As I watch the women's Olympic marathon (HOLY crap I never would have thought a human could run that long!!!), I have a question. Just looking for thoughts or opinions...
Is it possible for a life-long nonrunner to become a long distance runner? I am 42 and just lost alot of weight. I thought it was a major milestone that I finished the C25K program. I have managed to irritate the he** out of my sciatic nerve but alllll of that aside.... do you think, with proper training it would be possible for someone like me (old LOL, non/runner) to eventually be able to run ummm, let's say 10 miles? I dont know if its a question of training or just a natural ability to run long distances. Would you think that you either ARE or ARE not a runner? Or can that be learned and the body adapt?
Just curious on your thoughts. :-)
Running can absolutely be learned. I mean, if you don't have the natural talent, you're unlikely to learn to win a lot of races, but all it takes to run a long way is proper training (and a bit of luck if you're a klutz/injury prone). You have to take it slow; increase mileage by 10% or less per week, have a cut-back week every 3-4 weeks, and you'll get there.
Heck, my grandfather picked up running when he was in his mid-sixties, and he's still going strong at 82.
Yes I believe that anyone can run - just train properly, take care of issues as they come up and don't be afraid to go see your health care professional regularly about little aches and pains before they become injuries.
My bf who is not a natural born athelete decided to start running about 10 years ago, lost about 50 pounds in the process and now runs ultra marathons (100 miles). I'm now training for my first half marathon and will likely train for a full next year. Just listen to your body and enjoy!
Additionally, I have had the privilege to meet (in a virtual sense) plenty of people on CC who have made (or are making) that transformation through the various running-related threads in the Fitness Forum. I think that it's more a matter of smart (and cautious) training and desire than natural ability.
I LOVE this question!
I have absolutely DESPISED running my whole life...I came up with insane excuses not to run the mile in school, to get out of PE classes...seriously I wouldn't run across a street to avoid being hit by a bus. Absolutely hated it. About a year ago I watched my boss (who was a serious runner in HS, then didn't run again til she was 40) run her first marathon, watched my dad be diagnosed with diabetes, my grandma with heart disease, and got inspired to run! So I started. SLOWLY. It took me a month to be able to run for 10 minutes straight, and I still thought I was going to pass out! A year and a half later I run 3-9 miles every day, with an occasional long run of 9-12. I'm no longer pre-diabetic, sleep better, and feel better mentally and physically! I was not born a runner, I'm still quite slow, but I love running! I can't figure out what I did with all the thoughts in my head and stress levels before I started running! It's not easy to get started but stick with it, and before you know it you'll be loving it too!
Also, my boss' father woke up one day (at 69 years old) and decided that he was going for a run. He had NEVER run before in his life! He is now 92 years old and still runs every day, he even holds several world records for his age group!
So YES! You can run! Just start slow, you don't want to injure yourself..your body has to adjust to it!
I'm certainly not an expert, but I'd be happy to help you with any moral support that you might need. I asked a lot of questions in the beginning (and still do!). Runners World Magazine is quite cheap to get a subscription and almost always has great articles for beginners!
Good Luck!
sbanana7, thanks for your post!
I am 31, in decent shape (135, 5'5"), I workout a lot (mostly aerobic videos like Shape Bikini Body Boot Camp and walking), but I have NEVER been able to run.
I just don't understand why. I wear a HR monitor (Polar F6) when I workout, so I know that I'm getting my heart rate up when I workout, I SHOULD have the stamina, but I seriously cannot even run for 3 minutes straight. I don't get it!!
I WANT to be able to run. I do remember running a few times in school, so I haven't always been adverse to it, but I never really loved it.
I would to have the legs of a runner... they always look so much more sleek and svelte...
Just wondered if you could share a little more info on how you started. You mentioned it took you a month to get up to 10 minutes. How long did you run when you first started and how did you build up?
thanks again for the post!
Absolutely you can!
I recommend a book called "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer" aimed at getting new runners to be able to finish a marathon (no time goal, just dragging your butt over the finish line). It's got a training plan and a lot of inspirational info. They taught the training plan as a one-semester college course, and they say everyone who followed the plan finished the marathon - even people who had never been runners.
If you can do a 5K, you'll soon be able to do a 10K, and from there it's only a few short miles to a half-marathon...
