Beginning to Run Thread

[VeganBikeChick]

I love my Brooks Ghosts! Only shoe I'll run in. The Brooks rep encouraged me to try Ravennas & I returned them within the week. You don't even know you have them on

[Catrin]

I love my Brooks Ghosts! Only shoe I'll run in. The Brooks rep encouraged me to try Ravennas & I returned them within the week. You don't even know you have them on

I am looking forward to wearing my Ghosts to my usual crazy group conditioning workout tomorrow as it will be the first time I've worn them. There is normally some running involved I LOVE my Cascadias for trail running. The store rep said I could use the Ghosts for light trail running, but that isn't what I bought them for. I feel the Cascadias more aggressive soles provide more traction on the trail and it feels like they also provide a bit more ankle support. With my foot surgery that is a good thing.

I just got in, ran/walked 1.67 miles. Not bad for not doing any trail work since the end of October - it just isn't the same as running on the track at the gym. My knee never complained once (yayyyyy), and my tight heel cord that sometimes complained loosened up. The only reason I stopped when I did was my left hamstring started complaining, and it is still complaining a bit. I wasn't fatigued at all. Unsure why the hammie complained...unless it has something to do with the cooler temps, I've not been exercising outside at all. I do not believe that trail running is near as hard on my body/legs as what I do at the gym - at least not the easy trails I was on today. Pretty flat terrain, only about ~750 feet of climbing and descent. Only a few sections with roots and those were muddy enough that I walked them.

Considering I was up to 2 miles before my body started complaining before winter weather hit, I am not going to complain. I had a very slow pace but did spend a bit more time running than walking. I split it up depending on how my body feels as I think that is more important than choosing some arbitrary amount of time to run/walk (and then trying to keep track of the split). 16.2 minute pace, but that was with walking, it will be interesting to see how much I can shave off that as I can walk less and run more

My clothing choices were spot on for the temps! Even with the tights I was pretty cool starting out, but warmed up. I never felt the urge to unzip my convertible shell or to remove the sleeves. Very glad I had gloves!

[Catrin]

Finally got in a decent run in my new Ghosts - and they rocked! I don't know what a "decent" mile pace for a beginner is, but I managed to run a mile at my gym after our crazy Sunday Funday workout in right at 12 minutes. For me that is indeed a record. It is still interesting to see how much harder it is to run on a non-trail surface. My heart rate is higher, and it takes more will power to keep going when running on an inside track. There was some walking involved of course, but tried to keep that at a min. My hammie was just fine with everything!

[Blueberry]

I'm in the ~13 minute a mile range (my plan still has me at 1/2 walking, 1/2 running) - so I would say that's a fine pace.

It has been a week since I ran, and I did a hard (for me) trainer workout yesterday and walked ~4 miles with DH before running. Oof that hurt! Having trouble dressing for running - at 55 wore short sleeves and capris. Arms were a bit chilly - but if I had worn long sleeves, I think I would have been too hot.

[Catrin]

Thanks Blueberry, I had no idea how to look at that number. Not that I am all that concerned about it for now, and it is interesting how much harder it is to run a mile (ran more than walked, probably walked about a quarter of the distance) inside on a rubberized track over soft trails. I won't even consider running on pavement, that just isn't for me. That one mile inside got my heart rate much higher than the trail and I was certainly done after that mile. I seem to last longer on trails, or else I am better at the walk/run mix when I am out in the woods by myself...

[BethHarpring]

I'm going to start running this summer too-
hoping that i would get the body I want before summer ends...

[Catrin]

I was pleasantly surprised today! Last July I bought a pair of Brook Cascadia trail shoes and LOVE them. So much, in fact, that last month I bought some Brooks Ghosts for the gym so I can reserve my trail running shoes for, well, trail running. For some reason I picked them up yesterday and looked at the soles, and found that several of the 'cleats' (for lack of a better name) had simply disappeared! It looked like someone had taken a knife and excised that portion of the sole beneath the ball of my foot - very odd indeed. I took them back to my LRS today and walked out with a brand new pair at NO charge - and they aren't cheap! I was hoping for a discount at best, certainly not a free switch. The new shoes are happily tucked away in their box until it is warm enough for me to consider hitting the trails in them. Whatever it was, was quite obviously a factory defect, but I still thought that was a very nice thing the LRS did in this case.

[TrekDianna]

I got a new pair of Brooks Ghosts also (I am generally a trail runner, but have been doing a lot of running on a bike path at lunch time with a co-worker). I like them so far. They are giving me the arch support that I seem to need on blacktop that I don't need on the trail.

[Catrin]

I got a new pair of Brooks Ghosts also (I am generally a trail runner, but have been doing a lot of running on a bike path at lunch time with a co-worker). I like them so far. They are giving me the arch support that I seem to need on blacktop that I don't need on the trail.

I love my Brooks, both the Cascadias (trail) & Ghosts. I wish I COULD tolerate running on pavement but it just hurts too much. Woods are more scenic anyway

[Catrin]

This is a small milestone, but it IS a milestone Yesterday after my group training session, I decided to do a little light running as yesterday we focused on form and didn't have time for metabolic work. For the first time I was able to run for a half-mile without stopping! It took about 5 minutes, and I crossed the AT threshold for about half of that but I actually felt pretty good with no complaints from my hamstring. My body is accustomed to longish periods of time of anaerobic work anyway.

I felt like I could have done at least 200 more meters, but it was time to hit the showers for work. I've long been able to run further on the trail without having to break, but this is the first time I've been able to run on the track for that long without a break. This bodes well for the trails once they thaw out and things warm enough for me to get out there!

[roo4]

Nice milestone, Catrin!

[Catrin]

I spoke with one of the coaches at my gym who also trail runs and mountain bikes. She is going to put together a training plan for me to help me be ready for my 5K trail run on May 31 Thankfully this particular trail running event is on some of the same trails that I once was able to ride with my gone-but-not-forgotten Jamis. I am REALLY looking forward to the day when I can run the trail on which I received my neck injury that keeps on giving 2.5 years later. Repeat engagement, and it is a beautiful trail. It will be nice to be able to see it from a different perspective! It is a 5 mile out and back, not a loop. It connects to another trail that connects to...and so forth

[Catrin]

I was able to do it yet again today - so there has been some good changes in my running conditioning. After my usual group training session this morning where I had a personal record in deadlifts, I was able to run for a half-mile at the end of group without stopping. Not saying it was fast or anything, it took me 5:10 to run that half-mile, but I could have gotten in at least one more lap I think. I didn't want to push my hamstrings after heavy deadlifts. So my "fluke" of being able to do this the other day wasn't a "fluke" after all!

I meet with the coach at my gym to get my training plan Thursday morning, and she isn't even charging me. I just need an idea how to proceed so I don't push things too fast.

A long time ago, I posted here that I am not a "runner". Well, that seems to have been inaccurate I may always be in the fast turtle division, and I will never attempt to run on pavement, but it gets me back in the woods and that is all that matters! Can't play with heavy weights and kettlebells all of the time!

[skhill]

Way to go, Catrin! No fluke at all!

[Catrin]

Still amazed I could do that after 185 pound deadlifts and other crazy stuff. My cranky hamstring is still happy with me