May 2009 Runners - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

CakeBatter · 05-01-2009, 02:40 PM

Hey ladies. Started a new thread for the new month. I start trainging for the 10K on monday. Today I am just going to run a couple miles and cross train I think.

MBN - I noticed that you said you only run 4 days a week. Maybe I should try that and get a little more rest. IDK. I seem to feel like if I have free time I should be running...haha

SWS - Good luck tomorrow

Shananigans - I hope you are feeling better darling

midwife · 05-03-2009, 03:01 PM

bump

nelie · 05-03-2009, 03:28 PM

Ahh I missed it, thanks Midwife

AnneWonders · 05-03-2009, 04:27 PM

At least somebody's on the ball around here. It isn't me, I'm afraid...

Anne

MBN · 05-04-2009, 07:39 AM

Cakebatter: I only run 4 days a week, but I do a lot of cross-training on the other days. I do cardio, strength training, swimming, yoga, and other sports like hiking and kayaking. Running is great, but too much of the same anything isn't always great.

SWS -- how did you do??

lixximajig · 05-04-2009, 08:09 AM

Hihi, can I jump in?

I've gotten myself into a nervous fix. I've signed up for a 10k in July, but as a person who use to fail the running portion in my physical tests previously, I still have a long way to go! So from now till July, I'll be running whenever I can squeeze in a time for it.

Trying to up my distance from a 5k (that's when I'm beat/bored) to a 6.5k.. and slowly increase from there. Hope I make it out of the race alive!

Goal for race: To run 10k in + - 1hr.

Fat Pants · 05-04-2009, 09:04 AM

Hi all! Mind if I join?

I started running in March - I have never run before and like lixximajig, used to fail the running tests in P.E. class!

I am training for my first 5k in September, and am up to running about 15 minutes without needing a break right now. I live in Colorado so the hardest part for me is the darn hills!!

I run about 3x a week right now, with weight training/cross training in between.

My husband and I run the 5k route at least once a week... am up to twice a week now. Today is a run day.. and the weather should be fantastic!

Have a great start to the week, everyone!

JulieJ08 · 05-04-2009, 10:11 AM

Wow, I finally got out and ran again this morning. I can't believe I've been delinquent!

sws19 · 05-04-2009, 10:20 AM

hey everyone!
the 5K went perfectly fine. it was supposed to be cold and rainy that day but luckily the weather held out and actually turned into a beautiful day. so the answer is that running outside and weaving between all the walkers actually added about 5+ mins to my time, but i can definitely live with that.
i'm presently considering a change in my exercise strategy. the last couple months i've been doing slow and steady state jogs for about 50-60 mins (so 5 to 6 miles). this is really time consuming and i'm not even sure if it's doing anything for me. really haven't lost any weight in a couple months. so i'm considering going back to 2 miles of sprint intervals and 1 mile jog which is what i was doing before the shin splint situation sidelined me for all of march. i just want to expedite my weight loss situation while not spending hours upon hours upon hours at the gym. i figure this way i'm only the treadmill for about 30-40 mins and then can do some weight training stuff. when i do 70 or so mins on the treadmill i tend to start skimping on the other stuff cause i'm hungry and want to go home. is it possible that running about half the distance but using HIIT and then a little more with the strength training might actually help move things along?

CakeBatter · 05-04-2009, 03:49 PM

sws - Glad to hear it went well. I wish I could answer you quetstion w/ expertise....but MBN or Anne will catch that one....lol

MBN - Thanks as usual. I am starting the 10K / HM training today sooooo wish me luck.

To all the new girls welcome!

Patchmaxnala · 05-04-2009, 06:49 PM

Is it to late to join?

I'm a newbie around here who lovessss to run and hopes to do a half-marathon by the end of the summer! You are all such inspirations to get out there on those tough days and just go for it! One thing I've learned is that no one EVER regreted going for a run... hihi so true!

Lately I've been doing long 10k runs once a week to get my endurance back up from the break I took this winter (running in -30C weather sucks...) and biking 4x a day. I want to get some speed now!

Good luck to everybody, we can do it!

shananigans · 05-04-2009, 11:41 PM

to all the new runners

I am feeling better, I had a really good 8 mile run on Saturday. I did a lot of hills on my 4 mile today, but ended up being pretty quick anyway. The weather is cooperating lately, I appreciate that!

I'm starting to think this 5 running days a week business might not be the optimal training strategy for me, I just picked a training schedule off the internet not really knowing what I was going for. Oh well, there's always the next race. I am looking forward to changing things up once the half is over.

sws19 congrats on the 5k! I don't know how you do all those miles on the treadmill, that machine drives me batty with boredom. Although sometimes in the winter it's preferable to what's outside around here. I think changing up your routine regularly is a good thing, and a lot of people seem to find it helps with weight loss. And if you don't like the new routine, you can always change it again. You definitely don't want to get bored, I'd say give it a shot.

icandoallthings6613 · 05-05-2009, 03:12 AM

hey all! I'd like to join too! I started running again in March - - I used to run in high school, for sports, when people made me. But now I've actually started enjoying it!! It's the weirdest thing, self-identifying as a runner. My old soccer coach might die of shock.

Anyways, I'm training for a 10k later this summer. I run 4 or 5 days a week, and right now I'm having the same problem as you sws. I was running 5 or 6 miles, in about an hour, but I've started doing 2-4 mile interval runs. They wipe me out...but in a good way : )

Haven't seen any weight loss since I switched from longer runs, but it's TOM, so that's to be expected.

I have a question for all you runners about socks -- I've been having sock issues (blisters, socks wearing out too quickly). Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should look for in a sock?

MBN · 05-05-2009, 06:09 AM

Hi to all the new runners! Jump on in!

lixximajig: Good luck on your 10K training! You have time before July to prepare. Runnersworld.com and halhigdon.com have great beginner training resources and plans and may give you ideas on how to ramp up your mileage for your race. The rule of thumb is to not increase your mileage by more than 10% per week, to give your legs a chance to adapt. And it works well to designate one running day per week as your "long run" day, and extend that one gradually up to your race distance, rather than to try to run longer every day.

sws19: Great job on the 5K! I knew you could do it!

Another word for "high intensity interval training" in running is speed work! Running faster intervals is the way to get faster at running. You'll definitely burn more calories in a shorter period of time. But, you can't maintain the intensity for long, so those sessions do need to be shorter. Also, speed work stresses the legs more, so don't want to do it every run, or you risk injury again. Cross training like swimming or biking can give you cardio benefit (and great calorie burn) without the impact. If you really want to get your butt kicked, then get on the step mill! And I'm a big fan of strength training anyway, I believe that is very important for injury prevention .. that and stretching, and rest days.

icandoallthings6613: I like your screen name.

I prefer Thorlo socks, which are wicking socks that are designed for running with padding in the right places. There are thick/thin varieties, low cut, high cut, etc. There are other brands that are good too, I've just found they work well for me. They aren't cheap, but they do last a good while. You want to be sure your socks are the wicking type (NOT cotton!!), and that you try them on with your running shoes to make sure the fit is right. Blisters can also be caused by improperly fitting shoes, so if the socks don't fix the problem, that may be it.

Fat Pants · 05-05-2009, 08:07 AM

Good morning all! Wow, I feel so intimated by these long distance runners..haha. I just want to make it through my first 5k without walking!

Anyway, I had a good run yesterday, despite major wind resistance and a lingering migraine. I had a PB of 35:25 for my 5k time.

I just cannot seem to get through this mental block of running past 15 minutes without taking a break. I start to concentrate on how tired I am and think I can't do it. Any suggestions?