I went for my first "run" in over 20 years this weekend...

[Toodaloo]

It all started off so well... For at least 20 yards!

 

So mostly it was fast walking with bouts of running... How on earth do people actually enjoy this???

 

I took my dogs, they were loving it but the deaf one didn't quite understand and after stopping in front of me one too many times - yep you have guessed it - bottom over tip straight into an enormous muddy puddle... The dogs thought this was WONDERFUL and jumped in with me...

 

Got home looking like something out of a Wurzel Gumage programme...

 

Dogs remain unharmed but considerably fresher after their scrubbing...

 

Hoping to do a few more "running" sessions this week... I may even go as far as to get some running shorts...

 

So all in all I was only 2/3rd's dead by the time I got back to my car... I call that a success!

 

How was your weekend???

[Day.One]

I've just started running too. Take a look at "Couch to 5k". It gradually builds you up over a series of (9?) weeks. To start out it uses a 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then one 1 minute of running followed by 90 seconds of walking, repeated for about 15 minutes, with a 5 minute cool down walk at the end. Not too strenuous, but increase the walking/running ratio over the weeks.

[Mr Scorpio]

What Day One said. Start with intervals: jog 30 seconds/walk 90 and repeat twenty times. There is 10 minutes of jogging. Do that for three days on an every other day schedule. See how your body feels.

 

Then switch it to 45 seconds of jogging and 75 seconds of walking and repeat twenty times. Do that for a few sessions. If you're still feeling okay, up the time you spend jogging.

 

Note the jogging not running. Your body is likely not used to the impact that even jogging will bring. Ease into it. Consider doing some exercises to strengthen your core (planks are wonderful). That will help you avoid injury.

[Toodaloo]

I saw the couch to 5k but am such a useless "techy" that I couldn't figure out how to get it from computer to the white thing I am assured is an ipod/pad music listening thing!!!

 

Problem is that I don't want to give up my rowing, yoga and other bits I do (including a few days of "strengthening exercises" that are supposed to tone me up which includes planking but still not got over 20 seconds!!!) so don't want to run every day, just on the days when I don't already have something else on...

 

I didn't realise that you had to start off jogging not running... I thought you had to get the heart pumping...

 

I will kidnap a small child and get them to set up the 5k thing on my "thing" that plays music, if its only half an hour I could probably get that in somewhere.

 

I only started as the weight loss has stalled as I have cut down (and almost given up) smoking... One of my bosses is a fanatic and went from a tubby, beer swilling, fagaholic to a marathonaholic... he is convinced I could do 24 miles... If I get to 5 miles I will be impressed with myself!

[Mr Scorpio]

While I suppose there are definitive definitions of "jogging" as opposed to "running", I consider anything under 7MPH to be jogging. I assure you that your heart will pump just fine at 6MPH, unless you are already in decent shape from the other exercises.

 

Also, what do you mean by putting the "5k thing" on your MP3 player? The 5k plan is just that, a plan. All you need is a way to time how long you go at a particular speed. A stopwatch, the clock on a treadmill, or your own counting.

[Toodaloo]

Oh Mr Scorpio a treadmill! I wouldn't last 2 minutes on a treadmill!

 

I go out into the forest with the dogs and hit the tracks instead! That way I get to see deer, foxes, squirrels, kestrels etc as I do it... I am one of those people that can't go to the gym with out getting bored out of their minds.

 

My walking speed is around 5-6mph depending on how steep a hill I am climbing and I can walk for hour upon hour. I often spend weekends trudging across the downs which I love. I have 1 friend that can keep up and keep going so where possible we go together. Unfortunately no one else seems to be able to keep going for the length of time or at the speed we like to go so its either on our own or when we can meet up we go together.

 

When it comes to jogging or running though I am pathetic! But I have been told it will kick start my weight loss again, when I stick at it and get into it that it will improve my mental well being and in general keep me alive and happy for longer...

 

I am afraid I am not a gym bunny and can't stand 4 walls, the rowing machine is in the garden so I can watch the dogs/ horses/ chooks etc as I do it.

 

There was a "thing" I found that you can down load to an i-whatsit and it talks you through each step each day and tells you when to run and when to stop. I thought that would be good for me so I can shout at the dogs to keep up and concentrate on them and what wildlife is about rather than try to keep tabs on how long I have been running for.

