Running Thread 2014 - Page 5

Hey all

Posting here to perhaps one day look back at how I've progressed. 3 weeks ago I got my shit together and actually started working on myself. I haven't really been an active person, besides very early childhood. Now that I'm 20 years old, I'm pretty unfit, but I'm slowly starting to see some improvements.

I saw someone suggest the C25K program, and I finally put my smartphone to use and downloaded a running app called RunDouble. Basically it has bunch of plans in it, which help to train. This particular program, emphasises on intervals and slowly increasing time spent running each week. This has been in my experience been really heplful, as every previous time I got a surge to improve myself, I just burnt myself out in a week or so. But this app actually tells me when to run and when to walk.

I've now started my 4th week with the C25k plan, and I'm slowly feeling better. The first and second week were the hardest, as my legs and places which I don't know how to name, were constantly painful after each run, but by the third week, that wasn't the case anymore. After each running session, I feel really tired for a bit, but overall I'm feeling more energetic throughout the day, and the pain doesn't occur that often anymore.

I do have some difficulties with running though. Every time I go for a run, I have to wear a knee band, because if I don't it may really start to hurt. I'm thinking of getting a second one too, then both of my knees would feel great (only the right one is somewhat problematic, but nothing too serious).

Running in a very changing weather has it problems as well. Just last week it was all sunny, and it was looking like summer was just around the corner, but as is, this week has been full of snow and ice. Slippery and icy roads can sometimes make it really difficult to stay standing, but somehow I've found that running instead of walking on ice is easier, than one would think. The worst weather in my case has to be either extreme windiness or cold (-10C). After those days my head and ears really hurt and I can feel really tired for the rest of the day.

I've noticed that other runners that I've encountered all wear special clothing and/or headphones. When it comes to clothing I wear some light clothing, which in any way, shape, or form isn't aerodynamic, and my footwear consits of some cheap trainers and extra padding (really helpful, as otherwise I'd be unable to run). I don't listen to music when I run, partly because I find it distracting, and partly, because good running hardware is too expensive.

Although my current shoes are surprisingly comfortable (must be the padding), they definitely won't last very long because they're pretty damn cheap. I'm thinking of buying special running shoes, but those seem kind of questionable, as I don't know if I could actually run in those. A lot better option seems to be trail running shoes, as they seem to have better padding and softer (?) feel to them. I don't like random pebbles under my feet.

Anyways back to running. Each week the longest interval distance grew. When the first week my longest interval was just 0,21 km, then by the second week it had grown to 0,28 km. The third week almost doubled the longest distance with 0.56 km. The fourth week has started with the longest distance yet, with 0,84 km.

I made a shitty spreadsheet, if anyone's interested located here.

I've noticed that the days where I run with a faster pace, under 7:00 min/km, I get tired more quickly, and I may fail to finish appropriately. The fastest pace has been 6.30 min/km, but if I remember correctly, the weather conditions were perfect that day, so maybe that has something to do with that. I think about 7:10 min/km would be the optimal pace for me, as I won't get too tired too fast, and will likely finish the run. The days where I ran too fast, usually resulted in my knees hurting really badly, so that's something to consider. If the pace is too fast, I just can't last. Only thing saving my knees on really fast days has been the knee band. Otherwise I would've probably quit by now.

What else... Arguably, my nose has been runnier than ever before, and I have blown it more than ever before. But interestingly enough, it hasn't bled. Usually my nose would be spraying blood all over the place, but that hasn't occurred yet. Perhaps the weather hasn't been too cold.

Total distance I've ran since I started a little less than 3 weeks ago, including walking intervals, but no warm-up or cool-down: 22,46 km.

In addition to running I also do push-ups and sit-ups regularly and stretches before each run. I'm skinnier than ever before, but that's probably due to the fact that my braces and recently 'fixed' jaw won't allow me to eat everything I'd like. I've also stopped adding sugar to my tea, and I eat a bit less chocolate now. Well not less, but not everything in one hour and instead trying to enjoy it over span of a week. Totally cutting sugar seems impossible and rather pointless to me, as all foods increase some form of sugar, and some foods just don't work without sugar. I currently weigh about 76 kg (about 170 pounds) while being 197 cm (6'6") tall. To put it in perspective, at the time when I dropped out of college 3 months ago, I was weighing 85 kilos, which means almost a 10kg drop in weight. Some would say that I'm too skinny, but honestly, I've been lean my whole life, and I don't think I'm that skinny. I've seen some anorectics and I'm far from that (I love food and eating). I could be more muscular, but that would require me to go to a gym, which I'm not interested in. I enjoy running and seeing the scenery and people more.

Well that's about it I guess. This came out pretty long, but I felt I needed to write it down somewhere. I'm feeling motivated and I look forward to my future runs.