Early Morning Runners -Support Group ( :
Then summer was over and I had to shift my jogging to the 4PM heat and humidity. It was almost unbearable, but I made it. Then winter arrived and I had to deal with a host of new issues ---- never been an exerciser, let alone one who ran in the ice and snow, so how do you keep your glasses from fogging up or avoid bronchitis in the cold???? Made it through that too.
This summer (up until yesterday's close), I taught summer academy but did not have to be there so early as with regular school, so I was able to return to my morning workouts. HALLELUJAH --- I had forgotten how incredible cool, peaceful, and invigorating it is to run in the early morning hours. It's as if my dog and I are the only living beings..... I love it.
My body clock is pretty good at waking me up and I try very hard to just make it happen every day --- for me to be done with my workout in the cooler weather and because my dog needs the exercise, but my friend Tamar who lives in a VERY HOT climate is having a hard time getting up to run.
How do you make it happen for yourself? How do you get up and get going???????
Other deep thoughts that cross my mind in the morning..........
1) my knees are beginning to be an issue even with new shoes, stretching, ibuprofen, etc, anyone here an OT or sports medicine guru? I know I supinate/walk on the outsides of my feet and that is why my knees hurt ---from being torqued too hard side to side, so what do I do to strengthen whatever quad/ham muscles to stop/help my knees?
2)am I the only person stricken at times with almost emergency bathroom situations while jogging before "voiding"?
3) anyone find now the mp3 player that first motivated you to keep going is now just a distraction from the road and your pace?
4) what about runner's etiquette ??? -- I always get out of oncoming car paths -- even if it means running across the road or getting my running shoes wet/dirty, but still the people in this town are hateful.
5) what about this --- the same routes I have been running (I have a range of 2-5 miles mapped out) are getting too easy/too short/I feel like I could run more, but I like to do a loop, you know? start at my house, make 4 turns, I am home. do I just try to pick up my speed (yuck) or do I do two trips?
This is long, but I hope to hear lots of good advice and get a support group going for all us early morning slaves of the shoe! Are you out there?????
YE-HAW!!! ( I do live in Kansas....) lol
Today I did a new 30 min route. It was hardddd. I couldnt run the whole thing I had to stop and walk several times. thats what happens when you dont do the work for 2 weeks.
Well atleast I did get up and did the 30 minutes.
Short term goal is to run 30 minutes comfertably. Thats will take atleast 5 weeks. I am sure my pace is almost half of 5k in half an hour but thats ok. Once I get to running 30 minutes then I will get a new plan to work on speed in 30 minutes.
In about 2-3 months Ill start trying to add more time.
Ok so yay me for getting up and not giving up and even though its annoying I couldnt run a full 25 minutes thats ok. Thursday is another day.
that's the spirit tamarbee and olivia! (:
my homeroom teacher used to say, If I can't run, I'll jog. When I can't jog, I'll walk. If I can't walk, I'll crawl. I'll get there somehow. He went on to complete a 217km Ultramarathon across the Death Valley... Just keep working at it, you'll get there somehow!
I didn't go jogging this morning cause it was raining when i woke up (bad me), but i made up for it in the evening (:
Doedoebird.
Ill trade you rain for blistering humid summer? What do you say?
I am proud of all of us for getting out there and running! ( :
I did 4 miles this morning, after biking for 10.5 miles last night, so sort of sore. BUT I DID IT!!!!
I have discovered there is a profound difference in temp and humidity between 5:15 (when I was jogging) and somewhere around 6:30 or 7 (now jogging). I just need to make myself get up earlier... ( ;
I love running in the am, when it is quiet, and cool, and peaceful!
RUNNING ROCKS!!!!