[Mr Scorpio]

I go out into the forest with the dogs and hit the tracks instead! That way I get to see deer, foxes, squirrels, kestrels etc as I do it... I am one of those people that can't go to the gym with out getting bored out of their minds.

 

Can you do it without the dogs? It would be much easier to do without dogs knocking you down.

 

My walking speed is around 5-6mph depending on how steep a hill I am climbing and I can walk for hour upon hour. When it comes to jogging or running though I am pathetic!

 

Not really. A fast gait for a "normal" person is about 5.0 - 5.5MPH. If you're going six, and you don't always have one foot on the ground, you're jogging without realizing it.

 

But I have been told it will kick start my weight loss again, when I stick at it and get into it that it will improve my mental well being and in general keep me alive and happy for longer...

 

 

Maybe? You mentioned previously you row? So you're already getting cardio. Cardio is certainly good for your mental well-being and so on. But if weight loss is your primarily goal? Check your diet and lift more.

 

I am afraid I am not a gym bunny and can't stand 4 walls, the rowing machine is in the garden so I can watch the dogs/ horses/ chooks etc as I do it.

 

 

That sounds lovely. However, perhaps you aren't working out hard enough?

 

I thought that would be good for me so I can shout at the dogs to keep up and concentrate on them and what wildlife is about rather than try to keep tabs on how long I have been running for.

 

 

It is certainly good to distract yourself from the time you've been going as opposed to staring at the clock. At the same time, it seems to me that it would be tricky to get "lost in the moment" if you're having to constantly bark instructions at your dogs.

 

 

But the important thing is that you're getting exercise! You just have to tweak things to find what works for you.

[me85]

LOL You're funny! I wish I was a runner but having a rapid heart rate limits me, so I can't It would quite literally kill me to run for a lengthy amount of time.

 

Good for you getting back out there! Fitness is important and I'm having such a hard time motivating myself to go to the gym.

 

My weekend was decent. Yesterday was really good. Very productive.

[ComingInHot]

There must be something in the water because I woke up this morning (like 4:30 a.m. early) and just decided to head out for a run. And I hate running! For some reason, it just clicked today and I put in (per my handy step tracker thing on my cell phone) 2 miles.

 

And that was after being on my hands and knees all weekend!

 

Way to go Toodaloo!! I'm excited for you*

[writergal]

Hey Toodaloo that's awesome. There are plenty of beginning running program guidelines you can find online, that have you start off with the walk-run-walk cycle. It's the easiest way to start if you want to condition yourself to become a runner.

 

This offers a weekly schedule that I found helpful for myself, as I've started the walk-run-walk cycle already. Maybe it will inspire you to set your own walk-run goals. Sounds like you have beautiful outdoor scenery that no gym could ever provide too.

 

The 8-Week Beginner's Program | Runner's World

[Gloria25]

Good deal writergal!!!

 

I hate to break it to you, but yes, running is painful...but, I don't know how to describe it, it's like a love/hate RL...LOL.

 

On 60 minutes a while back, this older lady that does marathons and stuff called it "pain management"...In other words, it's gonna hurt somehow.

 

Right now my left knee hurts and sometimes my back pain kicks in, but I won't stop running and I'm late 30's. But I do enjoy it too. There's good days where I'm literally "gliding" and there's days I just have to tell myself to put one foot in front of the other.

 

But, I while I don't wanna get too skinny (cuz in the military I had a time I literally called myself Skeletor), I like how it keeps my body and yes, there is something like a "runner's high". I also like looking around at stuff when I run or walk. I remember at my first duty station there were paths around trees, lakes, etc and I LOVED when they sent us on those runs. Then, for me it's the accomplishment to know that I can push my body to do certain things . I also like going to runs and just being part of a group of people. I love seeing the costumes and other people just having fun or even struggling to get through the run with you.

 

Like others said, start gradually then increase, cuz you don't want to injure yourself. Since I got out of the military there were two specific times I just stopped running. The 1st cuz I was getting my feet adjusted to wearing inserts and the 2nd was after treatment for uterine fibroids. It was hard, but I had to force myself to take it easy and, here I am, running - slower than some, but better than others .

 

Also, maybe you can look into walking? If done right, it can really, really give you a work out w/o all the pounding that comes from running. I knew of a lady in the military and till this day, my body has not been "sculpted" like hers and I asked her what she does/did and she said she walks...