Thanks for the replies!! I am feeling motivated! I think I just tried to do too much too fast. I started concentrating on running faster instead of better LOL. So immediately after finishing the C25K program I got a pain in my butt and have irritated my sciatic nerve, which is getting better. My conclusion was that running was not for me (LOL NOT that I did too much way tooo fast and over-excerted my body). But now.. I think I want to keep running. I have refocus my attention away from running FAST, I am not in competition with anybody. :-)
NEVER thought I would say this... *whispers* I like running.
Original Post by mandispring:
sbanana7, thanks for your post!
I am 31, in decent shape (135, 5'5"), I workout a lot (mostly aerobic videos like Shape Bikini Body Boot Camp and walking), but I have NEVER been able to run.
I just don't understand why. I wear a HR monitor (Polar F6) when I workout, so I know that I'm getting my heart rate up when I workout, I SHOULD have the stamina, but I seriously cannot even run for 3 minutes straight. I don't get it!!
I WANT to be able to run. I do remember running a few times in school, so I haven't always been adverse to it, but I never really loved it.
I would to have the legs of a runner... they always look so much more sleek and svelte...
Just wondered if you could share a little more info on how you started. You mentioned it took you a month to get up to 10 minutes. How long did you run when you first started and how did you build up?
thanks again for the post!
I used to think the same thing as you (I can't run), but that is not true - for either of us! I am now able to run 30 minutes straight without stopping and I never thought I'd be able to. All you need to do is have a combination of motivation, committment and a good training program. I started with the C25K program and it's perfect for non-runners. You just need to commit to it and you will get there. After you finish the C25K program there are lots of other programs for learning how to increase your speed and/or distance. I have plans now to run a marathon by the time I'm 30 (I'm 27 now). You can do it!
ETA: Here is th elink for the C25K program http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.s html
If you search on that site they have lots of different training programs too.
I started running in May w a fitness level of zero! I was overweight and wanted to start running, since i have a few friends plus an ex who swear to running - and somehow i was motivated by their optimism - so i started -w/o telling anyone since i knew i would be ridiculously slow and out of breath within minutes - and now i run three days a week for between 45 -63 minutes (about 7-10k). i love it and always miss it on my off days...
i started with the guidelines on the 12 week excercise program on here - and just started increasing the time and dropping the hiit aspect of it, since i want to run a marathon next summer and want to focus more in endurance - i do end my runs with a sprint, though, i love how it feels... actually i just love running!
and: the average age for marathoners is about 44 (but getting lower as younger people are taking up running) - so it's never too late to start...
have fun with it :-)
Mandispring-
Hi! It's funny, when I started running I was in very good shape-I live in Manhattan and walk everywhere at a decent clip (usually 3-5 miles per day), up and down 3 flights of stairs several times per day, horseback riding, bike riding....but I couldn't run to save me life!
I'm no expert, but I think that running is just so different from other forms of aerobic exercise...it's certainly the most efficient for burning calories...that it takes the body longer to adapt to it.
A lot of people here rave about the couch to 5k program. but it wasn't for me (too structured and intimidating!).
So here's how I did it-
The first day I thought I would be able to head to Central Park and run the lower loop (1.7 miles). My guess would be I got about 30 seconds into the loop before gasping for air and stopping.
I got some advice and tried again a few days later. This time I went SLOWLY. Barely above a walk, as slow as I could possible jog. I got a bit further this time, then I had to walk for a while, then I could jog for another 45 seconds or so. Same basic principle as the Cto5k, just in my own way! One day I realized that I could get about halfway through the loop before needing to walk! It took about 2 months before I could get around the whole 1.7 miles without walking and it was hard. But I did it.
I never set any specific guidelines or goals for myself, just went out every day and jogged a bit. Literally one foot in front of the other. One day I realized that I had jogged over 4 miles at a decent clip!
Like I said, I just went very very slowly at the beginning. And as my body adjusted to running, I stopped worrying about breathing and started enjoying being outdoors and away from the stresses of life. The first few months were very hard, but after the initial discomfort goes away it's amazing-my longest run to date was 12 miles...for someone who DESPISED running, not so bad!
Trust me, if I can do it-you can!
Please feel free to message me if you have any specific questions-this is a bit rambling and might be to vague still! I'd be happy to answer them!