Just got home from a new 5 mile route I did this morning.... ALL HILLS. I thought I was going to die during the 2nd mile which was up hill the whole way, luckily, what goes up must come down right? Unfortunately, I ran it quite a bit slower than I normally do my 5 miles (about 45sec/mile slower), I am guessing it was all the hills.
tamarbee, just keep at it, it doesn't happen overnight, but you will soon find yourself running the 30 mins without too much problem, and the speed will then follow
oh, and i'll take all of your rain, heat and humidity, it was absolutely FREEZING this morning (low 40's I think, ok, maybe not cold for some of you, but I grew up in FL and Sydney isn't usually this cold). Plus, I am SO TIRED of my entire morning runs being in the dark... can't wait for spring. I've always thought it would be perfect to live in Sydney half the year and then Florida the other half, then I would NEVER have to endure another winter again!
Tomorrow morning is speed training, hmmm... hills, intervals, or fartlek? THe big decisions on life eh?
TMI WARNING: I seriously almost had to do something gross in someone's yard today 2.5 miles in..... thankfully I made it home, did my business (for a second time) and got back out there and did another mile.
I would pay big bucks to the person who makes it possible for me to "go on demand." dang, that is the worst feeling in the world!!!!!!!
Olivia77- I think my dog looks forward to our runs more than I do!!! Do you feel like running with your dog adds safety? My dog is about 45 pounds, and he growls at everyone we pass, I love it!
I KNOW she loves the exercise as much as I do too...... WHen I adopted her in January from a neglectful owner/next door neighbor who had allowed me to walk/jog her since last August, I commited to daily exercise for her. She was only like 6 months old then and she desperately needed to be worn out in the evening so that we would not hurt ourselves or her. =P
good for you for getting out there, nicole!! ( :
Hey guys! Didn't run yesterday because of some major heart palpitations. It was seriously wearing me down. They are just a part of life for me and something I have to work with. The cardiologist just says to take it easy when they come. But it is so hard sometimes because I'm the type who as soon as I'm told not to do something, I REALLY want to do it! I've had them off and on for the last 2 years and I remember when the cardiologist first told me to ease off the running for a couple weeks or months- I really cried! Right there! That's when I knew that I was a true runner and I knew that I would run again. And I do! I could've given up and never run again but I was was patient with my body and now I run consistently and just listen to my body to know when to take it easy. I'm feeling much better today and will probably be taking a sunset run tonight.
Cheers to all you runners! You rock!
don't let it get you down.... a runner is always a runner. sometimes we just take days off when we need to and try something new for a change!!!! (not to be bossy)
I recently tried my much hated exercise bike and for the first time ever, love it!!!!!
Hey I am going to start training for my first half marathon and I thought this would be a good forum to join to get motivation for getting through this. Right now I can run 4 miles about 45 minutes without to much trouble.
Fyi olivia if you love the exercises bike join a spin class. The motivation to work hard is intense. Good time guaranteed!
that would freaking rock!!
I try to change it up....... do a mile or 2 at 4 and 5, then mostly at 2. Looking to add more resistance when it gets a little easier on 5. WOO
I had the best run today ---- this is the first time in weeks it felt "easy." I hit my pace early and never lost it. YAY -- is it dumb to think the piece of gun I randomly chewed helped me ? I used to do that when J and I started runnign a long time ago, seemed like it helped me not be so dry in the mouth, but seriously I think it helped me. (blush)
How many days a week does everyone run??
I have been trying to alternate a day that I run with a day of strength training, so today is my strength training day. I just got a kettlebell and an Iron Core DVD that I can't wait to try!
olivia77- so when is this 5K going to be? Don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself "addicted" to races after you finish. That seems to be the norm for people who go into the 5K PREPARED and USED TO RUNNING the distance. You're going to love it, there is absolutely no better motivation then a good race.
araymond61- GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK, and congrats on your decision to go for the long haul! Are you following a specific training plan? Check out Hal Higdon's plans. The single most important aspect of training for long distances is your once a week long run. Whatever you do, don't skip it. The other important thing is to cut back your mileage every 3 weeks. This gives your muscles a chance to recover, get stronger, and prevents injury. Let us know how it goes!
manta515- You're running while it's still dark? Please tell me you have a running buddy! And, yes, you can take the South Louisiana Swamp Heat I have here any time you want it.
