Where are all the in-between runners?
 

I can't be the only in-between chick, right?

There's the monthly running thread, and all those girls seem to be doing "easy" runs of 10 or 12 miles a day. And there's the Couch to 5K thread. Where's everybody else?

I did C25K back in 2010, and when I started running again this year I found that I hadn't regressed back to Day One of C25K (hooray!) so I'm just kinna doing my own thing and working back up to being able to run a 5K. I'm currently able to run about 1 - 1.25 miles without stopping, and then I alternate run/walk for another 2 miles. I'm hoping to get up to a full 3 mile run by June, when I'm running a Color Run 5K.

So, who else out there is between C25K and 12 miles? I really want some running chat buds! :running:

I think me. I started running but don't have the patience for C25K. So I just get on the treadmill every day and do the best I can.

I am at about 1.5 miles (2.2 kilometers) now without stopping. Takes me about 15 minutes. I'd like to get to two miles.

Me! I do a lot of walking/running. I'll run for about 1 to 1.5 miles then finish it up with a walk or if I really want to get my sweat on I'll run for a few minutes then walk for a few and keep alternating. I'll sometimes sprint on those runs as well. I'd love to be able to run anything over 5 miles non-stop.

I can run a 5k straight but most days I end up running around 2 miles straight. But I'm no where near 12 miles a day, I'd feel like that would take a really long time to do.

I'm not sure if I count, but I am for now. I've finished my sting of half marathons, and I'm dropping back for the summer and rebuilding mileage. This week my runs are 3-3-4-3. My runs will stay single digits until Aug.

Me!! I started running (fast jogging?? lol) in the spring of 2008 with a goal of doing a 5k before my 40th bday. I made that goal with a month to spare! :carrot: And that was 4 years ago... Since that time I have "wanted to run 5 miles"....with all of my starts and stops I am just now able to do 4...with a whole lot of walking after the first 3. Its all a mental gam with me. I have to tell myself "I can" and "I will" instead of "I want to" or "I can't". The IDEA of running a 1/2 marathon by the time I turn 50 has swirled through my head....not really sure I want to devote that much time that would require. Not to mention what I fear it would do to my knees!! They are already sore during and after a run....but the all over feeing I get after running is soooo worth it!!

I am an in-between runner, too. I started C25K last August and since then I have run an actual 5K and I run 3 times a week, usually about 50 min or about 6 km. I bought a Garmin watch last week and I am super excited.

Novus, thank you so much for asking this question and starting this thread! It's a question I've often asked myself.

I fall into the "in between" category. I've ran lots of 5Ks, several 10Ks, and run shorter distances every other day along with doing other workouts.

Maybe you should think about giving your thread a title of some kind and making this a monthly thing. I'd love to chat with other in-betweeners.

Thanks again!

I did 4 miles today at a light jog speed. My goal is to run that light jog speed for around 6 miles straight one day. A 10k yeah I'd like that

(Living vicariously through all of you while I finish up C25K--doing W7D2 this afternoon. Can't wait to be a real runner!)

:nono: You already are a real runner. :D

Regardless of distance, if you walk/run, etc...elvislover324, if you're running, you're a real runner!!

What does a Garmin watch do?

I hate running longer than 5 miles. Who has the attention span for that?! I like running 3 miles and working on speed. It's a good day when I can finish 5K under 27 minutes :)

It tracks my speed/pace and distance. I can upload the info, and I can see my map, the elevation, my splits, etc. I can compare runs and see what has improved or still needs improving. I currently have the Garmin 10, and I've loved it. I'll be upgrading soon though. If you never plan on running really long distances or doing triathlons, it's a great watch. It has a 5 hour battery life, which is the limitation that won't work for me this fall. (I also am *this close* to committing to a triathlon in 2014, so I'll want one that works for all 3.)

