261-262-1693-0,00.html


Cassandra

[SedonaSun]

Thanks to all who replied -- I appreciate your suggestions, experiences and encouragement!

Raw Mawgene, I'm actually doing much of what you said... out of necessity :( (but only frowny for now... I'm not really upset, just like results quicker)

I do walk, then jog just because I'm so out of it. I'm walking way more than running, but my running spurts are getting more frequent. I was running until I had to stop (again, hardly very far) then dying to catch my breath. Now I'm experimenting with running a little less far, having shorter recovery times, and being able to run more 'sections' in a workout.

Last night I started jogging and good grief, my legs felt like lead with no strength at all, so I just walked 2 miles instead. While I'd like to be able to run a mile right now, I'm focusing more on getting out there and making a habit of it. I come home from work, feed dogs, change, and leave before I can talk myself out of it. Right now it's 4-5 days a week.

Everything else I've tried, I've generally quit shortly after -- and I don't want to quit this... I can see myself running a marathon -- almost ;) But I CAN see myself running for miles and loving it!

Thanks again! Y'all rock! :)

[NFrawRUNNER]

Great to read this thread! Join our "November Exercise Challenge" thread.....I'll be posting a "realistic plan" for any of you starting at square one which is perfectly fine! And hey, if I can help anyone get going I will because I've been there! And, as a mom to 5 and formerly overweight child and adult, I know the emotional part of getting started and staying motivated too! So, check out our thread and let's all get movin' together! YAY RUNNERS!!!! :D

[Raw Magwene]

While I'd like to be able to run a mile right now, I'm focusing more on getting out there and making a habit of it. I come home from work, feed dogs, change, and leave before I can talk myself out of it. Right now it's 4-5 days a week.

Good for you! Showing up is 80% of it.

[Princess Elaine]

Good stuff here!!!...I, too, followed Jeff Galloway's book a few years ago...basically, I'm not a runner....I work out twice a week and take 2 bootcamp style classes at the gym...they're hard!!!...my favorite moment is right when it's over...like, 'ahhhhhhhh, I finished'....

I do a half marathon every year here in Huntington Beach...the way I train is I run to one lamp post...walk to the next...then I run to two lamp posts, walk one...and keep adding on lamp posts...and yes, walking is good...also, when your legs get really tired...walk backward for a bit...different muscles are used.....

Oh, I turned 60 last last week...and I so hate that number...I'm not that number (I keep telling myself)...I'm young, vital, healthy and I eat raw and feel great...

Elaine

[Conscious Midwife]

Kudos to everyone for their efforts. I was going to be content today with just a little yoga but I think I'll do a neighborhood run too.

Sedona we'll get there... RAW + A Determination to Run = Sprinting Beauties


Aasayah like your new blog :)

[RawFoodieMom]

I just started running a few weeks ago. I'm really loving it and getting addicted.

I'm very slowing working through a popular training program online, called the "Couch to 5K" program that gradually works you up to being able to run 5K. It's walk/run intervals that gradually get you running longer segments each week.

It's found here: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Scroll down a little and you'll see the 9 week plan and can print it out. :)

I'm only on week 3 right now. It seems to take me longer to complete a week than just a week, though I am running 3-4 times a week.

[Raw Magwene]

You guys are awesome and inspiring. I'm just about to lace up the sneaks and head to the rose bowl for a jog! If there's anyone in the s.Pas, Highland PArk, Eagle Rock,Pasadena areas out there, maybe we can join forces for mutual support!

[mershwista]

There are many exercises better than running...ones that don't jar your organs and stress out the body! I personally like cycling and martial arts. Swimming is a great one, but I don't have access to a pool at the moment. And it's too cold for the river now...lol.

I run, but I prefer healthier exercises :)

[RawTruth]

Kelly - Two words for you: Chi Running. Get the book. It's a fast read and dang amazing. My marathon runner friends are all atwitter about it. They've gotten great results. Also, it takes you from being a total newbie.


Princess Elaine!!!! How could I have missed your birthday, you rawkin raw LOLF chef!! I can just imagine you running from lamppost to lamppost!!