posted
I've been thinking a lot lately about maybe running in a marathon someday.
Now, I'm not as specific in my goal as Lalo (Eddie) and the bike trip, but I just find myself thinking about the idea more and more and liking it.
Part of this is motivated, I'm sure, by looking in the mirror and seeing my out-of-shape self.
I used to run cross-country back in high school (25 years ago). LOVED it. So exhilirating. Even now, when I try to exercise, I would much rather run/jog than walk.
So maybe I can start out very slow and work up. Eventually get to where I can do a 5K race or two. Then try more. I don't know how far you should train in order to prepare for a marathon, or how much. But I think I'd like to try. Along the way, hopefully this body will get back into fitness shape.
However, my running at home and back when I was in cross country was on dirt/grass. I have trouble running on pavement -- really hard on the ankles...
Anyone here ever do a lot of long-distance running? Any advice for this middle-aged mom with this crazy idea?
yep, definately putting it on my list of "things to do before I die."
posted
I say go for it. If you don't you'll wonder why. Imagine yourself at 80 sitting on the front porch, wondering why you didn't do it. While i don't have any experience with distance running, i do believe in persuing your dreams.
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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1) Start slow. Don't try to do too much too soon. 2) Run on grass when you can 3) When you must run on pavement, make sure you have good shoes. 4)A marathoner runs 80 or more miles a week, depending on level of seriousness. Work up to that. Start with 1 mile runs, 5 times a week, bump it up to 2 mile runs after 2 weeks. Try to move up your mileage every time you start to feel comfortable with the mileage you are running. 5) Check with a doctor before starting a serious exercise program while out of shape. 6) Start drinking more water. Very few americans drink enough, and for distance running, its vital to have adequate supplies of water. Not juice. Water. 7) Plan an eating regimin, remembering that you want protein right after you work out, every time you work out.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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"good shoes" are "running" shoes that aren't old with the tread all worn out. There's lots of different style shoes based on what you're looking for. But ideally you just want something with cushion, and possibly some support. Saucony and New Balance are two big running shoe companies out there. I mostly only wear Saucony(even as my regular street shoes), because i find Saucony makes the most comfortable shoes out there, and they're also a bit wider then regular shoes, and my feet are just a bit wide.
You don't want to run in old shoes. I once really aggrivated my knees running in old shoes wear the tread had worn thin, and do to a not completely straight running form by me the tread had worn down on one side of both the shoes causing my feet to turn really far inward with each stride. After i got new running shoes my knees slowly got better till they were back to normal.
edited to add that i really want to run a marathon some time soon also. it's sad, graduating from highschool i could easily go out and do a fast 14 or 15 mile run(i think i got timed at 1:20:00 for a half marathon running at a practice pace). I think back then i could've done a fairly fast marathon. Now i'm lazy and out of shape. But with my newly started work out regiment(started today ), i think i can be back on track in no time(by no time i mean a really long time). But like Farmgirl, i'd like to start with some smaller 5k and 10k races. move up to a half marathon, and then eventually the big one.
I'd also love to do some triathlons, i got in what i would say was acceptable shape at the end of last summer and competed in my first triathlon, and had a blast doing it.
posted
Try a sporting-goods store (do you have Big 5s in your neck of the woods?) and ask a (knowledgeable) salesperson for advice -- or there are LOTS of running magazines and websites that can recommend appropriate footwear.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I wear Aasics when I run, they seem to suit me fine. Follow what Paul said and you'll be in good shape. The only thing I can add is that you're probably going to need to do more exercise than just running. Back when I was running seriously I always found that the strength (or lack their of) of my back and abs was holding me back. It's probably not a bad idea to look into hitting a gym a few days a week or getting something like an exercise ball and working out at home. Not that you need to start doing that straight away, just something to keep in mind.
Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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ooooo.. I'm trying to avoid the price of a gym... but I will keep that in mind.
Strider -- a triathlon is running, bicycling and ???? (remind me) What is your new regimen?
Good idea, rivka -- I'll check out the running magazines at the local library. We don't have Big 5s here, but we have Dick's Sporting Goods -- they probably have shoes.
posted
and swimming. Which I also used to do in high school so i've got the different events covered pretty well.
My regimen isn't much of a regimen just yet. I just recently decided that the winter has made me lazy and it's time to get back in shape. I don't know how much running i'll be doing just now with the cold and crappy weather(i know...it shouldn't stop me. but i'm weak! ). But i'd like to get back to running atleast 4-5 days a week. while also keeping up on doing pushups, crunches, and some free weights. And in regards to that, i don't know if a gym would be completely necessary. For just the minor areas a runner would need help with while training i think the above things i mentioned would more than cover it.