A word of advice from somebody who also went from nothing to running 10km (I run sets though of 10 run 1 walk unless racing).
Every single time I step out the door at about 3 minutes I look at my watch thinking "omg it has to be almost time for my walk interval" just slow down a bit and keep going, even if you slow down to a jog that's barely faster then walking just stick with it.
The first 10 minutes are the hardest once they are over you kind of settle into a rhythm and it's easier
Well, so many great stories! Just to add to that. I am 53 and love to run. I'm slow, weigh too much still (181) and will never be a racer but I have lots of stamina. Running helps keep me sane as I find it is kind of meditative. I started doing it regularly in my 40's and hope I will continue to the end of my days. I have done two 1/2 marathons now and hope to do this every year. I usually run about 4-5 times per week and bike, walk or weight train on most other days. I also am very healthy because of it. Despite carrying around too much weight I have excellent blood pressure and pulse.
Just keep in mind that running alone never helped me lose weight until I cut back on the amount of food I was eating. When I did I lost over 40 lbs. (Now I hope to lose about another 20).
Those women marathon runners in the Olympics were very amazing and inspiring.
All the best in your efforts!
It's totally possible. I started almost four years ago at age 37 on a C25K-like program. It took me 10 weeks to go from running 60 seconds at a time with a 2 minute walk break between repeats to running 30 minutes consecutively four times a week.
Now I'm training for my second marathon and logged 57 miles last week (not that you have to go to that extreme). I like running half marathons and usually run four or five a year.
mandispring, depending on your own genetic disposition, you may or may not end up with "svelte" legs. My calves got a lot bigger when I started running more. My thighs got smaller, but I do have much larger calves now.
Anyone can be a runner...just look at me!
Believe me, you can do it! I'm only 14, but even though I've been thin all my life, I used always be unbelievably unfit. I could hardly run to the end of my road (about 100m). When I first started exercising, I was very lazy, and would simply walk very long distances, because I wasn't a fan of getting out of breath. Occasionally, I would try and run, but would barely be able to manage a minute.
Then about a month ago, I started this programme I found on here:
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/276 98.html
It works great, and although it was hard at first, it has become so much easier. This last week, I haven't even been following the programme, as last Tuesday I attempted to just run - and keep on running. To my huge surprise, I was able to run 5k straight! The next day, I did the same thing, and managed 7 km, fairly easily. The nex day it was 8km, and the day before yesterday, I ran a distance I never thought I would be able to run - 11.5km!
I know that increasing my distance that drastically can't be too good, so I plan to go back to the programme today or tomorrow, but it's just great to know that I can do it!
I'm young, and everybody always presumes that the young are always automatically fit, but that was never the case with me. From themoment I first discovered books, I would spend all my time indoors, devouring books.
I love the fact that I actually feel like a 'runner' now. I can enter the fitness forum, and feel at home, not unbvelievably out of place among the 'exercise freaks' as I used think of them. I might not be an exercise freak now, but I am definately getting there.
There is nothing like the feeling after you finish a run. Sure, I may be out of breath and red faced, but I certainly experience the 'runners high'! Yesterday, I had run 4 miles, and was tired, so I decided to stop. After five minutes of walking, I felt so guilty and disappointed in myself, I just had to run another 1.5 miles!
Anbody can be a runner, it just takes dedication and motivation! It always helps to have something there to inspire you. I am running a mini-marathon in September (4 miles), and whenever I get tired, I just think of the person I am running it for. She is the five year old daughter of a friend of my aunt's, called Aisling and she suffers from cerebal palsy, among other things. With physiotherapy lessons, she can make huge progress, however these are very expensive, and her family have done all they can to pay for a certain amount of them, however there is only so much you can do. My dad, who coaches the under 16 soccer team at our local club, held a fundraiser in the club. They raised enough money to buy her 15 lessons, and as a result of them, Aisling has taken her first few steps. I am hoping to raise about €100 for her, an although it isn't a lot, it will help. When I feel like I want to stop running, I think of her. I think of how much harder it must have been for that little girl to walk a few steps, and this gives me motivation. If you do eventually run a marathon, I highly reccommend doing it for a cause that you personally believe in. I know that some people do it for children or teenagers who suffer from cancer, and they can meet and get to know their cause.
Good luck!
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