Topic: 10 Steps to Start Running

[vegaskiller73]

Nice run there Keith.

[z_randy]

Awesome Keith!  Great job!

[Big daddy Eis]

21:02 gentlemen, on my first official 5K... 6 minute pace for the first 1.5, miles, than died off to a 7 or so pace... placed in top 30 of about 450 runners!

[BobChase]

You're on your way to becoming a runner Chad.

Awesome.

[z_randy]

Hey Keith earlier in the thread here I posted to Chad a link to the site to get the training plan
It's at runnersworld.com

[vegaskiller73]

(sorry, i did not intend to steal your thread Chad... good luck with the running and training)

No biggie, I jack Randy's Training thread.

We went to Academy today and the wife bought some new Nikes. The ones she was running on the treadmill were hurting her heels. They were mostly trail running shoes. The ones she bought are a bit lighter and are more springyer.

Today I am a bit sore int the knees and hips. So hopefully I can get on the mill tomorrow or me and the wife will run around the neighborhood.

[Big daddy Eis]

Good luck with the run Chad.  Be sure to let us know how your training and the race go.  Try not to overtrain leading up to it, last thing you wanna do is hurt yourself for a while. 

Randy- do you have the plan that you used for the ATM last year.  I may try to do that.  I have a 1/2 marathon in about a month (have not trained much for it, I need to... if the leg holds up, lol).  I may take your plan and adopt it and change it a bit for me.  Who says a 6 minute mile is too fast, phew... thats about right for me... (sarcasm)... will find out in my 5K run in about 6 hours.  It will be my 1st "official" 5K so we will see how it goes.  Considering my 3.92 mile last week was 29 minutes, i am sure i can have a pretty decent time.   

(sorry, i did not intend to steal your thread Chad... good luck with the running and training)

[z_randy]

A late race.  I've never run in an afternoon one.  All mine have been AM ones.  Trying to decide about a race on April 24th.  I do the 5K every year, trying to decide if I want to try and beat my personal record in the 5K or do the 15K.  I have a half marathon next Saturday

[vegaskiller73]

Good luck Chad!  Let us know when the race gets closer and how you do

May 8th is the day. It's a late afternoon setup. Race starts at 6pm then after there is a band, food, and cold beverages (wife said the others told her FREE beer). The one chick that is pretty good (she ran the last 5k in 22mins and won the women's class), was told she has to be waiting at the finish line with beer for all of us.

[z_randy]

Good luck Chad!  Let us know when the race gets closer and how you do

[vegaskiller73]

Great job!  Just be careful not to go at it too fast.  you don't want to hurt yourself.  Good deal on the shoes.  Post races are usually a good time.  You get a t-shirt also?  They are usually included.

Yes, we get an option of 2 different shirts.
Hurt myself? Randy, if you'd ask my wife what type of person I am, you'd be amazed. Dude I play ed softball for 6 years, rode dirtbiks in motocross not too long ago, played paintball. I think I have been a pretty athletic person in the last 15 years.
I was mainly worried about losing my breath too much because of smoking. But I didn't get too winded while running. Mainly my ankle that I hurt playing softball was giving me problems but it went away and I continued on.
I can't wait. I'm pretty pumped and ready to do this. A few of her friends 'that she works with, their husbands are running also. Some are pretty fast and a few are not. I know them pretty well and we all get along fine and have a good time.
The wife needs some new shoes, so in the next week we'll be getting those.

It's not a major race or anything, but I think it will be something that I can feel good about accomplishing.

Thanks for all the advice and if I need anything in the future, I'll be sure to ask you guys here.

[z_randy]

Great job!  Just be careful not to go at it too fast.  you don't want to hurt yourself.  Good deal on the shoes.  Post races are usually a good time.  You get a t-shirt also?  They are usually included.

[vegaskiller73]

Why do I get a mental picture of you wearing cut-off shorts, a sleevless flannel, and wearing one of those beer-holder hats while running? LOL

Sorry but that definitely ain't me. Don't wown cut-offs, no flanel. The beer holder hat, well I guess I could go for that.

Forgot to mention. It's not for the Cancer society. It's for the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence which awards grants to schools and teachers (wife changed this). It's the 5k Run for Excellence. And after is the Cajun Food fest with great food, cold beverages and live entertainment by a local band. And all this is free with paid registration for the race. So 3 big incentives to run/walk.

[Scott H.]

Why do I get a mental picture of you wearing cut-off shorts, a sleevless flannel, and wearing one of those beer-holder hats while running? LOL

[vegaskiller73]

Thanks for all the advice guys. You all pushed my to test myself.

Well, when I got home I decided to run on the treadmill(wife bought it around Nov lastyear). It's a Nortictrac T5zi. I ran on it when we first got it and after .5 miles I was whopped.
I've been talking myself into doing this this after noon and I am both shocked and upset.

