Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

I mean, yeah but they're not going to help you with distance running. They're going to harm you because it's just more useless mass for you to drag around. If that is your goal i'd stick to legs/core stuff, or more cardio such as cycling or swimming.
 
I don't think I'm at risk of really adding much mass, I was thinking of more maintenance to prevent lose (not that I've got loads to work with to start with!)
 
I'd be inclined to disagree with PB and say that strength training is an essential component of maintaining and improving your distance running. If you're conscious of what you eat and monitor your weight/performance it really can help.

The legs function as springs during running. Physics teaches us that a stiffer spring loses less energy when it lands and bounces higher. Your legs will do the same thing if you strengthen your legs in the gym (by lifting weights).

Obviously if you go silly on the amount of calories you intake and lift heavy weights you're going to put on unnecessary weight/muscle which could slow you down.
 
I think theres good points both sides, mass will slow you but a well trained muscle will aid.

I think for me weight training will prove useful more in my head than anything else, on those rest days I won't feel so "I'm doing nothing" and mean I don't eat right. I don't think it will be intense or often enough to create much muscle mass but'll allow my legs to recover and keep me mobile.
 
3.15miles 23.28 tonight, got my first 10k race on Sunday, Run Norwich. Been doing 5.92miles in about 47mins.

Sub 50mins and i'm happy but won't be easy only just started getting up to distance with left calf problems all summer, so its been 3 miles runs mostly but 30miles a week biking which has really helped.
 
Being a heavy smoker for 7 years I always found myself out of breath even after a small walk. I went cold turkey on the cigarettes 4 weeks ago, I noticed i was gaining weight (I'm far from overweight or heavy btw). Last night went for a walk with my brother in law.

I couldn't believe how much of a difference not smoking only for 4 weeks made, I walked 5.47 miles around 60 - 70 minutes.

Now I don't know if this is any good or not but for someone who couldn't manage a 2 minute walk to the shop without panting, I'm very impressed with that :)

Also I didnt wake up sore this morning, I was dreading this lol ! I'm heading out again tonight.
 
Interesting week. Felt terrible on my Tuesday Q run even though looking back at the data i actually did alright, but i took a few days off anyway, just did an easy run on Thursday trying to rest and finally make it along to a parkrun. Managed 21'31" according to strava, so i've basically knocked a minute off my time in 3 weeks of following JD's plan, which i can't complain about. Spent most of the time overtaking people except for the final stretch when it was all i could do not to throw up :p

Onwards to sub 20!
 
Great effort permabanned!

Today was another easy run for me (first week of plan was all about the easy runs), aiming for an 8:20 ish pace, hardest part has been not drifting off in my thoughts and going too fast. First long run tomorrow but only for 1hr15 so should be able to keep that easy pace.

Next week is also easy runs only again but increasing duration on my long run, week after introduces a progressive session for my Thursday run. I think once I hit that week if I still feel as good as I do now I'll start reducing those times down. I want to get the miles in, but don't want to be coasting it too much.
 
Dempsey22 said:
Now I don't know if this is any good or not but for someone who couldn't manage a 2 minute walk to the shop without panting, I'm very impressed with that :)

Also I didnt wake up sore this morning, I was dreading this lol ! I'm heading out again tonight.
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter whether it's good or bad in comparison to anyone else, it's about making your own progress so well done and keep it up.

I've had a bit of a sore knee for the past few days but oddly it doesn't seem to affect my running so I went for a Parkrun this morning and my knee is definitely feeling better again.
 
Completed the Run Norwich 10k in 50:42 which I'm happy with. Kept a very nice pace throughout, averaged 5:03 min/km, allowed a really fast last k, flying past people and big sprint for last 200m which was nice.

Seeing 1st and 2nd coming the other way as I was at about the 6k mark and they were 500m from finish was crazy, they finished at about 31mins.

First race, was good fun with the crowd, looking forward to next years and I'm considering the Norwich half in Nov......
 
Help.....going to the US for a week in early October. The hotel I'm staying at on the Sunday has just one treadmill, and I will need to get a 1:45-2hr run in. From what I can tell of the area the only route outside with footpaths gives me a 1-1.5 mile circle.

What do I do? The rest of the week will be at a different and bigger hotel in another city which has a much larger gym so not too worried about using a machine for an hour.
 
Don't let your plan beat you up, it'll drive you mad and be less-sustainable long term. Just run a few laps of the circuit a couple of times the week, won't do you any harm. I often build in 'consolidation' weeks into my training which would compromise of literally 5 miles 5 times a week at a very steady pace. Could try something like that?
 
Good point, it's not going to end me to not do it. I'll fly in the Saturday, based on previous experience I'll be wide awake at 5am so just jump on the treadmill and see what happens.

I think I just had a minor panic as I didn't want to miss one of my longer runs but I think I should be able to up the time elsewhere and as you say increase frequency of shorter runs that week.
 
Just started week 3 of my 1/2 plan, feeling really good :) Did 10 miles relatively comfortable on Sunday even with a stinking cold, today was supposed to just be an easy run but due to taking a wrong turn and needing to get back I swapped it with Thursday's progressive run.

Was actually really taken back by how much I could up the pace, the plan read for upping to race pace for the last 15 minutes but I was feeling good so keep pushing it up all the way till the end.

Started at 7:58/mi and finished with 6:26/mi at 45 minutes.
 
I want/need to lose some weight so going to start up running, I have been doing some reading around other websites and also this forum/first post.

Going to go and get myself some proper running shoes and get out there, downloaded RunKeeper so will be tracking through that :)
 
If anyone has a Blacks outdoor shop nearby and is after some new trainers they're all closing down with 50% off everything and there's some good deals to be had. I got some Brooks Transcend for £75.
 
Anyone doing the GNR tomorrow? I'm, in, training has gone well, woke up this morning... rotten cold. Praying it disappears by tomorrow morning.
 
Biz.Kod09, well done on getting started, running is a very good tool to weight lose as long as you also couple that with eating right. Get yourself something like my fitness pal to help track your food intake as well. This is what I did just over a year ago at about 15 st (was 16 beginning of last year but was cycling as well). I'm now 13 1/2 and the fittest I've ever been and a 1/2 marathon planned for Nov 1st. My best advise as you get started, don't rush it, you will need rest, and just keep at it. Distance and speed will come naturally the more you get out there.

SAM81, good luck today, hope your cold doesn't affect you too bad

Today was the end of week 3, hit 1hr 41minutes and just over 12 miles for my long run this morning. The last 20 minutes were quite hard so I'm glad next week is a "rest" week. Everything looks possible though.
 
Itchytrigg said:
SAM81, good luck today, hope your cold doesn't affect you too bad

Today was the end of week 3, hit 1hr 41minutes and just over 12 miles for my long run this morning. The last 20 minutes were quite hard so I'm glad next week is a "rest" week. Everything looks possible though.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Unfortunately I felt a little worse on the day, would have pulled out completely but was doing it for charity so ran anyway. Felt very lethargic the whole way and was struggling by mile 10. My training had put me under 2 hours but with the way I was feeling that was never going to happen. Managed to complete it in 2.17 then went straight home to bed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom