Early Morning Runners -Support Group ( :

Last summer, I started walking.   Then wogging.  Finally jogging/running.   I relished my cool morning workouts. 

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?????

Thanks, everyone! You guys are awesome.

I did one mile in 9:59. I wanted to die afterwards but now that I know it's possible...I'm gonna work up to it!

Mkculs, that's awesome! Running is a even playing field in terms of lifestyle...if you try hard enough, you can be just as good (or better) than your younger, fitter counterparts! :)

Manta, that's amazing! Do you feel like you're moving fast? I know that sounds like an odd question, but even when I was running at a 10 minute mile pace, I didn't feel like I was moving that quickly. You'll kill it!

Bobev, for your age that's fantastic! Even not accounting your age, that's still very respectable. I have the F4 as well, and I sometimes wish I could see splits.

ETA: when do you know your shoes are finished? I give my shoes a fair beating and I have found that the padding on the outside of my left shoe is depressed...ALOT. The other shoe not so much. I only have about 60 miles max on them but I don't know what signs to look for.

Hey goddes,

I don't necessarily FEEL like I am moving faster (although sometimes I do in a way, its more a feeling of just having a nice stride going), but I DO notice I am working hard (HR is up, breathing is a bit harder than normal).  However, it is still a comfortable pace, just not what i would call and EASY, comfortable pace in that it takes a bit more out of me. In general though, I feel like I am moving at the pace of a turtle!

As for shoes, I noticed mine were going when I started getting knee pain, I then went out and bought another pair and immediately noticed the difference.  60 miles is quite low mileage even if you are hard on your shoes.  usually, you should be able to get minimum a couple hundred miles on them.  I wonder if you are wearing them quicker because you are not necessarily in the right shoe (I know you have had struggles with this).  Keep and eye on them and if you start getting aches and pains that you didn't have before, I would start to get suspiscious.

 

Fantastic job getting under the 10 min/mile mark, thats quite an accomplishment! 

Thanks goddess! Good job

manta - I know what you mean. I noticed that during the c25k long runs that I could get a nice stride going that didn't feel faster but was.

Tried my first temp run ala Runners Worlds Smart Coach system. I warmed up with a .31 mi brisk walk, then ran a 1.01 mi loop around my house, starting at my driveway and returning. I pushed heart rate to a touch over 126 or 90% of estimated max of 140 (measured in april at 137 2 1/2 weeks after heart attack - but its got to be higher now - Cardiologist agrees with me but wants to wait to do another stress test). Exertion rate on the first mi was a high 7. I don't think it reached 8. Tempo guidelines are 88-92% Max Hr, Exertion 7-8, so it was a tempo pace. Completed the first mi in 10:40!! I walked for 2 min to cool down and brought hr down to 96 and started again. Pushed hr to around 122-125 for a good portion. Everytime i saw it drop near 120 I picked up pace a bit. I was surprised i could do it. The second half mi was exertion level 8 for sure! but i could have gone a little further at that pace! Finished the second mile it in 11:30! So for the 2 mi my overall pace was about 11:05. I feel pretty good about that. I walked it off for a few minutes went into the house and did some stretching to ease my quads which started complaining the last 3/4 mi. Not seriously but they let me know they weren't happy!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention a really funny thing that happened. I was wearing regular shorts and had on spandex type underwear from Target size large. E bought them awhile ago when I was heavier and I never liked them at the time - to tight and confining. I've been wearing them more often since losing the weight because they are really comfortable. Well this morning they kept sliding down and wouldn't stay up! I kept pulling them up during the warm up jog then finally gave up and let them slide down until they rested at the bottom of my shorts. I don't know if they stuck out or not, but it sure felt funny! I finished the 2 mi and cool down with them down where they wanted to be!

Good mid-morning!

How do you runners deal with clumsiness? I'm 6'1" and have always been clumsy. My mother used to jokingly say that I would fall while walking on flat ground. Seriously, I do! I currently walk/jog. I'm working my way up to jogging a mile without having to stop and walk. It's a slow process and I'm obese. At any rate, I always look down while walking and especially do so while jogging. I recently had a nasty spill while simply walking. I hit a patch of rocks (there are quite a few of these on the route I take). I know I have bad form while jogging because of my constant fear of falling. Is there any way for someone like me to avoid falling while not having to constantly look at the ground?

Thanks

i have a question, too.  right now, i'm in grad school and i work at home, so i can go running almost whenever i feel like it (usually late morning).  i'll be finished school and back to work soon, though, and i know that if i don't get out before work, i won't go at all. 

so i'll get to the question: what do you eat before you go?  i know i need at least one cup of coffee.  obviously i don't want to run on a full stomach, but i'll want something to fuel my run.  maybe a protein shake?  maybe i'll have to learn to like yoghurt?

