Hi everybody,
After months and months of fear, I finally started running back in December (21-day challenge). Then I stopped for a bit, and started again in February. I've made a lot of progress, going from just 3 minutes of comfortable running to often more than 20 minutes. I've done 30 minutes several times as well. When I started running again in February, it was just 10 minutes at first and then I was adding 30 seconds each day, sometimes more if I felt up to it.
I usually run a long an unsealed road and, apart from stones, find it a lot more comfortable than asphalt. The road is a series of up and downs with a few steeper stretches, so it's certainly a tougher and better workout than on a flat track.
I run every day, and the reason for that is that I want to make it into a habit. If I'd take a day off, it would be very hard to get back to it... Maybe that'll improve with time, but right now I'm still somewhat making myself run. I did take a day off once because of extreme tiredness, and the day after was horrible!
The first 5-8 minutes are usually tough, which means that interval running is out. No way I'm going through the first few minutes several times!
What I do is walk a few minutes to a spot where I start running, do the run, and then walk for at least 10 but usually 20-30 minutes to cool down.
I do some stretches when I get home, mostly things from my Yoga class. I do know I'm not doing enough. Recently my legs have been feeling very stiff, so I know I need to stretch more and better. So I need advice...
When to stretch... right after, or after the walk? Before runnig?
What stretches are best? Descriptions would be best... I'm a bit dum when it comes to names of moves/stretches.
Thanks so much in advance.
PS: Is there anything that could stop my face getting SO AWFULLY red? I'm getting self-conscious because people I meet stare at my face... I goes totally red no matter whether I'm running faster or slower and how long...