The Running Thread - 2018

AFwifelife · Mar 22, 2018

Maintenance - Since I haven't trained for a full yet, I keep my longest run at 5 miles and also do 2ish 3-4 milers during the week. I also try out different cross training options and strength exercises to see how I feel with them. Rarely do I decide to do something radically different in regards to those while in training.

Training - I follow a training plan (used to be Galloway, now Higdon) and make sure to include cross training and strength training weekly. While I'll let a day slide during maintenance, I have to have a really good excuse to miss a running day.

FredtheDuck · Mar 22, 2018

Welcome! I'm one that started (and later, after my kid was born, started again) with C25K. I have nothing but great things to say about the program... I don't think I'd be running at all if not for that approach. I was not a fan of running prior to really getting going with C25K. Now I love it.

I'll second others and say get good shoes. I consistently felt sore after my initial runs on C25K. Some of that was just using/building muscles that I wasn't using, but a lot was shoes that weren't supportive enough. PLEASE go to a running store and have an expert help fit you. But also be aware that you may not know enough about your running needs to land on the right pair the first time. I didn't. So I took the first pair back in to the store and had them look at my wear patterns, stride in them, and told them what I was feeling, and we went from there.

I love your idea of setting a goal! For many here (myself included), a race is the motivation we need to keep going, especially as a new runner who is dealing with the "discomfort" that can come with running.

You mentioned the idea of getting healthier, more fit, and stronger. So can I chime in about the importance of cross training? When you're first starting out, you're asking muscles that aren't used to doing what you want them to do to do a lot. Biking, swimming, yoga, even just good old fashioned weight training, will help work other parts of your body, or work those muscles in a different way, and you'll feel better for having done it. Make it a point to get up and on your feet even on your non-running days. A nice brisk walk in the evening or at lunch will help you maintain momentum towards the healthier, more fit version of yourself that you are committing to being.

FredtheDuck · Mar 22, 2018

ATTQOTD: I had a lull between my fall half back in September and my spring/summer half coming up in May. It was a long enough run that after a couple of easy weeks, @DopeyBadger put me back on an "interim" plan that simulated half training as if I was going to be running a half in January. I was concerned about losing fitness (and momentum and motivation) with such a big lull between races. I'll probably keep going with the 2 half marathon per year schedule, so I imagine I'll continue to have interim goals/training cycles in between official race training cycles just to keep progressing.

SarahDisney · Mar 22, 2018

Welcome and congrats on deciding to start running. Fair warning: it's addictive.
I did Princess 5K as my first race a few years back, and it's a great way to get started.
There are lots of great suggestions here for how to get started, so I'm not going to repeat everyone else's words, but I will just add ... go at your own pace, but start sooner rather than later. The race isn't for another 11 months, so even if you waited a few months to start training, you could still be ready. But what if you wait a few months, and then life happens, and you don't have time to start this week but you'll start next week ... And then next week you're busy ... it's easy for life to get in the way, and suddenly race day comes and you're not ready. It's better to start training now, be 5k ready way before the race, and then have to work on maintaining that fitness (see today's QOTD for tips on that) than to hold off and risk not being ready for race day.

When training for an event, I usually focus on distance or pace or whatever my goal is for that race.
During maintenance, I'm less focused on numbers- I run shorter distances, I don't care about pace, etc. Training is about being ready for a specific event. Maintenance is just about running.

CDKG · Mar 22, 2018

Last summer my off season maintenance plan was to not run during the week, because evening runs are HARD in summer weather, and just run 3-5 miles on my days off (weekends). In terms of “maintenance”, it was a big failure! I lost fitness so fast I could actually feel it.

Since this September I officially begin training for my first marathon, I definitely need to up my maintenance game. My plan right now is to alternate the first week of marathon training (3-5 miles 4 times a week plus an 8 mile long run) with a step back week (6 mile long run). I will just slow my pace significantly during the warm evening runs and not beat myself up if I miss a run here or there.

I may also add a local late summer or fall 10k and/or half marathon. I haven’t decided yet...