Original Post by pgeorgian:

i have a question, too. right now, i'm in grad school and i work at home, so i can go running almost whenever i feel like it (usually late morning). i'll be finished school and back to work soon, though, and i know that if i don't get out before work, i won't go at all.

so i'll get to the question: what do you eat before you go? i know i need at least one cup of coffee. obviously i don't want to run on a full stomach, but i'll want something to fuel my run. maybe a protein shake? maybe i'll have to learn to like yoghurt?

I frequently have a couple of nuts, or a piece of fruit b4 running. I had 1/2 oz of walnuts b4 long run this Sun. This morning, I didn't feel hungry and ran after eating a couple of grapes to moisten my lips. I also drink 1/2 bottle of water after getting up and a bottle while running to stay hydrated and not drop bp.

momof2kd - I'm not sure what to say. I run on sidewalks and streets. Will frequently go out into the bike path to avoid cracked sidewalks. I look out to see where I am going and plan if I need to avoid an obstacle like the cracks or tree branches, then look down to be sure I don't trip of something. So I am constantly looking up.out, then down. At 62 I can't afford a fall! HTH

Original Post by momof2kd:

Good mid-morning!

How do you runners deal with clumsiness? I'm 6'1" and have always been clumsy. My mother used to jokingly say that I would fall while walking on flat ground. Seriously, I do! I currently walk/jog. I'm working my way up to jogging a mile without having to stop and walk. It's a slow process and I'm obese. At any rate, I always look down while walking and especially do so while jogging. I recently had a nasty spill while simply walking. I hit a patch of rocks (there are quite a few of these on the route I take). I know I have bad form while jogging because of my constant fear of falling. Is there any way for someone like me to avoid falling while not having to constantly look at the ground?

Thanks

It is pretty normal to be watching the ground when running; I'm not likely to trip but sometimes will if I get caught up looking at the scenery. Watching the ground a few feet ahead of you is always a good idea!  

Can you find a better place to run? If there is a high school track you could use, try that. I find it too boring but it might work for now. I suspect you will find that you have better control and balance as you lose weight, too, making the running a little less risky. And a track will be kinder to your joints while carrying extra weight. I ran for 2 decades and took off about 5 years, then went back to exercise with soccer, and I now trail run and will never run on paved or other hard surfaces again!

Good luck!

So, let's talk about ME. hahahahaha.

I'm getting in NO running these days, but that was part of the plan. Still, I'm playing soccer every other day this week--Thursday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday (and then Sunday again). I get a lot of running in--all at a dead sprint, it seems! I'm curious to se how I hold up; tonight it's Tuesday and outdoor. Thursdays are indoors. I have to say, it has been the best thing for my running, and my trail running/hills has been terrific for my sprinting! I noticed people don't play to my side of the field very much because I'm faster than I look. Of course, Sunday, a 37 year old beat us pretty much single-handedly (single-footedly) by beating our sweeper down the field time after time. I dropped back to cover and then she didn't score again; I even beat her to the ball a couple of times (with a 10 foot lead, of course!).

I really miss early morning running and hiking and hope to get back to it now that the craziness of my first month back teaching is done!

Happy trails, runners!

Original Post by pgeorgian:

 

so i'll get to the question: what do you eat before you go?  i know i need at least one cup of coffee.  obviously i don't want to run on a full stomach, but i'll want something to fuel my run.  maybe a protein shake?  maybe i'll have to learn to like yoghurt?

 Hey pgeorgian,  I don't eat before I go running.  I have found that it just causes digestive problem with me on the run if I do.  If I am doing a long run (over 8 miles), I will take something small along with me like a granola bar or banana and eat it about halfway through the run.  I always drink a glass of water before I go out running.  Granted, I am basically rolling out of bed about 5-5:30 am and trying to be out the door in 10-15 mins, so eating just doesn't work for me.  I have read a number of posts on this because I often wondered and what I have found is that everyone is different with what they can and will eat before  morning run.  For me, if I have like 30mins to an hour that I can wait before a run, then I will have a bowl of oatmeal, but anything less, I won't eat. Oh and coffee... forget it, I can't have a coffee before I run or I will end up with awful indigestion!  I always have my morning vice right when I get to work. 

The best thing to do is find what works for you.  Most people who do eat shortly before  run, make sure it is somehting that is easily digestable like a banana, a piece of toast w/ peanut butter, etc.

