Officially in Training

[MindyLuvsMickey]

I'm still fairly new to this board. I recently started training for my first half-marathon. I'm not much of a runner but I'm trying very hard to become one.

I'm currently running . . . well, I suppose it's more of a jog at this point. I'm trying to build my endurance first and then move on to speed. I'm trying to build a 1/2 mile to a mile a week.

Any advice for a newbie runner? I haven't got a clue what I'm doing. LOL

Thanks!

 

[cheshire1013]

Im not a great runner but I have done 2 half marathons. I have a great training schedule that I follow when training for a race. Im by no means fast either.
It has worked great for me the past two times! I think its a great beginner training plan! PM me if you would like me to email it to you. Ive also already signed up for the 2010 1/2 marathon! YAY! And Im looking into doing the race for the taste 10K.

 

[SAHDad]

Here's some basic advice.

First, make sure you have the right pair of shoes. Go to a running store and have them fit you. Most running stores have a free gait analysis, even if it is someone watching you take a short run down the block. The wrong pair of shoes can mean an awful lot of pain.

Second - increase your mileage slowly. The general rule is to increase no more than 10% per week, although this is flexible. Going from 3 to 4 is generally less problematic than going from 20 to 24, even though the first is a 33% increase and the second a 20%. This applies, BTW, to both the total mileage for the week, and for the length of the runs.

Third - run every other day, at most. For a beginning runner, running three times a week is plenty. If you want to, you can cross-train on the other days.

Fourth - don't worry about speedwork, hills, intervals, fartlek, or other workouts just yet. Since you are just starting, you need to be building a solid base, and not worrying about how fast you are going.

Fifth - don't be afraid to cut a workout short or take a day off, especially if you are in pain when you run. (Not discomfort, but actual pain.)

Sixth - get the right clothes. Almost as important as shoes are the right clothes. You want wicking gear - shirt, socks, shorts, etc. Cotton is bad - it gets hot and sweaty, and can chafe like you wouldn't believe.

I'd have more thoughts later, but I need to get going for my run.

 

[chimera]

Hey Mindy!! Welcome to the madness!

Which half marathon are you planning to run?

Many of us got our starts using the Marathoning for Mortals book by John Bingham. Great stuff with great training plans!

Come join us on the weekly walkers/runners thread!

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Thanks so much for the info. I did go straight out and invest in a good pair of running shoes, as well as the Marathoning for Mortals book. The shoes have been working well for me so far.

Here's where I am so far. I'm currently running 3-4 days a week and trying to so some strength training on my off days. I'm managing to do 4 miles on a treadmill (too much ice and snow to be outside just yet) at about a pace of 12:30/mi.

I'm finding out the hard way about the cotton LOL I'm a sweaty girl and my current attire is not working out so well. I hope to invest in some decent running clothes in the very near future.

I'm hoping to run the Donald in January. I was so inspired by all of the athletes during our trip a few weeks ago. I'm hoping my DH will run with me but he needs to have his knees checked out before he commits.

I'm so excited and have never been so motivated!

 

[cheshire1013]

I have a runner friend whos motto is "Cotton is rotten!"
haha

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

LOL No doubt!!

 

[jmasgat]

Mindy Welcome to the club! SAHDad gave you great advice--slow and steady is the way to go. I was in the same position as you last year, and I ran the half last month, so I know it can be done.

As for clothes--I try to pick things up on sale, at outlets, etc. I've even been lucky enough to find some good Under Armour stuff at Nordstrom Rack! Some of the Champions stuff sold at Target is not bad--you might want to check that out.

Good luck!

Maura

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Drats! No Nordstrom around here. I will have to head over to Target to see if they have anything worth picking up.

Thanks again for the warm welcome!

 

[laxdef69]

Dick's sporting goods and/or Ebay is a good source!

Mike

 

[wtpclc]

Mindy - You are wlell on your way! If you can already do 4 on teh TM, you will have no problem being ready in a year. Glld to see you made it to the weekly thread, too. You will find lost of support there! Welcome!

 

[Sandy321]

Mindy - Great post!

Target does have some great stuff and at reasonable prices - if you are more on the "pooh" size (as I am ) Do check out the guy section!! (I still dont understand why we cant have pockets in running shorts! )

I ran my first Half in '08 (just recently added pics to the Procrastination report in my siggy) and I stopped doing anything - so I'm starting over!!

and I appreciated the reminders!! I forgot about Marathoning for Mortals! I'm going to have to dig that up!!

 

[momof2minnies]

Hi Mindy-
Welcome!!!!!!!! Let me double the kudos on John Bingham's book- I read it 3 times!!!!!! I read Marathoning for Mortals but he also has Running for Mortals.
I also am a HUGE fan of Runners World magazine.I look for it in the mail every week.When I finish one I am looking for another.Very inspiring.

Also don't forget about doing a journal.It is great for keeping track.You will be surprised how you go back to check your progress.

I am also doing the 1/2 next year. It will be a blast!Hope you DH gets clearance.

Have a good one,
Linda

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Yay! I made it to target and picked up some appropriate NON-cotton running gear. Wore it for the first time this morning and was completely amazed at how *dry* I stayed . . . relatively speaking for someone who glistens as much as I do . . . lol.

DH does not yet have clearance. He was sent for some xrays and has been having some pain. The doc thinks it might be a torn meniscus. Hopefully things will improve for him, but I've decided that I will be registering and running without him (tee hee hee). Maybe he'll be ready to run the full with me next year.

You are all so full of usefull information and I'm so appreciative.

 

[momof2minnies]

Mindy,
How are things going?

Linda

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Not so great this week actually. My grandmother passed away on Tuesday so I've not had any desire to run, honestly.

Back in the saddle tomorrow morning.

 

[momof2minnies]

Mindy,
I am so sorry to hear about your Grandmother.I lost mine in 1995 and there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.Just be careful out there running tomorrow as your thoughts will probably be with her.I was out rollerblading after mine passed away and I had a horrible crash because I was not paying attention and thinking of her.She must have been with me though because my injuries should have been worse.

Take care,
Linda

 

[joan4mickey]

Mindy-Run, run, run. Nana (96) passed in January (she called herself our 5th child). There is nothing better than getting out there and remembering special memories and it make your run seem so short because you can't remember everything in one run so the next day you go do another and remember more special moments. sorry for your loss.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Thank you so much for the encouragement. She was very special to me and I miss her terribly. I would always tease her that it was her fault that I was such a Disney Freak. We took numerous road trips to WDW when I was growing up. Nearly every other year. She made her last trip with us when I graduated from college back in 1998. She was a terror on the ECV and loved the trolls in the Norway pavillion . . . she always called them her boyfriends.

I'm so lucky to have had so many wonderful memories and will definitely be using them to fuel my runs.


On a bright note, I took DS4 to get his "running" shoes tonight. He is SO excited to have a race of his very own to run and tells me that his new shoes are going to make him run "super fast". New Balance has the cutest shoes for little boys . . . I guess I think they are so cute because they look just like big people shoes. No crazy characters or funky fasteners. He and I are going for a short training session tomorrow as long as the weather is warm. I'll do my run first thing in the AM and then the three of us will do a shorter run just for Rylan.