The ones that I use have GPS... So it tracks your distance and speed/pace...
But I'm currently training with a couple of different Suunto watches now... which have some very cool features... like an altimeter and barometer, so I can keep track of how much elevation I'm gaining and they can also warn me when bad weather might be approaching... also it keeps track of sunrise and sunset times based on my GPS location and I can set timers on it to plan accordingly so I don't get stuck out after dark... If I don't want to that is... ;)

Oh, and they have a HRM as well, so it's like having a mini exercise physiology lab strapped to your wrist... :)

Hi Ian. While I don't have a Garmin I do have a Polar heart rate monitor. Like Polar, Garmin has many varieties of watches depending on what you want. You can get one that calculates heart rate, calories burned, includes GPS so you know how far you've ran or walked, and even enter your own courses and distances. My little Polar does a nice job of tracking calories burned (what I initially bought it for) and heart rate. I hope to one day to graduate to a Polar or Garmin with GPS.

Oh, by the way, just as there are many varieties there are many price points as well.

Check out their website for more details. http://www.garmin.com/en-US

It's funny I've never really "loved" my Garmin's... although the "virtual" training partner is pretty cool... but the first one I had with that "touch" bezel... was SO annoying... But they've gotten better... I also wasn't a fan of having to recharge it either... I'm really enjoying training with the Suunto's right now... I especially, like seeing my TE right there in front of me while I'm running... that's definitely pretty cool... But a lot of the features can definitely be a bit of overkill...

See, I'm the opposite! I count myself as an "in-between" runner because I'm slow and (usually) don't care. But I've trained for and run a half marathon before, and - while yes, at times it was boring - I really enjoy my long runs. In fact, I kind of HATE running until the first 1.5 miles is finished. Then I start to love it.

I have to try really hard and not compare myself with other runners. If I did, I think I would start to feel discontent that I don't feel when I'm just trying to get better for myself.

It's hard not to notice and be discouraged by others who are faster/lift more/better at XYZ activity!

Maybe once every week or two I like to do a 7 miler or so - but by the end I'm bored to tears and my knees HURT.

I did C25k years ago and just hung right around 3 miles. When I can't make it to the gym for my cardio class, and sometimes on the weekend just for fun, I go for a 3 mile run. Usually twice a week or so. I have no desire to work up to more. My knees start bothering me if I do more than that. I also don't really care to work on speed. I just love running and listening to my music. Definitely an in betweener here!

It's interesting to hear people complain about knee pain. I'm the opposite. I have way less knee pain when I'm getting all my runs in than when I skip them.

i agree with the poster who said "who has the patience" for longer runs....I truly have a short attention span and jogging mile after mile is incredibly boring...ive also naturally limited my distance because of asthma issues...so I've always done a couple miles of walk/run intervals and then some incline walking to finish up my time at the gym...I don't have enough time to put in at the gym to do 10 miles etc even if I was capable of doing that LOL

while I envy those girls who can easily put 10 miles or more under their belt in one workout....I just don't have the time, patience or fitness level to do that

right now I run HIIT intervals on the treadmill and work on speed, and finish it up with high incline walking....I have 45 minutes on the treadmill per day...and I also try to ride my bike outside if it's not raining...and I just started walk/run intervals on a trail near the coast when it's not raining

Thanks everyone for the low down on GPS watches. I'll get one of those when I am ready to hit the open road.

I had a rest from resistance training today to give my muscles a break so I hit the treadmill instead. I just ran 2 miles (3 kilometers) in 20 minutes. My personal best! Running is awesome. I used to like it less than weights, but they are on an equal par right now.

I am going to enjoy my "rest" days running. That's for sure!

By the way, I run after breakfast. I felt a bit queezy doing that today. Any tips on the best time to run regarding meals?

I feel queasy too if I have too much in my stomach when I run...what speed do you run on the treadmill? ...if I eat anything right before I run, its only a bite of peanut butter...usually I eat some toast about two hours before I run, and I run in mid-morning between my work shifts

I also found that I was having horrible allergic reactions during running, which my doctor attributed to having food in my stomach while running...im not sure I believe that because ive had allergic reactions before having eaten anything that day....but allergy testing didn't turn up anything definitive...so to be on the safe side I try to limit what I eat before I run

and be careful when you transition from treadmill to street running because it's a heck of a lot different on your joints...my ankles, knees and lower back can handle whatever I dish out on the treadmill but just a little bit of pavement pounding is enough to set my joints hurting for awhile

Oh, hooray! I knew all the 'tweeners had to be lurking around here somewheres! :D

I eat about 1-1.5 hours before I run, and I keep it light. I'll do something like a small bowl of oatmeal, toast with peanut butter, or a banana.

