Running up a tab - Mar 3 to 9

[jesvetmed]

My first run of 6 miles in... well about 3 years. Felt okay.. was on trail and the ground was soft, so my calves are singing tonight. But I feel quite a bit of accomplishment! Did 6.1 miles in 60 minutes. OK by me.. I know I'm a slug!

KELOWNA: Let us know how the laser surgery goes and what you think (separate thread probably). It is my GREAT DESIRE to do that! I'm having lots of trouble with my contacts and allergies, etc., and wonder if this would help, or hurt.

OK... Back to running!
Jes

[emily_in_nc]

My first run of 6 miles in... well about 3 years. Felt okay.. was on trail and the ground was soft, so my calves are singing tonight. But I feel quite a bit of accomplishment! Did 6.1 miles in 60 minutes. OK by me.. I know I'm a slug!

Jes, you are NOT a slug! I'd be thrilled with that time! I'm currently averaging from 11:40 to 12:00 minute miles on our trails (kinda hilly) and around 10:30 minute miles on the treadmill.

Since I am a new (and slow) runner, I just read one of John "The Penguin" Bingham's books (The Courage to Start), and now I don't feel bad about my time at all. Sounds like the back of the packer's have a lot more fun and still get fit. I'm all about that!

There, do you feel FAST now?!?!

Emily

[OakLeaf]

Intervals today, 7 x 1 minute. My stupid HRM wasn't picking up again, but I feel like I'm really, finally feeling better this time. I think I'm ready to add another repeat or two next time, just didn't want to do it too soon. 3.7 miles.

Today's theme on the beach: crowded again, which I really wasn't expecting so early in the morning! Two hours past sunrise and high tide, every walkable surface was covered with footprints.

I did get a little bit of a chance to study my footprints in one section, and found that I'm striking towards the forefoot again - which explains why I was having more trouble with my Achilles this morning

Tattie (and Yoda), what's a good stretch for the post. tib.? I have an awful time stretching any of my deep muscles. Do the usual calf stretches target it enough? (actually what I'm really having trouble with right now is the upper pecs)

[HillSlugger]

Oakleaf, when you run on the beach are you barefoot? I'm looking forward to some beach running during the summer.

[OakLeaf]

Oakleaf, when you run on the beach are you barefoot?

I wish. I overpronate so badly I can't even walk around the house barefoot. My Chi Running goal is to wean myself off orthotics, but I'm nowhere near there yet. Maybe someday I can wean myself off shoes, but that's not even on the radar right now.

[Grog]

The plan for this week is to

1) Run an easy one today with my formerly injured running partner, with just a few strides;
2) Go to the track tomorrow or do some hard flat speedwork; then run with my residence's beginning runners' group in the evening; Perhaps skip the first workout, I'll see;
3) Do a hard tempo run;
4) Take it easy and do something fun on Friday;
5) Another group run followed by some more hard intervals (but not wiping myself out) on Saturday;
6) Taking photos of the UBC Triathlon on Sunday - no running.

Next week is taper week.

I am off to #1!!

[Tiffany]

I got 4 miles in yesterday with 5 sets of 2 minute intervals. Back to the gym again today since we have 8-10" of snow on the ground.

[Idealmuse]

6 miles in 60 minutes is a slug?

Then what's 4.2 miles in 60 minutes? (Although I admit I have 1-2 min walk breaks in there every 4-5 mins) and that's on a treadmill! I'd hate to see what I can do outside.

[Grog]

Tuesday workout: done.

With a conversation about the meaning of life on top of that. Some mornings are more productive than others!!

Now off to work.

[VeloVT]

6 miles in 60 minutes is a slug?