Runners World is a great magazine and i'm pretty sure they have a website, which would most likely be www.runnersworld.com. you could browse that site and see if there's anything interesting or helpful.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Pushups, crunches and freeweights totally cover it. But some people find it easier to set aside a specific time at a gym to force themselves to do it than count on being able to find the time and motivation to do it in their living room. People like me, for instance Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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ahhh... swimming. Well that cancels out the triathlon for me -- I never learned to swim. Don't have a prayer in the water....
Kansas really sucks for training to run. Most of the winter it is too frigid cold to breathe outside. Then most of the summer it is over 100 degrees and 80 percent humidity. Which leaves two weeks in April and two in September to actually enjoy a run..
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Farmgirl- For a distance runner, an abs routine, pushups, stretching, and shoulder work should be adequate on top of your running. For a good abs workout, you want to make sure you hit all three muscle groups.
I recommend three sets to exhaustion of crunches, 3 sets to exhaustion of cross over crunches, and 3 sets to exhaustion of : lie on your back, put your hands under your butt, raise your legs up into the air and cross one leg over the other, like a scissors kick, but only moving one leg at a time.
Keep your legs stretched out. Talk to a physical trainer about various stretches to keep yourself from pulling any muscles.
If you do that, you should be able to keep the strength up for distance running.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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It's possible to run a marathon with little or no training, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Ideally, you want to work up to a 20-miler in training about 4 weeks before the marathon. After that you taper down to nothing right before the race. Also remember that with runs of around 20 miles and longer, you actually have to eat during the race in order to keep your body from eating itself. Because that hurts. Bad.
I would counter Strider in that with running shoes you're not worried about tread, but cushioning. Traction is important, but with most shoes the cushioning wears out long before the tread does. If your shoe has poor cushioning, then you're prone to shin splints and foot injuries. The other factor with shoes is pronation (i.e. how your foot rolls when you step). If you have flat feet, you tend to overpronate and will probably need motion-control shoes that keep your foot stiff. New Balance is particularly good for motion control shoes. If you have high arches, you probably underpronate and need flexible cushioned shoes that really encourage your foot to roll. If you have normal arches, then you're probably biomechanically efficient already and should just look for something that doesn't rub your feet the wrong way.
I found that a marathon is a good experience to have, although not always fun at the time you're running it. For me, the last six miles in particular are rough, and force me to dig deeper than almost anything else I've done. Go for it--I would recommend that you try it at least once. You'll discover a lot about yourself.
Posts: 224 | Registered: Aug 2002
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quote: What Paul means to say, Farmgirl, is that he'll pray for you to do well in the marathon
awwww..Paul! That is SO sweet! That makes me feel much more encouraged to know you are praying for me...
I relate to what you say in your last graph Taberah. That is kinda why I look to do things like this -- I like to see just how far I can push myself -- force me to "dig deeper" as you say. There is such a rush to accomplishment.
Anyway...you've gotten great advice. The best thing to do to get the right sneakers is to go to a specialty running store and have them look at your stride and how your feet strike the ground. Different brands fit very differently for everyone.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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As a fellow Kansan, and a shorter-distance runner, I would recommend training in the morning or evening. Usually, the temperature is more comfortable at those times.
Of course, I'm referring to warm weather training, which usually begins in March and continues through October. During the winter, most people make accomodations for the weather. For example, I run fairly intensely during the warm months, then practically quit during the winter. In place of running, I use the gym and jump rope.
Good luck on this endeavor Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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My longest was a three-part epic about a journey that started out in the Tarzan jungle and ended up somewhere very dark and fiery. The guide turned out to be, alternately, my brother and an older me. It felt long enough that I panicked a bit I wasn't going to wake up.
quote: yep, definately putting it on my list of "things to do before I die."
Running a marathon would definitely be something I would do before I would die.
Other things I prefer only slightly more than death: Eating fried calf brain sandwich (Thanks, Annie) Sex with Tom Davidson (Just a reminder, FG) Liposuction Chemo Umm. That's probably about as much work as I want to do on this list today.
posted
I want to compete in and finish and Ironman Triathlon. For those that don't know it's something along the lines of a 2 mile swim, 120K bike, and then a full marathon.
i think if i finish that i can then die happy.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Okay -- one other thing I need to ask about this... but it is rather delicate.
I've had several nice gentlemen here give me advice on running -- now I need specific advice from the handful of ladies that have responded and know something about exercise....
(ladies only) One of the main drawbacks to current efforts to exercise/run is the lack of proper..uh..."upper body" support. Those sport bras just DO NOT do it for a very large busted woman. Neither does "cross your heart". I need something with LOTS of support - or else it really hurts. Keeps me from running very far, or makes it so I'm very sore the next day.
Any ideas?
