I'm so proud of myself, I completed my first ever 5 mile run yesterday! It took me an hour.
I'm running a 10K on earth day in April, so I've been training, yay!
I've been bummed that I haven't been loosing, but I have been increasing my miles and shortening my times, so that keeps me going. That's more important than a number on a scale any right, right? ehh...
Any runner have any advice about training for a race?
I don't have any advice for you because you are waaay past me. But I just wanna say I am proud of you!!!! I am training for a 5K and am still only running two miles.
I do have questions for you though....
1. How ofter do you run (esp when first starting , I am about a month in)
2. How did you increase mileage?
3. Oh and how long did it take you to be able to run 5miles?
Last edited by CakeBatter; 03-05-2009 at 01:08 PM.
My advice is to go grab a book or two from the library about prepping for a race. Running is how I lost all my weight, and made me feel so strong on top of that. Make sure you are getting enough calories though while you are running. I wasn't eating my fats last summer and got a debilitating headache that lasted three weeks. I had to stop running, playing ball, and basically was bed ridden for a lot of that time. I wasn't even able to take care of my son. So drink your water and get in your good fats. I gave birth to a child and nothing compares to the pain I had when I had that headache.
I would definitely get a good book and don't forget to replace your running shoes every 300-500 miles. So that would also lead to logging your mileage and times. Runner's World is also a great mag to subscribe to, and they have lots of tips for all the way from beginning runners to marathon runners.
1. How ofter do you run (esp when first starting , I am about a month in)
2. How did you increase mileage?
3. Oh and how long did it take you to be able to run 5miles?
When I first started running it was 3 years ago, and I'd run maybe 2 days a week for 15 minutes. I kept pushing myself.
When I increase my miles, I pick one or two days a week to do long runs, and I increase between .2 - .5 miles a week. Doing it slowly. The days I don't do long runs (4 or 5 miles) I do shorter runs, like 2 or 3 miles, and I do the 30DS to add some stregnth, or just do pushups and crunches after I run at the gym.
And to be able to run 5 miles.... I don't know really. I REALLY started trying to up my miles in August when I started training for a 5K in september. Ever since then I've just been upping my miles. Having a race in mind to train for is the only thing that keeps me going!
Start small, listen to your body - but still push your limits happy running.
General semi-conservative rules of thumb are:
* no more than one long run a week
* no more than one speed/hills/fartlek session a week
* long run no more than 50% of your weekly mileage
* weekly mileage increases by no more than 10% a week.
IME/IMO a lot of people end up injured within the first 3-6 months of running as a result of too much, too fast. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Maria Thanks! I only do one long run a week usually. I've been upping my miles more quickly lately because this race is next month, but I'll slow it back down - thanks!
garstar - I am not much of a runner myself.. just wanted to say congrats!! You are so motivated, I am so impressed, and can't wait to hear about the 10K! When is it in April? I normally do a 10K each April, but this year I'm slacking off, and am going on vacation during it..
I do own a book about running for women, it might be called just that. Google running for women, looks like quite a few good sites come up!
That's awesome! I'm sure your 10k is going to be amazing
My advice would be to stick with your training program but make sure you get enough rest. The most important thing is to avoid injury at all costs! Push yourself, but don't push your pace too much in training. I wouldn't focus on speed/fartlek at all yet, but distance. But I'm a LSR (long slow run) girl myself
Also make sure you rest up the week of, with only easy runs. You want those legs to be fresh.
I'm running a half in April and I can't wait. I love running!
I started running in November. I lost about 5 pounds pretty fast but in the past 3 months I've MAYBE lost 2 pounds, not even really. I run about 30 miles a week and I do a lot of strength training. I'm training for 2 half marathons this summer and maybe a full in september. In November I remember that first time I did 6 miles it took me 66 minutes, It would now take 53-54. I'm so happy with my running progress I don't care so much about the scale, plus I look much more fit, I have more definition everywhere, especially in my face which makes me look thinner. I always say the 2 best things to ever happen to me are moving to Toronto and starting running! (but then again I'm only 20 hahah). So continue on with it, it's so good for you in sooo many ways.
awesome! for the longest time i was never able to break through the 5 mile barrier. and then last month i changed my strategy, started going much slower, and 5 miles just popped out easy! and then 5.5 the following week. and then 6 miles! on monday i did 6 miles in exactly 60 mins (to the sec, but i sprinted at the end to make it. heh.) unfortunately i have been battling shin splints since i started running again in october, even though i only go 2-3 times per week. tuesday i could barely walk so i went to a physical therapist on wed who told me i am not to even look at the treadmill for like 3 weeks at least. i'm worried i'm gonna backslide because i was really starting to gain momentum there. i hate running so this had been a MAJOR accomplishment for me.
best of luck on your training! my friend is training for a half marathon and i think she adds a mile per week. apparently that is standard, but it sounds absolutely bananas to me.
5 Mile Run
happy running.
for the longest time i was never able to break through the 5 mile barrier. and then last month i changed my strategy, started going much slower, and 5 miles just popped out easy! and then 5.5 the following week. and then 6 miles! on monday i did 6 miles in exactly 60 mins (to the sec, but i sprinted at the end to make it. heh.) unfortunately i have been battling shin splints since i started running again in october, even though i only go 2-3 times per week. tuesday i could barely walk so i went to a physical therapist on wed who told me i am not to even look at the treadmill for like 3 weeks at least. i'm worried i'm gonna backslide because i was really starting to gain momentum there. 
i hate running so this had been a MAJOR accomplishment for me. 