 

momof2kd, keep things very slow, I tend to look at the ground a few feet in front of me and just look around from time to time to enjoy the scenery.  Like mkculs said, totally normal.  I have even tripped before while running and went sprawling forward onto sand and rocks... not pleasant.  I think the more you run, the more comfortable you will get with the whole process, take it all very slow.  I also think that because you are overweight atm, you are probably even more fearful of falling as you can do that much more damage to yourself with the extra weight you are carrying aorund, again something that will improve with your improved fitness and weight loss.  (so after reading the rest of mkculs post, I basically said the same thing, sorry for the repeating things!)

Anyway, try to stick with it, run on softer ground if thats an option, a track, grass, etc, that way you won't do as much damage if you fall, otherwise, try not to look at your feet, but at the ground ahead of you, practice looking around briefly from time to time, and soon enough you may find things have improved significantly.  Good luck

 

Bobev, you are an inspiration!  WTG, and as for the pants falling down... been there more times than I can count where I spent the majority of my run pulling my pants up, fortunately, I am now at my goal weight so I hopefully won't ahve to deal with that anymore!

 

Original Post by momof2kd:

Good mid-morning!

How do you runners deal with clumsiness? I'm 6'1" and have always been clumsy. My mother used to jokingly say that I would fall while walking on flat ground. Seriously, I do! I currently walk/jog. I'm working my way up to jogging a mile without having to stop and walk. It's a slow process and I'm obese. At any rate, I always look down while walking and especially do so while jogging. I recently had a nasty spill while simply walking. I hit a patch of rocks (there are quite a few of these on the route I take). I know I have bad form while jogging because of my constant fear of falling. Is there any way for someone like me to avoid falling while not having to constantly look at the ground?

Thanks

I am clumsy too - I often say "I could trip on thin air" - but there is no simple way to get over it besides getting in the habit. I started looking down at my shoes, but then I looked straight ahead at the horizon...that way, you see what's ahead of you, including anything that would get in your way. Sorry I can't help more!

pgeorgian, once I started running in the morning, I refused to eat prior to a run. Anything sugary would upset my tummy and anything heavy (which is what I tend to eat during breakfast) would just lie there, weighing me down and give me a stomachache. After I run, I immediately get the stove going and get a meal in. If you NEED to fuel your run, bring some fitness water, and if you run those distances, get some gel packs.

HAHA, bobev, that has happened to me too! Were they drawstring? I have no hips and they just slide off. Free show for all looking! LOL

Manta, you might be right about the shoe bit. They don't hurt my feet but they might not compliment my gait too well. How are you Kinseis going now? I'm looking into a straight up cushioning shoe. I don't overpronate that much and my left foot def. doesn't. Ughhh, I just wish I could get the right shoe for once!

I got new shoes at a running store last Fri! I needed Stability shoes and the Mizumo Wave Alchemy fit best of the 5 brands I tried on. I ran with them Sunday for a long run of 3.8 mi. Can't believe I finished w/o stopping! Pace was 12:40 so it wasn't race speed, but I actually ran the whole way!

Running with new shoes was interesting. Almost like the first few weeks of c25k. Various muscles started saying "something is different, stop I don't like it!", I kept going of course! After a bit it stopped and I finished without significant problems. The only thing was that the pain in the top of my left foot started up again. It had started the previous Sunday. I'm thinking its a nerve irritation. I iced it when I got home and took ibuprofen. Have been taking naproxen sodium or ibuprofen since. Its getting better, but I am not going to run until the weekend. Friday at the earliest. Going to the gym instead to use the C2 rower and arc trainer.

I also had a little numbness in my toes and then some burning in the ball of my feet. I hope that goes away with more breakin before first 5k. It does show me that I do have a pace that lets me run a full 5K w/o walking.

Hang in there folks. We can do this!

I took a spill the other day because my balance wasn't quite right and I run on a trail that runs through a park.  It curves gently here and there and there are a lot of roots sticking up to trip one up.  When I tripped, there was nothing to trip on, but their had been a couple of days of rain before I ran, and I guess the ground wasn't completely solid.  Learned to be careful on those days from now on...

I usually try to scan ahead and then I look at my feet back and forth as I run.  Also, I often run the same course, you I try to remember the lay of the land.  There are a couple of paths with cement edgings crossing the trail also.  When I get tired, I walk across those areas as there is great potential for falling.

What I think has been helpful was the strength I have in my arms.  When you trip and fall, it is your hands and arms that catch you.  It may not help you will your sense of balance, but working on strengthening your arms and wrists might be helpful.  And of course, when you do your warm-up, don't forget your upper body including your neck and shoulders. 

Another thought is to check out "chi-running."  Maybe that running style works for you.  If you google it you can find it, and there are a lot of things on Youtube showing the form.