Then what's 4.2 miles in 60 minutes? (Although I admit I have 1-2 min walk breaks in there every 4-5 mins) and that's on a treadmill! I'd hate to see what I can do outside.

you know, as counterintuitive as it sounds, I don't think the treadmill is easier than running outside. I can hold a seven minute mile outside for many miles (and faster paces for a shorter time) but after 5 minutes at 7:30 on the treadmill I'm ready to slow down :30 -- 1:00/mile for a while. My treadmill runs are always, well, I don't know if they deserve to be called intervals, but I always have spurts of faster running followed by longer slow periods -- and the fast periods are considerably slower than my working-hard-but-not-horribly-uncomfortable pace outside. I just can't seem to hold a fast pace on the treadmill.

I also can't run for more than about 40 minutes on the treadmill without succombing to extreme boredom, even with an Ipod ... Luckily my university gym has a small indoor track. When it's just too yucky to run outside, I alternate between the treadmill and the track -- 4 continuous miles on the treadmill, 4 hard mile intervals interspersed with walking on the track, etc.

I also find I'm more prone to niggling problems on the treadmill than outside (blisters, tight calves, etc).

[KSH]

6 miles in 60 minutes is a slug?

Then what's 4.2 miles in 60 minutes? (Although I admit I have 1-2 min walk breaks in there every 4-5 mins) and that's on a treadmill! I'd hate to see what I can do outside.

I know... that's not slug in my book! I keep around a 11:30 minute mile for my long runs (5 minute walk/2 minute run intervals)... and that's moving for me.

[tattiefritter]

Tattie (and Yoda), what's a good stretch for the post. tib.? I have an awful time stretching any of my deep muscles. Do the usual calf stretches target it enough? (actually what I'm really having trouble with right now is the upper pecs)

Don't really know a good stretch for it (which will probably have something to do with mine being tight!) I only do some general calf stretches - and I have been neglecting even those. Which reminds me stretch time!

[Jo-n-NY]

I am beginning today when I get home from work on the treadmill. I have never ran a day in my life. I figured I would post here so chances are I won't wimp out.

I got the book Emily mentioned. Needless to say I won't finish reading it before I get home. But I did read where the author began with 1/4 of a mile. So the plan is to run a bit and walk a bit. I usually walk at 3.8-4mph for 2-3 miles. I will try for 2 miles, but a slower pace because I already know I cannot run at 3.8mph at least to begin with.

I sure would be nice to enjoy this along with cycling.

~ JoAnn

[Grog]

I got the book Emily mentioned. Needless to say I won't finish reading it before I get home. But I did read where the author began with 1/4 of a mile.

I hope you have a good time running!

Last time I did this workout with a bunch of beginneers and it worked well:

3 min walk workout
1 min run / 1 min walk
2 min run / 1 min walk
3 min run / 1 min walk
4 min run / 1 min walk
The 4 min bit really tested the limits for some of them but they could do it.

Then we did a mix of 1min-30sec and 2 min - 1 min and stuff like that for the rest of the workout.

Don't by shy and plan your walking breaks. It's much nicer to walk when it's planned than to walk because you can't handle running anymore!!

Enjoy!!!

[Deborajen]

My first run of 6 miles in... well about 3 years. Felt okay.. was on trail and the ground was soft, so my calves are singing tonight. But I feel quite a bit of accomplishment! Did 6.1 miles in 60 minutes. OK by me.. I know I'm a slug!

Not picking on you jesvetmed but ya know, I think we should all just put a lid on this "I'm slow" and "I'm a slug" crap. Are you dead last? If you're not, then how do you think the people BEHIND you feel when you talk about how slow YOU are? And if you are dead last, so what? Somebody has to come in last - it's still a finish, and still an accomplishment. Why make it sound like a bad thing?

I've been running for six years now so I can't call myself a beginner, but I'll admit I have a lot to learn and resources are hard to come by. Our local running club's weekly "slow-paced, easy run - suited for beginners" - is 9 minutes per mile. That just kills me - no wonder so many people are hesitant to give running a try. I'd have to train quite a bit and I still couldn't keep up with that.

So I did 4 miles Sunday, have been doing some cross-training on the stairstepper and am planning on doing 3 miles of fartleks tomorrow (yes, the running "f" word). Keep up the good work everyone. You all rock - really!

Deb