Whew, I ran a 10 miler at 7 am this morning, and it was ALREADY 80 degrees out and humid humid. I can't wait for it to start cooling off... of course, it's not August yet so I have to bear the worst before it gets better! If I made it last summer, I can make it this summer, right?
Just picked my training plan for Marathon #2 (Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans on Feb. 1). I'm going for Hal Higdons Intermediate 1. It will definitely push me beyond what I did last year, my weekly mileage will peak at 47 miles a week. WOW! I think I can do it though. I've been good with maintaining a weekly mileage of 30-35 miles a week in this non-training downtime, so I SHOULD be ready for it...
sordino, Australia is quite a bit different of a place than the states safety wise, sure bad things happen here, but MUCH less frequently, its just so much safer in so many ways (don't get me wrong, there are some "bad" areas, but it always makes me laugh what aussies consider "bad' areas). Hell, I lived right on the edge of one of the worst areas of Cleveland, OH when I was at University, I think if any of people here saw where I used to live, their jaws would drop! I am not saying that something couldn't happen, but it is really not like the state safety wise. While I was visiting my family in FL in March, I took my sisters Dog running with me if I went evening or early morning because I just didn't feel safe (even though my family lives in a perfectly safe neighboorhood). Plus, because I live on the beaches here, I always see plenty of other runners and a few dog walkers, even at 5:30 am in the dark (crazy bloody aussies!) Because it is dark, I stick to areas that are well lighted and the busier roads (where I will definitely see quite a few cars or other runners). Its one of the reasons I LOVE living here, its like the states, but 30 years ago or so. I have recently thought of taking pepper spray along too. Oh, and its been so bloody cold here the last few mornings, bring on the Louisianna swamp heat!!! I am FREEZING my arse off lately!
Oh, sordino, a question for you, what do you use to carry water on your runs, I haven't found anything that I like so far and only really need to carry water on my long run atm. I was thinking of looking into the camelback that goes on your waist... any advice there?
Well, I have decided I will probably run the Sydney half marathon (over the Harbor Bridge and past the Opera House) in September (I am up to 11 miles on my long run anyway, so its not too much more to add). My 15K race in coming up on August 10 (Sydney City to Surf). I am so psyched about it. The only problem with the half is that we will be on Holidays in Vanuatu two weeks before so I am not sure how that will effect my training because I probably won't get to run much if at all that week (its a diving holiday, so i will still be active). Then I will have one week when we return before the half. Ah well, don't have to decide yet.
Well, I couldn't bare getting up this morning because it was dark, cold, and windy! It just looked miserable outside and after freezing the last two mornings, I said screw it. But, I did do a nice easy 5 miler on my lunch break throught he national park right across the street from where I work (did I mention I LOVE living in Sydney???) It was such a lovely run, there is a trail that runs right by a river and although it was cold, the sun was beating down, the birds were out, saw a few cockatoos and some lorikeets, a water dragon, a few ducks. Almost up there with running by up and down the sydney northern beaches where I live (I get some spectacular views, particularly the sunrises over the water).
Nicole, I run 5 days a week, I don't think mentally I could do anymore than that, I really enjoy my two days off, but am always itching to go for a run after taking a day off.
Olivia, I LOVE those runs, the ones where you feel like you could just go and go and go, and your stride just feels effortless, your breathing is deep and rhytmic and just feels normal. I remember when I first started running and for MONTHS I wondered WHEN I would get that feeling. It finally came, and while I was hooked before I did that run, I think that was the day that I became truly addicted. Oh, and I know its a bit gross, but I sometimes need to spit to deal with the dry mouth issue. Oh, and my husband is a cyclist and he has been trying to get me into cycling for awhile now. Not into it yet, but maybe after I conquer a half, I might think about a triathalon.
Actually, I got up late, close to 7, maybe that's why? it was already muggy and heavy. I'll try again tomorrow!!
oh, nicole, I try to go every day. (varying lengths and intensities)
I did get up this morning and I ran my 3 mile loop. That makes 3 days of running this week, and 2 days of stength/circut training.
I am going to try to add a day next week.....I am getting addicted to how good I feel in the morning after my runs!
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