[Day.One]

I also have dogs and walk literally hundreds of miles a year, here in my home county and Wales, Peaks, Lakes, etc. The recent running is simply an extension of that. If you're a techaphobe then simply guesstimate, or count 60 seconds by counting as you run (1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi) then walk for a minute or so. It'll build up.

[Toodaloo]

Can you do it without the dogs? It would be much easier to do without dogs knocking you down.

 

Probably but they love me and would never forgive me for going to one of their favourite places with out them!!! They are with me 24/7 so it would be like chopping my arm off... I know I should break the attachment but I can't!

 

Not really. A fast gait for a "normal" person is about 5.0 - 5.5MPH. If you're going six, and you don't always have one foot on the ground, you're jogging without realizing it.

 

Will have to check with my friend on this (she worked it out from some app thing) as I wouldn't say we were jogging we just stride out but we do sometimes over take people jogging with short steps... Actually that was the topic of much hilarity between us on one walk! There we were in hiking boots and our tatty jackets striding past (mostly women sorry to be sexist) kitted out in everything "fitnessy"... Didn't seem much point to us! We do walk much faster than most.

 

Maybe? You mentioned previously you row? So you're already getting cardio. Cardio is certainly good for your mental well-being and so on. But if weight loss is your primarily goal? Check your diet and lift more.

 

I am practically starving myself, I eat loads of salad (no potatoes) and a bit of pasta, lots of fruit, no chocolate, no sweets, mostly water or milk with a bit of fresh fruit juice, no squashes, pop etc... When you say lift more so you mean weights???

 

To be honest I just want to get fitter, healthier and yes get rid of some of those wobbly bits. I had hit 3st weight lost but then put on (I think cutting right back on smoking aided and abetted nearly given up but not quite) and now I am stuck at the same and can't seem to shift those 4 pounds to get back to the 3st lost mark again. My BMI says I should lose another 3 but I think thats unrealistic as I was still "obese" when my waist was 13" and I struggled to put weight on... That was a really long time ago!

 

That sounds lovely. However, perhaps you aren't working out hard enough?

 

Thats what I thought too so added in some steep hill work etc to my walks. Then when that got easy I started to think about running. I figure if I do something that increases my heart rate and keeps it there for at least 30 minutes its got to be doing me some good...

 

It is certainly good to distract yourself from the time you've been going as opposed to staring at the clock. At the same time, it seems to me that it would be tricky to get "lost in the moment" if you're having to constantly bark instructions at your dogs.

 

Its second nature... they get distracted, I know when they are going to be so keep them on the move and concentrating on me... I have to watch one of them constantly anyway as she is deaf and so can only "hear" you when she is looking at you so I have to get my commands in at the right time or she doesn't "hear" what she is being asked... The only way I can describe it is being like a parent, you relax but you always have one eye on your children. Even when I can't see my dogs I know where they are.

 

But the important thing is that you're getting exercise! You just have to tweak things to find what works for you.

 

Thank you for your ideas and support! I know people like me must seem batty to you!!!

 

Thank you Mr Scorpio!

 

And Thanks guys for all your support! I am so glad I am not the only one who struggles with all of this!

 

Well done ComingInHot!!! You did better than I did!!! I am proud of you...!

 

I met someone at Yoga last night who said a. the thing I have is a shuffle and b. they would have a look at the down loads and get them on there for me!

 

Agh Day.One I love Wales! So much to see there. I haven't done much in the Peaks as its a heck of a trek for me but love going down to The moors. I was thinking about caging the girls, flying up to Scotland with them for a few days and going walking up there. I was up there for a family wedding not so long ago and its breathtaking (and not just the inclines!)

 

Me85 I hate going to the gym. For me it makes me feel a robot and after years of buying 6 month memberships, only to go once, I have decided that I should just be honest with myself and look at alternatives that I will keep up instead. So I looked for things that I would enjoy and keep going with. Hence the walking, I have always loved it and the more I do the more energized and happy I feel. You can set your own pace and go as far or short a distance as you like. I am very lucky as a woodland close to home also has "trim trails" that have woodland gym equipment open to all to use at whatever time they want to. I am not fit/ strong enough for some of it yet as I don't have the upper body strength (and am also carrying a shoulder injury at the mo) but it means that I can use it in my own time with out feeling like a ninny with people watching! I keep at it though and keep trying to refine what I am doing to make sure I get the maximum benefit from it.

 

Writer girl - my landlady started with that and has just completed her first 10k!!! Mind you she is one of those that I walk past as she is jogging! Still am very proud of her.