I echo so much of what has been said here. I still consider myself a new runner. I've been running 2 years as of this coming January. From personal experience, I cannot stress enough the importance of taking things slowly, giving yourself plenty of rest days, and take care of yourself in general.
I've seen so many runners, different ages, shapes, sizes, experience levels, etc...everyone improves at their own pace, it is very personal. So try to just focus on yourself. Just keep with it, you will improve.
I am the type of person who is all or nothing - meaning in order to keep myself going I need to be regimented in doing it everyday...that being said I have read several places that when you are running you need a day inbetween to "rest" - does that hold true for walking as well? I am actually enjoying doing my 30 min. walks each morning and longer walks on the weekends. I do not want to over do - or jeopardize my training in any way so I just need to be sure that this is ok. Nothing hurts and I feel great knowing I have done something good for myself everyday. I also figure the extra calories burned sure can't hurt as I could loose approx 20lbs or so..... Thanks for your help!
Hey John VN - a 9:19 mile - WALKING? VERY IMPRESSIVE!! I'm not sure I will ever be able to do that! I will be happy to just keep the 16mpm pace and not be "swept"! Interesting that you also bike - I just started rollerbladeing since it is an activity my dd13 enjoys doing with me - we did 6 miles on Sunday! Not too bad for newbies.... does that kind of "cross training" help the walking?
Also a "general" question - I just bought expensive Saucony "running" sneakers - but since I have now decided to do the 1/2 marathon as a walker do I need to replace them with a "walking" shoe? Is there really a big difference? What would you do?
I am the type of person who is all or nothing - meaning in order to keep myself going I need to be regimented in doing it everyday...that being said I have read several places that when you are running you need a day inbetween to "rest" - does that hold true for walking as well? I am actually enjoying doing my 30 min. walks each morning and longer walks on the weekends. I do not want to over do - or jeopardize my training in any way so I just need to be sure that this is ok. Nothing hurts and I feel great knowing I have done something good for myself everyday. I also figure the extra calories burned sure can't hurt as I could loose approx 20lbs or so..... Thanks for your help!
I'll give you my feelings related here but some or many might not agree.
I'm starting to get the feeling that despite our initial disagreement on stretching, you and I are largely on the same page.
I to your expertise and know we have a common link regarding health and fitness. Hope to meet you some day.
I'm totally new too. Until now my idea of exercising has been going to the grocery store. I hope we can cross the finish line together!
I do have a question for the "vets" though. Right now I am jog/walking 1 min / 2 mins for 20 mins total, but even that I can't complete. When I finish I get lightheaded, migraines, my head feels like it's full of pressure (my ears even pop!). I also shake for several hours. Today I started crying for no real reason. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? I am healthy, just not fit, and I'm young, so I didn't think I needed medical clearance?
I'm still determined to do this somehow, but I want to make sure I don't do it "wrong" and hurt myself, and I get discouraged easily when it comes to physical activities (lots of being yelled at in gym).
I know it probably wont seem like it to some of you veterans but we just did outm 6.5 mile walk last weekend and I felt like I could have kept going! My right knee was "tired" but not hurting....when I checked my phone (I was using the runkeeper gps guided app) it said we averaged 17 min per mile. I wa a bit dissapointed that we were a full min off pace, but I tried to concentrate that we actually did 6.5 miles!! That in itself was an accomplishment for two women who until last month would NEVER have even dreamt w could do this! We have 131 more days to train - hopefully we will be able to pick up the pace when we do the 3 miles this weekend...any advice out there? Hey John - think we are too far behind the pace to actually finish the race and not be swept up?
I'm a bigger chicken than OP, though -- I'm working towards the 5K marathon weekend. If I enjoy that experience, then I'll start thinking about the Princess 2013!
Starting smaller isn't about being chicken. You are already moving out of your comfort zone. That's always heroic...never forget that.
Golly, beaten to the punch again.
Out training schedule calls for a long walk one weekend and then 3 miles the next weekend and then a long walk - then 3 miles .... the 3 miles just dosn't seem enough anymore should we lengthen it to 5 miles now or just trust the training schedule?
Thanks for the help guys...anything else we should know?