Nelie: There's the nike 10k Human race, it's probably coming around october-ish, but the date isn't confirmed. I'm really looking forward to that one, because (yeah, some say it's all hype) it's a cool way to do a race. It's a race against the whole world!

hi everyone, i am new to this section of 3FC...I was in the LAWL section before, but am no longer doing LAWL.

Last week I decided I am going to start walking/jogging. Decided to start by walking back and forth to work, and last night started jogging it.

I am going to look up the couch to 5K - sounds interesting and something I would be interested in. I walked/jogged a 5K for the first time last year (filled in for a co-worker who had already paid to enter) and am hooked. Plan to do it again this year in May.

Anyways, hope you don't mind counting me in as a running girl

cheers

Patsy

A little about me. I have been running for a few months now. I have challenged myself to 500 miles in 2009. I felt like that was a feasible challenge for me as a beginner. I run about 8 miles a week (2 X's 4). I am trying to build up to a 5k. There is one in May I am going to enter.

I have a question:

I run really hard (as hard as my body will take on any given day) four times a week and then the fifth I do real light. However if I am in the gym and I am like I am just gonna run a mile I feel lazy because I KNOW I CAN DO MORE. What is your take on this.I know we need rest which I do have a rest day. But I can't grasp the concept of an easy run (plus all runs are tiring to me hehee)


Pastrey- I hear C25K is the way to go for beginners. I tried with a friend and she quit on me. SO I started by myself and got tired of the intervals and I jsut started jogging as long as I could each day until the present. i started at 1 mile at 4.4 MPH.

Lixxi - That race sounds cool. I am gonna look into that!

Kitty - a half marathon....my ultimate goal.

Nelie - Make sure you let us know how that beach running goes.

Hi everyone! I'm Daniela and I have the running bug LOL

I used to run in the Army but that was almost 10 yrs ago so I started with the C25K program to get me going again. I started in December and I ran my 1st 5K on 3/15. It was awesome! I beat my neighbor and he wants a rematch (silly man) so we have a rematch on 4/4.

I've been using a training plan from runnersword (http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/smartcoach/) to train for a 10K at the end of May. Right now I'm running 3 days a week with a long run (6 miles) on the weekend, I'm up to 15 miles a week. blah blah blah can you tell I'm addicted!!!

I've got a question for you guys. Has anyone ever dealt with a knee injury? I think I might have overdone it. I did 6 miles last Wed to see if I could do it and I finished in 1h 11min. My longest run before that was 5 miles a couple of times. Then I did my long run this Sun another 6 miles and now my left knee hurts below the knee cap when I go down stairs or run or jump.

Any tips? I think I might have a mild case of patella tendonitis. To much to soon and I'm still heavy 183 lbs isn't easy for the knees. So far I've been icing it and taking advil, no running last night, I did bike, and I might hold off a couple more days before I run again. Does that sound like a good plan?

Definitely sounds like a good plan, taking some ibuprofen and icing. I had a calf injury last year, right before a 5k so I rested until the 5k. Well during the 5k, I went all out and killed it within the first half mile! Made for a very painful 5k

I wanna blame it on the cold But it warmed up today, so I don't have any excuse left (not that I ever did). I did go to the Race for the Cure in Pasadena weekend before last --- too bad we managed to miss our start time , and ended up just taking the little girls (I was with my survivor! sister and her husband and 1 and 3 year olds) on the Kid's 1K. Oh well!

CakeBatter - I'm a big fan of crosstraining -- I don't personally run more than 4 days per week. My legs and joints just don't do well if I try to do more than that. On the other days I'm working strength training, core, and alternate cardio (step class, circuit training, kayaking).

How about switching it up and doing something else on those other days, something cardio but non-running --- bike, step mill, stair master, whatever. It keeps things interesting and doesn't keep wearing at the same muscles, but still helps to increase your aerobic capacity, which will ultimately improve your running too. And I think strength training and stretching is VERY important in preventing injury, so I hope you are working some of that in somewhere. Running is awesome exercise, but too much of a good thing (especially too much, too quickly), can result in overuse injury or burnout.

Variety is spicy, or something like that.

MBN - oh yes ma'am I ALWAYS stretch before and after in the sauna. And I do calisthenics (exercise using bodyweight). I will definitely do other things like u mentioned. I didn't know it still helps your running. Thanks

Daniela - 10K training progaram...will definitely have to try that program. My hopes is to be able to do a 10K by the end of August! *fingers crossed* how did u go about building up to 6 miles? Any tips? Or did it just all come back to you?

Thanks Nelie!

Cake Batter - I just kept pushing myself to build up the miles. I hate running on the treadmill but once it got nice I did some runs outside and it was AWESOME! I did a couple of 4 mile runs (for my long run) and then I did a 5 mile run one week and then I said what the **** I'll just try 6 and I did that 2 times in one week. I don't run super fast, maybe a 11-12 min/mile pace. don't that that was a good idea. Yes, I was able to do it but I hurt my knee. I never had knee problems in the Army but I was also 10 yrs younger, 25lbs lighter, and we only ran 2-3 miles 4-5 times a week.

That being said, Cake Batter the only advice I have is don't push it to hard in the begining. I know it's exciting but it's not worth getting an injury. All the best in your training

This sucks because I already miss running (no running this week), I tried last night for 1/2 mile but the pain came back. I haven't lost weight this week I was going to race in another 5k next Sat but I'm going to cancel. Arrrrrhhh this is frustrating because I know I have the endurance to do the long runs. I might have to visit the doc next week if it doesn't get better.

Anyone have some advice? I'm megga bummed out

You're overtraining. As you yourself talked about in post #19.

Back waaaay off. Rest until nothing hurts.

Then don't increase your weekly mileage by more than 10% a week.

Hi All. I just started running in December. It's taken me a bit to bring up the endurance. I'm up to almost 4 miles on the treadmill, but outside I haven't done more than 2 miles, they both seem to be different beasts.

I just started getting a bit of pain in one of my hamstrings and so I'm taking it easy. Elliptical feels fine so I'm doing a buttload of that in lieu of running. Having an injury sucks because I feel like I'm just itching to get out there on the trail because the weather is getting nice, but it takes time for injuries to heal.

I take yoga a few times a week including a yoga for runners that focuses on hips/quads/legs and I'm hoping things get better by next week. The running friends that I'm meeting at the gym all say to be patient and take it easy. I feel like I'm going to lose the wind/endurance that I've built up so far if I take a couple weeks off of running. Ugh.

I start an 11 week program in a couple of weeks that leads up to a 4-mile race in June...so I want to be all good for that.

Girlie - Maybe try swimming? I totally understand that you are scared you will lose progress. That is part of the reason I am scared to miss a day.

I will have to remember this.

Daniela - I am so sorry you are hurting. I hope you get better soon.

MBN - Did some crosstraining today

So today I ran my first mile on a 2 incline. A mile because that is all I could do before my calves caught on freaking fire. I was doing it because I was trying to simulate being outside. I only managed 1.75 today but I finished out my last two laps at 5.7!!! woot woot!

Well all runs are not "good" runs as I have read on a running website. This what I try and keep in mind for days like Friday and Yesterday where I only lasted 1.75. HOWEVER today I ran a whopping 3.75 and you can probably tell I am grinning from ear to ear! I actually ran 2.25 and got off like usual to get on an elliptical but they were all taken so after waiting a few minutes I got impatient and jumped on an open treadmill. Then I ran the other mile and a half. This does still count right????? Even if it doesn't I am uber stoked that I had the freaking energy!

OKAY WHERE ALL MY RUNNING GIRLS AT?????

I had an awesome run today. I ran outside on a nearby trail. It felt great. I only did 2.25 miles today because I with a buddy who is not quite on the same level. But it was all good to day was my easy run day. It was just beautiful out and it was a wonderful time.

Ya ya I got it

Thanks CakeBatter and nice job on all the runs

Quick update...I went to the doc this wed and I've just got a little case of runners knee. Yes, I over did it, to much to soon, yadda yadda yadda. So no running for 2 more weeks (it's been 2 1/2 weeks already no running). Kinda sucks but I'm doing the right thing by letting it heal.

Oh course I had to go and do something else crazy and I bought a bike hehehe. I might have rode 20 miles this past saturday (I've been taking spin class twice a weeks for 4 months so the long bike ride was no biggie) I'm just happy to be outdoors and not in the gym on nice days.

Hope I can get back to running in a couple of weeks.