Annie, I've always had a hard time losing weight and running high mileage. I just feel sick and seem to lose all my willpower. On the plus side though, I find it almost impossible to gain any body fat when I'm doing the high mileage, no matter how bad my eating and I've had some real doozies to test that theory! Now my weight goes up and down a lot, swinging from mild dehydration to fluid retention after a hard run. I'll routinely gain up to 5 lbs of water weight after a long run or a race, which goes away in a day or two. Maybe something similar is happening to you?

I was supposed to run yesterday, but just couldn't bring myself to do it--too tired and just came down with a really really bad case of the blahs. But I got up this morning and did the run I was supposed to do yesterday, 3.5 miles, 40 min, most of it at about an 11:30/mi pace, with a nice warm up and cool down thrown in for good measure. It was perfect--low 50s, rained last night so it wasn't too dry, nearly full moon lighting up everything in the pre-dawn. It was still hard to do, but I'm real glad I went. I feel like I've done something really good for myself today.

Everybody have a good one!

Anne

i had a nice run today. it was cold cold cold but i got out for about 45 minutes and felt much better afterwards. got a nice little blister today at work though, so i'm gonna have to nurse that so i don't put a damper on my running. you know one of my favorite things about running and then being on my feet all day. the nice long bath i get to enjoy when i get home. its super cold outside and i just get a nice book and sweat away for as long as i can stand it. nothing feels better. my legs always feel like i;ve just gotten a deep tissue massage. when the summer rolls around, i just can't enjoy baths like that. its too hot.

hope everyone is doing well. its nice to see that some are still getting some nice weather.

see you ladies soon.

Michelle: Don't worry about speed! We all differ, I am in great shape but a slow runner, doesn't make me any less of a runner, just means I run to complete not to compete. Just have fun with it, running is so relaxing for me.

I ran this week. It was okay, my breathing was fine but I am slow.. I do an 8K on Sunday!

Cheers!

Ali

Ali, congrats on running again!

I tried to do a nice 6 mi run today (Ilene note: less than 10 miles ), but it was just going terrible. I just decided to take it easy, jog nice and slow and take some real generous walk breaks. I did the same miles, burned the same calories and ended up enjoying it a lot. Only 20 min longer too--good investment. Doggie was happy too since she gets to do a lot more sniffin' that way.

I'm supposed to swim later today as well. My next major race is a 2.4 mi swim in March and I need to really start hitting the pool more to prepare; it's great cross-training with the running as well. Kind of excited about that--after that race, I'll have done all the pieces of a full-blown Ironman, and then I just have to put them all together!

Everybody have a great run!

Anne

Hello Gang !

Nice to see everyone getting back into the groove... I had a pretty decent run today 7k, even if I was a bit hungover from too much vino last night ... except that my MP3 batteries went dead on me!! What can ya do...

I have a questions for the seasoned runners out there:

Do you guys run every single day? I'd like to but I'm not sure if I should, considering joints and everything, not that they are sore anymore mind you...Just wondering what everyone thinks...Thanks for the answers...

alright everyone. today i start training for a marathon. not one in particualr, i am just following a training program to hopefully give myself some goals to reach. i am going to post up what i am doing on here to keep myself in check and motivated. today is just a 3 mile easy run. its nice and rainy today. not the best way to start off a training program but i would rather run 3 miles in the rain than 20. everyone have a great day.

Good morning.

I ran 14.5 last night... it was GREAT. It was the longest run for me yet. It wasn't that hard. At the end I was thinking I could have gone longer. It was cold but we didn't freeze the way I thought we would... just the outer layer got a bit icy. What an accomplishment.

that is awesome annie. i can't wait until i'm getting that kind of mileage on these legs. congrats.

Hi guys! Mind if I join in?

I've been running for a few years, on and off. I've just recently gotten back into the swing of it. The problem is, that I don't have a whole lot of time. I've been getting up early 3 times per week before work, hitting the gym and running for 30-40 minutes before work. The gym doesn't open until 5am and I have to be to work by 6:15am, so I always feel rushed, but I figure I'm getting a little in at least. On the weekends, when I have more time, I do a longer run. During my early weekdays, I can usually only get about 2.7mi in before I have to head for the shower.

So, how often do you guys run? It sounds like you vary your distances throughout the week. Also, how much weight training, if any, do you do/how often? So far I haven't been doing any weight training, but have heard from people that do, the benefits are amazing. Please share.

LOVE2C135 -- Welcome to Cool Runners !! I've only been running for a little over a year now, and I really love it !! I never thought I would because I was never a cardio I hated it as a matter o' fact ... I average running 3-4x/week between 5-8 klicks... I go to the gym regularly too 4-5x/week working a different body part every day ... today I ran to the gym 2.5k, did back and bis, then ran back ... sometimes I take the long way back but today time was short ....

Annie -- great mileage I can't wait to be able to say that, my longest run was 8.5k just last week...

