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Halfway there and Haven't Quit Yet!


Ruthie
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Just come back from my W5D1 run, which I was supposed to have run on Tuesday; however, as we all know, life doesn't always go according to plan.

 

Up until Sunday, everything was fantastic. I ran Sunday and Saturday back to back, and Sunday was really hard for me. I had a real hard time finishing the run sections, but pushed through and did.

By Sunday evening my back was out (I have had back problems for years). Got stuck half way between sitting and standing (which is how I know my back is out  :wacko: ). This is not unusual, and could or could not be related to running (although I  do think that four times a week was pushing it for me)... anyway, I got myself some anti inflammatory pills, which usually do the trick, went for a walk on Tuesday, relaxed yesterday and decided that come hell or high water - I would be running today. Once I hit my stride walking - the back-pain and limp disappear - so I thought - why not try running, it might have the same effect. And I did. I ran all three runs easily and could have kept going, but  stopped.

The plan is to keep on running only three days a week.

I have found a sports shop in a nearby town where they fit shoes properly, and have decided that at least for this first pair of running shoes, especially considering my back, it is probably a good idea to try them on and not buy them online.

So I am as pleased as punch and really hope that I will not regret running today...

 

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Good job ruthie. I highly recommend ASICS for shoes. I was running in nike's and was having knee and shin problems. When I bought my ASICS all the pain dissappear ed. Good luck

I don't mean any disrespect to you Sean or to ASICS but I avoid telling people to run in a specific brand like the plague. Everyone's feet and running style and physical condition is different and every shoe is made on a different last and performs differently. For you ASICS are awesome. For me, Gel Nimbus 17s make me heel strike and hurt my knees. Doesn't mean I recommend against them(They may be just fine for someone else). Just that my legs are different than yours. Everyone should try on every available pair and buy the ones their legs tell them to buy :)

 

All the major brands make great shoes. Nike, Saucony, Brooks, ASICS, Mizuno, Altra, Pearl Izumi, New Balance(and I'm sure a bunch I've missed). Just gotta find the one that's right for you. 

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As expected, since I planned my shoe shopping for yesterday - it didn't happen... life got in the way again... 

@Sean - I have heard great things about asics but am goings to take Azatol's advice on this and go by how the shoes feel on my feet.

 

Anyway - I ran W5D2 today - and it was as easy as pie. Week 5 seems to be much easier for me than week 4 was. It was a bit of a chaotic run because I went running with my running friend and her 10 year old son who joined us at the end of the first 8 minutes, so instead of the walk being a brisk walk, it was more of a dawdle than anything else...then one of the neighbors' dogs joined us and the app stopped working just after it announced one more minute. Once we were done I was neither tired nor satisfied so I did another 8 minute run or so (I am assuming it was 8 minutes because it was the same distance as the other two runs...) I could have kept going but didn't want to push my luck...

I am only slightly concerned about the 20 minute run - and hope I will be as pleasantly surprised as I was today.

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As I feared, it was raining....me and my running buddy met by the school bus in our running gear and umbrellas and went our separate ways...it did stop raining after a couple of hours so I went out running alone (I was obsessing about running and was getting nothing done anyway). I wasn't sure what to wear, if it would start raining again or not, and decided that if it started raining I would quit - and not hold it against myself.

I started running with a shell windbreaker, but shed it half way and stashed it in my car as I ran by (I didn't stop moving my legs - I jogged on the spot while I opened and closed the door so I am not considering that stopping).

I was running with my phone in my hand, which I don't usually do, and resisted temptation to look at it for just about the entire way. Around halfway I hit a low, but ran through. It wasn't extremely easy, but it wasn't extremely difficult either. With a minute thirty five to go I peeked to see how much I still had... and was nicely surprised. 

So - I did it. If I can run twenty minutes flat I can call myself a runner.

I AM A RUNNER!!!

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I just finished WD3 today, too, so I totally get how tough it is.... but then it's so damn exciting when you finish that 20 minutes!!  At this point I'm on pace to complete a 5K in about 45 minutes (I'm signed up for one in about a month).  But I have found running two days in a row does not work well at all for me.  I've been putting one or two days in between and it feels much better.  My legs and back have felt okay - I was worried most about my back - but, strangely, it's been my right arm and shoulder that have been very sore, so I'm trying to be conscious of trying not to tense up.  

 

Good Luck!!

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@blondebass - Good for you and keep us posted.

I dialed it down from 4 times a week to three times, but I have to say that two consecutive days not running is not working for me either. I think what I'll do is go back up to 4 and on the second day of the two back to back days do a really easy run.

That way I won't feel like I am losing my grove, but on the other hand won't be over taxing my body.

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At this point, ALL of your runs should be easy runs. You are learning endurance not speed. The slower you run the longer you can run. I wont tell you guys again not to run 2 days in a row at this point because you've heard me say it. I'll just remind you that it muscle growth happens on your rest day NOT your running day. if you skip your rest day, you deny your body the ability to absorb the benefits of your previous days run(AKA you essentially nullify many of the gains). Running that extra day this early in your running career gives you no gains. Your leg muscles are growing (or trying) and making you a stronger runner so later you can do those things. This applies to ALL strength training. ALL gains happen when you rest. Yoga, cycling, even elliptical, walking, hiking. All of these things are great activities that are low impact and good to do on your off day.

 

Believe me, I get it. I'm dying to run 5 or 6 days a week. I force myself not to because my body is not ready for that intensity and I know I need the gains of my rest days. 

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@Aztol and Rob - the best option of course is not to run every other day, but unfortunately that won't work for me right now. I will keep your advice in mind Aztol and listen to my body.

 

Just finished W6D1. I live on a circular road on the top of a hill. It is the least hilly of all the roads in the area and is about 1 km around, so that is where I have been running. Round and round and round and round.... BORING... so today, I decided to challenge myself to one road down the hill, which is longer and hillier (if there even is such a word). I thought that this would be quite an easy run and I am bored to tears by my normal route, and what is a a mere 67 meter gain...(219 feet for the Americans).... Anyhooo...

It was a challenge... the eight minute run fell on the steep incline but I did it... That was probably the most challenging of all the runs I have done to date, but the difficulty does not compare to the elation of having beaten that hill, mainly because it means that as I get stronger, I can move away from my normal route to other routes in the area and deal  with them. 

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Go, Ruthie! Hills are sooo intimidating! There's one that I've mucked around a few times near the beginning but now I'm avoiding it because I am still working on endurance (and don't want to burn out my calves climbing the giant).

 

Congrats on your success! My run schedule is odd. My Monday runs feel amazing (after the 2 day weekend), but I'm usually very tired/need recouping by on Tuesday (having run after a 2 day break). Then, I've been running on Wed, Thurs, and Fri with each run better than the last and feeling great. My body is weird  :P

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