Shocked cause I did 3.15 miles in 39mins at an average of 3.5mph. I basically started off slow till I got to .2 miles then cranked it up to 5mph till I got to 1mile. Then I stopped for 2 mins and started back up till I got to 3 min mark and caught my breath for a couple of minutes. At about 2.5miles mark I started to tier quicker. I would walk a 3mph pace and run at 5-6mph pace. I did find at 6mph my running stride was more compfortable than 5mph. I kept a 5mph pace between 1.2miles and 2.2 miles.

I'll tell you what though, It's a workout. But I'm really not that winded. considering I smoke.
I am still pretty pleased that I was able to do 3.1 in under 40mins.

It's a start.

BTW, I did where the Nikes that I posted and they did feel comfy the whole time. Soft and springy.

I think I will go ahead and try the 5k with my wife.

[BobChase]

Cool for your wife!  Actually a 10 minute mile really isn't that bad.  She will be middle of the pack I bet.  Not too many people could do a 5K in 18 minutes.  A 6 minute mile is FAST for the weekend warriors that do these races.  I run almost every day and do between an 8:30 and 9 minute mile.  And finish in the top 3rd of my age group.  Actually finished top 3 once.
Go out and get yourself fitted for some running shoes. 
Go here: http://www.runnersworld.com/channel/0,,s6-238-0-0-0,00.html
Down in the bottom left is "smartcoach"  That will set up a running program to get you ready for the race.  It's free you just need to sign up for the site.  Enter the race distance, how much you want to run per week mileage wise and it will give you a program to get you ready.
Good luck!  I'd be happy to help any way I can and I know Plano Tony and BobChase and big daddy eis would also

Chad, first off doing a 5K in 30 min. your wife will come in nowhere near last place. That's definitely middle of the pack.

Second, I used the program that Randy mentions here for the Army 10-miler last year and will swear by it. In fact I'm using it again for a 10-mile race in Philadelphia on May 2. As long as you are robotic (just do what the program tells you) in your training you'll have no problem finishing respectably.

Lastly, yeah the smoking makes it harder but it can still be done. I was a pack-a-day smoker up until 6 months ago, but I was still able to run. It's funny, before my last triathlon in Sept '09 I was so nervous I smoked half a pack before the race, and I still tore it up.

Good luck. You guys will do great and the feeling of elation afterwards is just awesome.

[z_randy]

Downhill is harder on your legs too.  Because you are putting on the brakes every time that you put a foot down.  The knees take a real beating especially if you lean way back.

[Crucial Chase]

down is harder than up imo, you cant go fast enough to take big enough steps, but up is cake unless you are tired lol.

[z_randy]

Pushing a stroller up and down hills is great.  Looking forward to the pics

[Crucial Chase]

We have a public lake around here that has a walkway around it and has a couple of hills and whatnot, that where I take aiden in his stroller and walk, i don't run or jog but with the extra weight of pushing the stroller does some good, if you have a child young enough i would try it! next time i'm out i'll take pictures, its quite pretty

[z_randy]

go for it!  Or should I say "Just do it!".  I don't wear Nikes but it seems to get good reviews.

[vegaskiller73]

I'm pretty sure these are what I have.
MEN'S NIKE TURBULENCE + RUNNING SHOES

[z_randy]

Even though I'm gonna only do this once, I should get some shoes? I have a pair of Nike running shoes that are light and comfy to run/walk in.

If you are comfortable with them give them a try.  They may be good for you for walking/running the bases but may not work for distance for you.  If you have them try them.  I thought the same thing when I started but after awhile my legs were really hurting and my toes were being destroyed.  I got fitted and it makes a world of difference.  The ones you have may be fine

[vegaskiller73]

Even though I'm gonna only do this once, I should get some shoes? I have a pair of Nike running shoes that are light and comfy to run/walk in.

[z_randy]

Cool for your wife!  Actually a 10 minute mile really isn't that bad.  She will be middle of the pack I bet.  Not too many people could do a 5K in 18 minutes.  A 6 minute mile is FAST for the weekend warriors that do these races.  I run almost every day and do between an 8:30 and 9 minute mile.  And finish in the top 3rd of my age group.  Actually finished top 3 once.
Go out and get yourself fitted for some running shoes. 
Go here: http://www.runnersworld.com/channel/0,,s6-238-0-0-0,00.html
Down in the bottom left is "smartcoach"  That will set up a running program to get you ready for the race.  It's free you just need to sign up for the site.  Enter the race distance, how much you want to run per week mileage wise and it will give you a program to get you ready.
Good luck!  I'd be happy to help any way I can and I know Plano Tony and BobChase and big daddy eis would also