Joined Dec 2003
Benevolent Dictator
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Are there any runners in the Lounge? OT is fine as long as it has something to do with you running.
January 30, 2016 at
01:16 PM
in
Sporting Goods
So I started Couch to 5K this year, and today I begin week 4, day 1. I'm finding this to be easier overall than I expected it to be.
Who here runs religiously, and what advise do you have to give to someone just starting out, such as myself?
Motivation is not a problem. I find myself looking forward to each run so far.
Who here runs religiously, and what advise do you have to give to someone just starting out, such as myself?
Motivation is not a problem. I find myself looking forward to each run so far.
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Just get the distance in. If you need to think of time as an indicator of anything, think about sleep and nutrition. Getting faster comes later.
Just get the distance in. If you need to think of time as an indicator of anything, think about sleep and nutrition. Getting faster comes later.
But both my splits which include the running and the walking, as well as the total mileage, were lower today, even though more running and less walking than ever.
As an engineer, I don't understand why. I am in no way discouraged from an exercising perspective, and it won't keep me from Thursday's day two run.
But both my splits which include the running and the walking, as well as the total mileage, were lower today, even though more running and less walking than ever.
As an engineer, I don't understand why. I am in no way discouraged from an exercising perspective, and it won't keep me from Thursday's day two run.
I noticed that my speeds are all over the place when on a treadmill, but when outside they're faster and more consistent. I don't know if it's the "I want to finish this run and get out of the farking cold" mindset, but I seem to run better outdoors.
My neighborhood has a lot of hills. They suck, but I've noticed when I consistently run outside, my endurance gets better.
I haven't done any reading on how to train or anything like that. I basically have been working on 1 mile at the gym. Right now I'm at about 8:20 for 1 mile. Once I get down to <= 8:00 I'm going to start increasing the distance for that pace. I'll just start increasing it 1/4 mile at a time until I build up to a 5k. Then I'll worry about pacing for a 10k.
What's a normal heart rate for running? I feel line mine has always been excessively high. I think right around 190 bpm currently. I almost broke 200 once . I got up to 199 and thought to myself "That seems pretty high". Just looking it up I think it's fine... based on the Mayo clinic it says subtract age from 220, so it's 220 - 31 = 189.
I've never been that good at distance running. In high school I was a sprinter with the longest event being the 400m. I definitely don't think I have a runners body at all. I'm normally pretty solid as I lift weights regularly and my stats are 5'11" 215-220lbs.
My wife's cousin runs a lot. He qualified for the Boston Marathon that's going on this year so we're planning on heading out there and watching him finish it. I think he qualified pretty high up so he'll be in one of the first few heats. He could've done better but I guess he pulled a muscle during the qualifying race and had to struggle just to finish.
To answer your question, there is no "normal" heart rate for a run. There's a percentage of your max for the run you're doing that day. So an easy 3 miler might be 70 or 80% of your max, while an intense workout on the track may be 90 - 95% of your max, but only for the short intervals that the workout calls for.
Your plan for 5k isn't going to work out very well. You're most likely going to injure yourself at some point and you're not going to get into great shape running just a mile a day, and then adding a bit here and there at the faster pace. Seriously, this is an awesome way to get hurt and not be able to run again for some time.
Instead, get an endurance base first. Get your mileage up to say, 25 miles a week; comfortably. After that, you can add in interval workouts 2 or 3 times a week to work on your speed and getting that pace down. But I would be at 25 miles a week for 2 weeks before I even considered starting to workout like that. And it should take you a bit of time to get to that mileage.
Treadmills, btw, are not the greatest training tools. They do some of the work for you and they don't make any of your stabilizer muscles do any work that running over terrain does. It will always be easier to run on a treadmill then it will be even on a flat concrete path. I know some people have to use them due to weather (I've been running outside all winter and the past week here has been pretty freaking dangerous, so I don't judge) but just realize that if you get used to a treadmill, it will be more difficult when you transition to outside.
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To answer your question, there is no "normal" heart rate for a run. There's a percentage of your max for the run you're doing that day. So an easy 3 miler might be 70 or 80% of your max, while an intense workout on the track may be 90 - 95% of your max, but only for the short intervals that the workout calls for.
Your plan for 5k isn't going to work out very well. You're most likely going to injure yourself at some point and you're not going to get into great shape running just a mile a day, and then adding a bit here and there at the faster pace. Seriously, this is an awesome way to get hurt and not be able to run again for some time.
Instead, get an endurance base first. Get your mileage up to say, 25 miles a week; comfortably. After that, you can add in interval workouts 2 or 3 times a week to work on your speed and getting that pace down. But I would be at 25 miles a week for 2 weeks before I even considered starting to workout like that. And it should take you a bit of time to get to that mileage.
Treadmills, btw, are not the greatest training tools. They do some of the work for you and they don't make any of your stabilizer muscles do any work that running over terrain does. It will always be easier to run on a treadmill then it will be even on a flat concrete path. I know some people have to use them due to weather (I've been running outside all winter and the past week here has been pretty freaking dangerous, so I don't judge) but just realize that if you get used to a treadmill, it will be more difficult when you transition to outside.
I'll run in the cold no problem. I just ran yesterday when it was 26 out. Didn't bother me a bit.
I will not run in the rain. I might melt. That would be bad.
I run 20 minutes on Saturday. I'm actually looking forward to it. It will be my longest consecutive run by time in my life.
I run 20 minutes on Saturday. I'm actually looking forward to it. It will be my longest consecutive run by time in my life.
I run 20 minutes on Saturday. I'm actually looking forward to it. It will be my longest consecutive run by time in my life.
That changes in about 10 minutes from now.
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