 

I just had to post! I finally was able to run 30 minutes straight with no walking AND... I had my best time ever at 6 min 34 sec for 5K.  I met one of my goals of running for thirty minutes.  Now, I think I have a shot at shortening the time to under 6 minutes for 5K in time for my first 5K on January 1st 2009 at the River Road Run in Eugene, Oregon.  I'm walking on air.

Help! I am so off track! Since school has started back (I'm a teacher), everything has gradually gone wrong. I've been injured and sick, and my ability to do the basic things to keep myself on track seems to have disappeared. We have a really hectic, exhausting start to the year--students, teachers, and parents alike agree it is too much--but I can't change that and what's done is done for this year.

I really miss getting up in the morning to work out. I already go to bed really early most nights and get up before 6 am; I want to get up earlier so I can enjoy an early morning jog, even if it is just short and sweet. I should have at least 2 months before truly difficult weather kicks in. So that is one goal.

I need to get a regular shopping routine, too. I never seem to have my chicken, water, or morning snack stuff. I did well for the first couple of weeks, but not recently. I've been so tired and busy on the weekends that I just let it go. Now that things are smoothing out a bit, I want to make a new commitment to getting that shopping down my second goal.

So, any words of advice or wisdom will be much appreciated!!

ps: I'm lucky that my weight has not changed much, and I even went down to 190.8 although today I'm at 193 after a big Chinese dinner on Wed. and a party last night!!

 

I am stoked to hear all of you are still at it, early morning runners!!!    ( :

I had to start alternating jogging with biking because of my knees, and then my now ex-bf got a Bowflex too, so I have been lurking but not posting mostly.....  

I surely enjoy my early morning jogs this time of year  ----- cool, breezy, refreshing and the stards are GORGEOUS at 5AM every other day.......  

I need two things:  a miner's helmet so I can see in the DARK and anti-fog wipes (or something) for my glasses. 

Keep up the good work, and jog on, ladies  (and Bob!!)!!    ( ;

olivia77: I bought a book light with a lanyard at Big Lots for $3 and run with that in my right hand and strapped to the wrist in case I let go. At times I shine it on the road ahead of me when there is a dark area.

mkculs: I started getting to bed a half hour earlier and set my alarm earlier in order to run/workout in the mornings. If you can work that out it might be worth it.

kyashiis: Way to go! Its not as bad as we thought in week one is it! Incredible how addicting it is!

Had a good run this morning with the new kicks. I laid off for a week to let the nerve in my left foor heal and it seems to have worked. It talked to me at the beginning. Kind of saying "oh here he goes again - your not going to do this to me are ya?... oh dang yes he is!... might as well enjoy it!" I knew it was there but no real pain. right knee kicked up in the last 1/2 mi tho. That's the one I wear a brace for. Will take an nsaid, 2 naproxen sodium, and see how that works. That one will probably have to be replaced one of these days. Orthopedic surgeon told me not to run about 3 years ago - but then I was also 35 lbs heavier! I did a half-tempo run, maintained hr between 116-120 most of the way. I was surprised that I maintained it for a 5k distance w/o stopping. Did 3.6 total in 44:11, a 12:11 pace. I did some recovery jogs after some hills on the route. This is a good training route because there are both steeper and gradual inclines along the way. The gas well that was going up the last time I ran it has been completed and is operating. Hard to see from the road now.

I'm going to lay off the running until Wed then do a 2 or 3 mile full tempo run (for me hr >120) in preparation for the charity fun/run 5k this Sat. Will try to run it at a half tempo pace and see if I can break 40 min.

right on, Bob.  I was very seriously contemplating that exact purchase last time I was in a book store......     is it bright in your opinion?? 

( :       &n bsp; keep up the good work!

Has worked for me. Great for the hrm, ok on the sidewalk in front, not as bright as a flash light but a heck of a lot easier to deal with. I haven't found a flash light that I could substitute for it. Besides at the Big Lots price it's been worth it!

You got it at Big Lots??  that;s awesome.  right in my price range.   ( :   

I will be running in safe light soon!  thanks!!!

Hi All, 

Mkculs: yeah it gets tough once things change over in the school year. I guess I would recommend to attack one thing first and not everything. If it is your exercise then go to bed 1 hour earlier and make it a point to get up @ 5:00 for a 1/2 hour run and then do the best you can on your food. Of if it is the food that you feel is more "out of control" then focus on spending the time for shopping and preparing. I am not sure if they have it where you are, but most our of grocery stores deliver for a nominal charge (like $7.00) so that might be an option. 

I am now running into the dark. We finished a run in the dark and it was raining. In some  ways I loved it because it was an adventure but in other ways it was scary... So I may have to break down and get a light.  

Things have been very stressful lately. Husband is on 1/2 salary and we are struggling. I think that it is very typical for the American life these days but nonetheless it is still difficult.

Keep running!