PrincessV · Mar 22, 2018

ATTQOTD: Off-season for me is infernal summer, so the primary focus is to keep doing what I love (running) without winding up with heat stroke. That's really all it comes down to: doing whatever is needed to survive - slowing down, decreasing distance, doing some indoor and/or pool runs. I still track my runs. I still do some hill and speed workouts. I still loosely follow a 2-week cycle of shorter mid-week runs, long runs and cut-backs. I still run by perceived effort, not numbers on an app/watch.

~~~
I lost the quote, but to our new runner member, welcome! You've already gotten lots of advice, so I'll only add this: don't feel like you have to do anything exactly as prescribed. You have to start somewhere, of course, but don't get too attached to the idea that any one way is the only right way.

OldSlowGoofyGuy · Mar 22, 2018

ATTQOTD: When training, I follow the plan religiously. After a marathon, I'll go into lazy mode for a month or so: reduced days/mileage, no hard runs, etc. Then I'll switch to maintenance mode, which will be the same pattern as the training plan, just more relaxed, with no specific targets: 5 days/35-40 miles a week, 2 easy days, 2 hard days, 1 long run.

Oddly enough, I am discovering that I like being on a plan, rather than winging it.

rteetz · Mar 22, 2018

Maintenance runs I don’t do many long runs. Mainly 5K-10K distances.

camaker · Mar 22, 2018

I'm pretty much lost without a plan, so I generally have one set up for as much as a year in advance. That plan includes both my targeted training for goal races and the maintenance runs, if you can call them that, in between the targeted plans that serve both to maintain fitness and keep me ready for non-goal races. I am a creature of habit, so I try to keep my maintenance periods as similar to my training plans as possible so that they flow seamlessly from one to the other. I keep my runs on the same days and keep the same pattern of pacing (ie, easy days stay easy during maintenance, tempo stay tempo and long stay long, etc) and just cut back on the mileage somewhat.

run.minnie.miles · Mar 22, 2018

Like others said, training is more of a set plan, specifically with long run distances lined out. For maintenance or non-training, I still try to run some-what consistently, but really just more for enjoyment.

JBinORL · Mar 22, 2018

For me, when I'm out of a training cycle, the purpose is to rest, recover, and then build up my base if necessary. Right now, I'm technically in maintenance even though I'm running Dark Side next month. But I'm also working on increasing my base mileage between now and June when I start training for MCM.

Every mile should have a purpose, even if it's to recover.

roxymama · Mar 22, 2018

Hi, I am also 37 and only a few years into my running journey. Welcome!
I noticed you said "I wasn't good at it" and that speaks to me because I felt that way too. Even when I was good at other athletic endeavors, running seemed especially hard so I'd quit or wouldn't pursue it farther than one run here or there.
Dump the notion of what "being good at it" means. Find what you like about it and be okay with making goals based off of your own needs & wants.
You may find you like running at a slower more enjoyable pace for many many miles. You may find you like really short but quick distances. You may find you like variety and that walk/run/walk keeps you happy and healthy. Or that races aren't your cup of tea or that you really really like races. It's all going to be a journey and don't worry about whether you are good at it for a long while...just focus on what you like about it and continue your journey from there

ATTQOTD: There's an off season??????
But seriously, I tend to sign up for little races in between my big ones and often just fun-run them or "see what happens" and usually have some kind of in-betweener mini-plan happening.

jennamfeo · Mar 22, 2018

ATTQOTD: I plan to be on some sort of training plan until @DopeyBadger quits doing them, or a I die, whichever comes first. There is no off season for me anymore. Running is my religion, my training plan is my bible.

DopeyBadger · Mar 22, 2018

ATTQOTD:

For me, training season is year round. There is recovery from the last race, training, taper, race, recovery from the last race, training, taper, race, repeat... I subscribe to the notion of 1 day off or easy for every 3k of racing. So a 5k has 2 days off/easy, 10k has 3 days off/easy, HM has 7 days off/easy, and M has 14 days off/easy. Then whatever period was off is offset with easy mileage. So usually after a marathon, I take 2 weeks off and then 2 weeks easy running to build back up. For me, I guess I still consider it training. Even when I haven't actually had a goal race at the end of a training season (winter = Dopey, spring, summer/fall = marathon) I'd just do a time trial. The end goal has always been to get faster. So I continue to train year round in an effort to be faster and ultimately get myself in the position to BQ. So I'm not sure really anything changes during any portion of the season. Even when I don't have a goal race to train for, I still train to continue to get better. That way if I make a 2% improvement per cycle, then if I continue to train through spring without an actual goal race, and then follow it up with a fall training cycle, I should end up at 4% ahead rather than just 2% from the single training cycle.

DopeyBadger · Mar 22, 2018

michigandergirl · Mar 22, 2018

Welcome! You've gotten some good advice, but I just wanted to add a couple of things: Before you start a C25K program, you may want to get used to time on your feet by walking 30 minutes several times a week. This will strengthen your legs some before starting the program. When choosing a C25K program, make sure it is one that starts with intervals of walking & running (not one that says run continuously for 1 mile or run continuously for 20 minutes - I feel like those set people up for failure early on). And as someone else mentioned, feel free to repeat weeks on the plan if you need to for whatever reason. Good luck!!

PrincessV · Mar 22, 2018

@roxymama I'm quoting you because I love and agree with every word of this! :thumbsup2

UNCBear24 · Mar 22, 2018

QOTD: My off season is generally from the end of Marathon Weekend in January thru February. Usually a weekly four mile run for 4-5 weeks, then twice a week, to maintain some fitness. Then I ramp things back up in March.

Miranda · Mar 22, 2018

Yeah, being "good" at running is really subjective. If winning Olympic gold medals is the pinnacle of the sport, then let's be honest, none of us are really "good" at it.

As they say, "you do you". Find what makes YOU happy in running, and then give that your all.

We all have our ups and downs, our missteps and victories... we're all just here to help each other along and share in that, whether it's training for a 5K or training for a marathon.

Dis5150 · Mar 22, 2018

ATTQOTD: I haven't really had an "off" season since I started running a couple of years ago - I was always training for a race. I also do much better with a plan. It is too easy for me to skip runs, etc. if I am doing my own thing. Right now I am running 6 days a week, training for a marathon in May. But after that I don't have another marathon until November and am going to ask for a plan just to maintain my fitness, for 4 days a week, until I start a new plan for that race.

The Running Thread - 2018

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

So ... Yeah

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Powered by Pizza

Imagathoner

Imagathoner

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Share this page