Laura -- congrats on making some plans and goals... I need to do that some day...

Well that's it for me I'm off to shower...TTFN

Hi LIVE2C135!

I just started running in October with a friend. I did a lot of research and read a couple of books on running. Then I hunted around on the internet and I found a mileage build-up program and a half-marathon training program. When I charted it out, doing one program leading directly into the next, I will finish a week before the National Capital Race Weekend. So... I am going to run the ING Half Marathon in May. Usually I run 5 days a week. I go for a long slow run on Sunday evenings, take monday off, run tues, wed, thurs, friday, and take Saturday off. Friday is a short run and Wednesday is another long run (but not as long as Sunday). So my schedule this week looks like this:

Sun - 14.5K
Mon - Rest
Tues - 8K
Wed - 9.5K
Thurs - 8K
Friday 6.5K
Sat - Rest

When I first started running... my long run on Sunday was about 8K and my weekly runs were all 5K for the first two weeks or so.

I know what you mean about not having time. I raise three kids on my own and I work full time so that doesn't leave much time. Luckily my dad watches the kids on Sunday and Wed. The rest of the time I go on my lunch hour... do you have that option?

I have a question for the regular runners... how many calories to you allow yourself when you are running? I am STARVING today and I had 1700 yesterday! This morning I thought I was going to faint. I have had days where I was unable to run because I was too weak. I ended up walking home. I am not sure how to balance this diet with the long runs.

It's warm out! It's warm out! Ok, warm is a relative thing, but it got up to -1C yesterday, which is a heat wave compared to the last month. Running yesterday afternoon was wonderful with a few less layers than usual. I did an easy 8k in 45 minutes. Less cold and less clothing makes it so much easier! It's -8 today, but I'm going to take the kids skating after school instead of running.

Ilene: I'm impressed by your January total! Illness in the family forced me to cut back a bit the first half of the month, so I only managed 80k. I don't run every day partly due to time constraints/child care issues. But, when I was running 5X per week early last fall, I noticed that I was having some foot/leg soreness that does not occur at all when I'm only running 3X per week. Hopefully I'll be able to go back up to 4X in spring without the soreness recurring. Often at least one rest day per week is advocated, but if you're not having any discomfort and you're not pushing yourself doing speedwork, hills, etc., you might be ok running daily. Make some runs "easier" than others though.

Hi LIVE2C135, I just started running last summer with the c25k program from coolrunning. I was running 4-5X per week in the fall, but cut back to 3X per week this winter. I hope to get back up to 4X once the weather is warmed and the snow clears. I run 30-45 minutes 2 mornings per week, then a longer run on weekends, when dh is around more to watch the kids. My "long" run this week was only 8k because we had a busy weekend, but I'm roughly following a 1/2 marathon schedule that will have me building up to 20k long runs by march/april.

Annie, you'll burn at least 100 calories/mile to run depending on your weight, that's about 60 cal/km. Some of those calories can come from body fat, the rest from carbohydrate. The more intensely you run, the faster your body uses up its carbohydrate stores, glycogen in the liver and muscles. If you run out of this stored carbohydrate, you'll bonk. Sounds exactly like what you are describing above. I had similar issues and had some success by making sure I consumed some carbohydrate just before a run, and then making sure I consumed some more just after, when the the glycogen stores are easily refilled. This will help make sure there are adequate stores for the next run. In other words, the timing of the calories is as important as the quantity and composition of them. But in general, I did find training for a long distance event at the same time as losing weight to be difficult. You might try a book on sports nutrition to help you figure it out--Nancy Clark has a reasonable one.

Congrats to everyone on their running! Now that I'm pregnant I'm going to have to take it easier, but I'm going to keep running (well, run/walking) as long as the OB says it's OK and I feel up to it.

Welcome LOVE2C135! I run about 2-3 days/week, but I also do triathlon, so I'm on the bike and in the pool a lot as well. I also strength train 2x/week. Well, that was the old plan anyway!

Anne

Annie, I would love to go on my lunch hour, but I'd be a horrible, sweaty mess. I do have Monday evenings when my ex takes my son, so I'm thinking I might run once at the gym in the a.m., and then take the dog for a run outdoors in the late afternoon. That would at least bump me up to 5mi one day during the week. Then I could do my two shorter runs Weds and Fri, and throw in at least one longer one on the weekend.

It sounds like everyone has the same problem losing weight while running long distances. Is it a hunger issue/caloric need issue? I was hoping the more I bumped up my running the easier the weight would come off. Is this not true for all?

Just a random, fat burning thought - and please correct me if I'm wrong...

I've heard that your body uses readily available carbohydrates for fuel, until the stores are depleted, and then your body turns to stored fat for energy. So, in a weight loss sense, wouldn't it be good to deplete these stores and have your body turn to burning the stored fat? Or is that the point where you're body shuts down and screams that it's too tired to run any further?