I can't run after eating for the same reason... I will drink coffee before a morning run... but that's it... although that's not the best thing to do either... But I've done it for years and it's more of a ritual now... and the caffeine of course...

There are all sorts of ideas about how many calories you should take in before a run at exactly how many hours before the run, etc., etc... I've found that I can take in maybe a couple of hundred calories mostly in carbs up till about 2 hours before a run and be OK... But if it's a race... well then I have a whole other pre-race "breakfast" ritual that I go through... but that's a whole other story... :D

Thanks for all the advice on the eating-running tips and alaskanlaughter, I agree about the joints. That is why I like the treadmill because it is so easy on the knees!

Ive been doing some evening runs on a trail along the coast (I live on the coast) to try and get my joints acclimated to a harder impact without being directly on the pavement...It's an experiment...So far my knees have handled it okay but just my right ankle has been protesting...I've sprained my right ankle numerous times in the past so it's weak. I'm hoping the gradual acclimation will give the joint time to toughen up....I'm also finding that my natural running speed is somewhat faster than my lungs want to breathe LOL

Everyone's different. I need 2-3 hours after a hearty meal or I burp up my food. Salad pukeburps are the worst.

I'm impressed by the treadmill runners. No way would I stick with it on a treadmill.

Did a quick 1 mile at the gym for warm up in around 12 minutes

I walked at a brisk pace on the treadmill this morning for 45 minutes at a high incline, with lots of time at the top of the incline settings...after running last night, my body is recovering from that and I know better than to push it too hard...I have meetings all evening too so no trail running today...

I should add that I only like to go out on the trails when it's nice weather here (which isn't very often) so the trails are considered an extra thing that I do, not a routine....it's been sunny for a week...this might be all the summer we get :) it could very possibly rain for the entire next 3 months and I would never get back on the trail

tomorrow I am doing HIIT running at the gym in the morning and then I have no idea what i'm doing in the evening...it will be Friday so I might feel like going out on the trail, or I might want to stay home with the kids, or I might go to a school farewell bbq for our counselor...who knows...

I'm an in between runner too. I've always been very athletic but was not able to run very well. I always worried about being cut from the volleyball team because my running was not up to par. My husband however,was a track star. He runs all the time. When I started losing weight and coming to this website I noticed that the runners mentioned that running helped their loose skin and helped their abdomen looked better and reshaped their bodies.
I was already doing other fitness routines but decided to give running another try when I hit about 210 pounds. I had my husband help me with the breathing. No one ever taught me how and that's why always got side stitches. It truly bothered me to see him running alongside me backwards when I was giving it all I had And feeling like I was going to die! He was really encouraging though. Probably the fifth time I tried I had a miracle breakthrough. Seriously it was like when the braces came off of Forrest Gump and he could run.
Then I was hooked. I traded my used elliptical for a used treadmill and haven't looked back.
Yeah I'm still slow, And I don't plan on ever doing any more then a 10K but I like it.

It seems we are a lot!
I ran 5,5 km and it was a lovely morning, not too hot. I do not know if I will run in the next few days as I just got a tattoo and I am not sure if I can keep it dry or wet enough. :shrug:
Have a nice weekend :wave:

I ate a small breakfast today (boiled egg, fruit salad) before my run and it made a big difference. I bashed out 2 miles in 20 minutes again.

I really want to get to 3 miles. I might try and push it past 2 miles a little tomorrow. Any tips on how to do that. Should I slow down or speed up?

You inspire me with what you have done for yourself. A few weeks ago you were just considering running, now you are running your tail off! And freakin' fast miles!!! I read your posts with awe!! :carrot::carrot::carrot:

Thanks Elvis. I'm struggling to go any further though! I get so HOT!

It's the weight.

A good rule of thumb is to not try to increase your total time or distance by more than 10% a week... Really helps to prevent possible injury or over training... Now I have definitely not always followed that advice... But I usually pay for it by not being able to be as consistent with my running because I tried to do "too much... too soon..." It always takes my body a while to catch up to where my mind thinks it should be already...