Farmgirl
EDIT: uh, you can answer by e-mail if you would rather.
posted
I want to do a marathon, too! I walked one a few years ago, and it was an awesome experience. It really boosted my self-esteem. And I lost 15 pounds without even dieting. I've since gained it all back (and then some!). I figure since it worked so well for weight loss in the past, I might as well do it again.
Links, links, and more links:
The support issue: Title 9 Sports is your friend. They have great stuff, and can definitely help you out.
Motivation: Join the mailing lists for The Dead Runners Society, the Penguin Brigade, or (for us heavy folks) The Clydesdale Team. Wonderful folks. I was on the Disney Dead list when I did the Disney half, and met a bunch of them at the race. They are encouraging to everyone, and treat everyone as equals, whether you are starting to train to walk a charity marathon or you run a marathon every month. I really can't say enough good things about them.
Training schedules: a popular one runners new to marathoning is Hal Hidgon's schedule. He has different schedules depending on whether you exercise regularly, or are starting completely from scratch. There's also the Galloway Method of marathoning, in which you alternate running with walking.
And yes, do go to a speciality shoe store to get properly fitted. Bring in your current pair of shoes. A good shoe fitter should look at the tread of your old shoes to see where you wear them out, watch you walk/run, or ask you to stand up and bend your legs slightly. This will tell them if you overpronate or underpronate. There's shoes to correct both, which will mean less soreness and potential for injury.
Feel free to email me if you have any other questions. I'd love to hear about your progress. We can be virtual training buddies. Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
check out www.coolrunning.com - they're very useful for a lot of things.
On the shoes, once you start training hardcore, you'll probably be wanting to replace them every 3 months or so, depending on the mileage they take. Get checked out for flat feet before you start. Do you have an exercise ball? They are great for ab workouts. Do you know pilates at all? Also great for developing abs. If you do your lifting, remember that you're going for muscular endurance, as opposed to strength. Definitely talk to your doctor before starting, and make sure you know how to stretch properly. Before every run, you have to do a warm up run with stretch, and then afterwards a cool down run and stretch, so make sure you plan your time accordingly. Working out in groups can be easier on your mind and body, but may take longer.
Posts: 348 | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Isn't that just fate? I'm a B and have no interest in running. Of course, the reason may be that I like being a size B.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Pooka, that's pretty tasteles. I think I'm safe in saying you -- and most women, even Hatrackers -- probably aren't capable of snagging men of Tom's quality, even if both of you were single.
This isn't meant as an insult to you, but rather a compliment to Tom -- he's really better than that petty shot you took at him. You should know better.
Farmgirl, I get the sense that you're a tough broad, in every good way that phrase can be translated. In which case, I'd advise the same running program I throw myself into when I'm in the mood to train for long-distance -- set a goal that should be your regular running distance at your peak, and start running it immediately. Don't work your way up, or any of that nonsense -- not unless you have absurd levels of self-control. You're likely to cheat yourself of sweat. I'd advise setting something relatively low, like six to eight miles a day, and completing it each day no matter what.
Also, of course, don't ever walk walk -- at worst, jog, if you can't maintain a loping run. Never sit and rest during your runs. Don't fill up on foods once you complete your exercise because you think you've "earned" it. And most importantly, be consistent with your training -- taking a day off can set you back a week, especially if you're aiming to run a marathon.
It's the program I'm doing for this bike trip. I've started walking about six, seven miles a day (since my ankle's still too frustratingly weak to support sustained running), and tomorrow I start a program of swimming, hoping to get about a mile's worth of swimming in each day at a fairly intense pace. I've already signed up for the LA marathon (via bicycle), to commit myself to training -- if I'm not up to a marathon by March 7, I probably won't be capable of doing three months' worth of daily centuries by summer.
You need to do something roughly equivalent. Find a marathon you intend to practice for -- maybe next year's if you don't think you can get ready within a couple months -- and begin practicing now for it. The body's an amazingly adaptable creature, it just needs to know you're serious about running eight miles a day. If you try baby steps, you're rather doomed to eternal dithering about whether you're really ready to go from two miles to three.
Not that I'm suggesting you put yourself in any kind of danger -- don't break your body, just push it beyond its limits.
Also, remember to alternate exercises if you're interested in losing weight. Running can take you far, but for quick weight loss, adapt your body to hard running, then suddenly switch to long-distance swimming -- once your body adapts to a certain exercise, it takes some serious sweat to get it to alter itself to suit a different type of workout. And it makes you look great in the meantime.
But marathons are tough work. You'll need to work your ass off (pun) to get yourself in any kind of shape -- and remember to not let yourself feel set back when your progress grinds to a slow climb after the first couple weeks. It's just your plateau, and it's normal for the body to refuse radical change once it's had time to adjust itself to fit the new exercise you're forcing on it.
