Posts by on_my_way

I made a life out of not finding enough time for exercise and found myself 36 years old and 70lbs overweight, and lazy.

Now, with four kids and a full-time job, I find the time because I want to have a high quality life with my children for many years to come.

If its important to you, and it should be, you'll find the time.

It is not unusual that you think yourself in shape and find you can't run.  If there is one thing I have learned in my fitness journey is that one activity in only SMALL ways prepares you for the next activity (thought I would be good on the elliptical because I was a fairly far distance runner -- NOT).  As a runner of only 1.5 years who started after having smoked for 15 years and was 50lbs overweight, I too thought I couldn't run.  I needed a program to follow to TEACH me how....it is not necessarily as simple an activity as children make it look :).  I am on my third training program, still have lots to learn about running and my body, and will run my first half marathon in three weeks.

Give it a good try by using a training program that fits your lifestyle and then decide whether or not you like it.

I know exactly what you mean -- I used to RASH-UP horribly and my original goal in fitness was to get legs that don't rub together....after running for two years and -50lbs it hasn't happened BUT my legs there are firmer and don't rub together such that they hurt.

I used to hate it when people could wear skirts with no tights, I never could because I'd get a rash.  Its much better now that they are more firm.

So that's the solution...get firm legs and don't aim for the gap cause it may not happen.  In the meantime, wear bike shorts that wick away the sweat (usually spandex) while working out and wear good shorts that  won't allow you to rub.

One thing runners use to prevent chaffing is "Super-glide".

Well, if you can, run outside -- at least for your long runs!  Its oodles better as far as interest goes......and it is also very different from treadmill running since there are hills/slopes and wind resistance.  If you plan to run an outdoor half you had better get your cardio upto outdoor standards.

I pack my playlist with "memories" -- as in songs that remind me of things or times in my life rather than songs that would pump me up for a fast workout.  I know a guy who runs ultramarathons and he puts books on tape on his playlist!

But, yeah, at a point in your distance training you do have to push beyond the boredom or the lack of desire to continue running and decide to do it just because you can.  In all likelihood your cardio is in very good shape now.  Your leg muscles are quite well trained....it now becomes a battle between your mind and body, telling your body that you can because you want to make it to that half marathon.

When you want to give up and walk, just don't.....its a simple as that.

Now, all my training for a half has been in 10s and 1s and that is likely how I will run the entire half...that is to say I run for 10 minutes walk for 1 minute....very rarely does it effect your final time.

You can do it -- now you must set your mind to it.

I also find it very motivating to pay for the race and then make good and sure that money doesn't go to waste!

Sometimes a gym will offer an introductory "class" of some sort.  When I joined the Y they provided 2 free sessions with a trainer -- maybe your gym does something of the sort.  I attended those as a TOTAL beginner and found them useful.  I also went to a variety of classes they offered and found out what I liked - which was actually no classes and I prefered the solitary pursuits.

You're paying for variety (otherwise you'd be home or out walking/running/bicycling etc.) -- so make sure you get your money's worth.

Original Post by corduroyfirekills3:

Original Post by on_my_way:

My sister has a GPS watch, now shure which one, and it doesn't work indoors (even by the window where her treadmill is.

I know that this post is months old, but I can't resist replying.

... how to...

OK. I am calm now.

I think that you should tell your sister, if you read this, that if she is running on a treadmill, it might not be the GPS that is malfunctioning.

 Didn't know why you had to calm yourself down.

Anyway, she is training for her 100 miler and wanted to include all the watch's info on her pace, accumulated distance while completing training runs on the treadmill when its -30C outside etc....whatever else the watch does and she downloads it all to her computer to make for more efficient training....point is, it didn't work for her.  I am far less serious about running, but to train for 100 miles, one must be very certain to train properly.

In the end, I did get a pedometre and I find it entirely unreliable when I measure the counted distance of 12 indoor laps = 1 mile to what the pedometre says (significantly less than a mile but not consistently less at any time).....I am now running outdoors and use runningmap so I no longer rely on my ability to count 8 miles by running 12x8 laps.

I bought a fairly decent pedometre and I certainly don't rely on it......it may be that its not calibrated correctly but when I track distance on a treadmill, by using a map or by running a track and see what my pedometre says, or distance some other way, the pedometre always says far less (like 3 mile difference for my 7 mile run last week).....I don't think its very good for tracking running movement.

Its good for seeing where you improve.  I would track your steps, distance, calorie burn and minutes somewhere so you can see an actual improvement.  The point is to do a little more each day.

I use runningmap.com to measure my outdoor distance.

Original Post by bebe_66:

but i can still feel it up and down stairs. feels like something is getting trapped - i'm fine for about the first five mins of running and then eek!

exactly what topaz said...

 This sounds VERY similar to my IT band injury I just recovered from in November-ish.  It took a very long time to recover....I had worked my way upto 15k runs and then, injury, couldn't run for even 15 minutes.  I had to quit running entirely for about a month then gradually build up, stopped AS SOON AS I felt the SLIGHTEST twinge, and then a day off and ran again -- another big change to my routine was a serious DEDICATION to stretching after my runs.  Look up stretches that target IT band and good luck.

I am back at training for a half, no more problems so far.  I'm at 11k, but this is now 6 months later.  It was very depressing to have running taken from me for that time.

Original Post by melkor:

 If you lift weights, you'll really be amazed at how much stronger you can get with no bulk.

Your frame of reference is off, apparently. So let's do a visual.

Muscle Bulk. Also muscle bulk. And there's muscle, under all that bulk.

Not muscle bulk. Also not muscle bulk. And not muscle bulk either

 Of course, if your frame of reference is Masha Tyelna or some other living skeleton then you're more likely to believe that what a normal woman looks like is "huge", but that's a problem with your frame of reference, not your body.

 Even though her publicist talks of yoga and pilates to the media, Gisele's real training is done at Peak Performance gym with Joe Dowdell, and is all iron goodness. The PR flack talks up her hobby yoga so that people with skewed notions of femininity don't give her crap for rockin' the Romanian deadlift.

 I appreciate your feminist view point, melkor.  I wish young women could hear this view and actually believe it.  There is a real problem with body image out there....always has been....and until mothers, in particular as the single first and most important influence on their daughter's lives, take it upon themselves to use language and actions that boost self esteem from the inner-self rather than the outer-self, there always will be issues.  I've got three young daughters I've got to be careful for....and a son who needs to learn to value the inner self too....

Totally off-topic, but you struck a chord.

Original Post by bughterfly:

I've known a couple people who have literally gone from the couch to a 5K (with minimal to no training).  It wasn't easy for them, of course.  I've never done the C25K, but it seems like a great idea.  It will be difficult/challenging at times, but you need to just expect it to be challenging and power through.  Best wishes and Congratulations!

It literally busted my butt to complete C25K, but I kept at it and it was totally life-altering.  I was an ex-smoker (had quit for 6 years, but had smoked for 15 previous to that), 60lbs overweight and COMPLETELY a couch potato for 36 years.

I started c25k at 36.1 years old and now, a year and a half later, I am training for my first half marathon and, I know that the training, carefuly followed, will enable me to complete the half-marathon....

Its challenging but totally do-able AS LONG AS YOU SET YOUR MIND TO IT. 

Match raw determination with a good program and you CAN do it.