Posts: 3293 | Registered: Jul 2002
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ok, not to be offensive or anything, but ignore all of lalo's advice for running - he has NO idea what he is talking about.
Posts: 348 | Registered: Dec 2000
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Okay, dude, I'll freely admit -- as I did above -- that throwing one's self into an intense program immediately suits my body, and may not suit everyone else's. However, I've tried mincing along smaller, ladder-esque programs of workouts, and found that such programs do little more than allow me to convince myself I'm working out and that I deserve that piece of apple pie. For my body, at least, I need actual stress and sweat to help my body develop into what I need it to be.
Of course, my body's also remarkably prone to gaining weight, so I may require a more difficult regimen as a side effect of easy weight gain. But from I've seen with other people, the most effective way to achieve a workout goal is to practice -- and finish -- it every day, regardless of its level of difficulty. Have you found more convincing arguments that mincing one's way up a smaller ladder gets better results faster -- or equivalent results over a less fulfilling and much longer run?
Posts: 3293 | Registered: Jul 2002
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I agree that starting too slow or short is pretty useless. But I also really don't think that starting at 2 or 3 miles a day when being completely out of shape is baby steps. Two or three miles(especially outside over non flat terrain) is not nothing. It'll build your muscles and get your body used to what you have to do. And soon you can move up to 4, 5 mile runs which are very respectable.
posted
"Have you found more convincing arguments that mincing one's way up a smaller ladder gets better results faster -- or equivalent results over a less fulfilling and much longer run?"
better results faster are not what we are after in this situation, though. A marathon is no joke, and should not be taken lightly. As is, it requires months, if not years of planning to succeed in one's goal of completing a marathon. The result is the completion of a marathon - probably about a year from now. I guess in a sense you are right though, it's how your mind takes it. I have no problems setting goals for months from now - in fact, I have to. At the end of my official season in May, I have to plan for december, and a peak in the april area, meaning I tailor my workouts for long term results. Immediate benefits would actually HURT my chances of getting the results I want later. Physiologically speaking, it is better to mince along.
Posts: 348 | Registered: Dec 2000
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And what Paercival said. your way may be good to get quick results for a specific goal. but it may burn you out. in the long run it's probably better to slowly work up to where you want to be and not strain your muscles unnecessarily.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
How you train is goals oriented. If the goal is to lose weight, you train differently then if you want to compete in a season, and you train differently if you wnat to complete a marathon a year from now.
Mincing keeps your body from burning out, and allows you to peak when you need to be at your most efficient.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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posted
I'm with Lalo on the cheap shot. Totally not cool. At all.
And what's being a size B have to do with a non-interesting in running?
I happen to be a B and run when forced (meaning I haven't done the other cardio things I do and use it as punishment). But once I get past the first mile, I don't mind it at all. Your body settles into the run and you just cruise along. Runner's highs are great things.
xnera, especially! I will take you up on being virtual-running buddies to keep motivated. And I have bookmarked those links to help guide me.
I'm not starting ANYTHING until I get that decent pair of shoes. So that is first on my list. With the help given here, and also some links given by fellow co-worker runners, I hope to find something right for me. I am very flat-footed, so will need good foot support.
I am very goal oriented as a person, so my goal is that finish line of a marathon race. Weight loss is not my primary goal -- however just feeling more fit and feeling better is. I think weight loss will come about automatically if I'm running every day and not over-indulging at meals.
Lalo dear -- I understand most of your advice, but I am not going to start out at 15 miles first day. The reason being that I am quite a bit older than you, and it is a simple fact of life that I can't push my body as hard and as fast as I used to. I don't want to risk serious injury by doing so. I can't pretend to be 18 anymore, now that I'm over 40. My 18 year old son is a great "coach" for me, extremely demanding, but he is also a kid that one day last summer decided to just get up and go out and "run" and ran 9 miles. No prior practice, no running for days ahead of that. I thought it was stupid, but it was something he wanted to do. I can't do that to my body at this point.
And I'm sorry, but I totally don't get your point, pooka, about the size B thing. If I were only a size B, the whole support issue would not be a problem. I wish I were that small.. I really don't mean to offend you by saying that -- your post just left me very confused..
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), i think i can be back on track in no time(by no time i mean a really long time). But like Farmgirl, i'd like to start with some smaller 5k and 10k races. move up to a half marathon, and then eventually the big one.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
). But i'd like to get back to running atleast 4-5 days a week. while also keeping up on doing pushups, crunches, and some free weights. And in regards to that, i don't know if a gym would be completely necessary. For just the minor areas a runner would need help with while training i think the above things i mentioned would more than cover it. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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