Runners - Week of March 29-April 4

[Babe Ruthless]

Hey running buddies!

So, I just had my first outside run since November of last year. And it felt great! So much easier than running on the treadmill - I guess because I run slower outside and also walk slower on my 1 min walk breaks (10+1) so the recovery period was better. I did 5k tonight and it was pretty easy, as far as runs go, so now I will start ramping up with the goal of being at 8k by the end of May (by the triathlon on May 30 to be exact.) I can't believe how much more FUN it was to run outside! However, the weather is due to be nice tommorow and then turn crappy again for Wednesday so I may be running on the treadmill again soon.

To get my competitive side going I've also signed up for the Eat Drink Stink run on May 2 - this is a 5k fun run to raise money for Compassion House (a place for breast cancer patients and their families to stay during treatment).

Jalapeno Ann - I just spent the last 9 days in Vancouver and did not run once! I had some good walks but did not feel comfortable running in the city at this point as I did not know where good places to run might be. Had I had more notice before our trip I would have looked up trails or headed to the Local Running Room to get maps, etc. (my FIL was ill and passed away thus the reason for our trip). Also, I note that I can't see your pictures - they are not online anymore!

So, where is everyone??? Where are all the newbies? And Treesaw, TLC, Bezziebear, Running Girl, etc?

[treesaw]

Hey buddies and Babe,

I'm here, just lurking a bit these days. Work has been pretty crazy and I don't have a computer at home. But I'm still out there running! A heck of a lot these days, in fact. I'm still training for the triathalon on May 22nd and the half marathon on May 30. My long runs are up to 14K now, so I'm getting closer.

The weather here has been absolutely glorious this week, and I actually ran in a t-shirt last night -- hallelujah! It makes such a difference to me mentally to not have to pile on the layers and layers of clothing just to go for a run.

Babe: Sorry to hear about your FIL. Good luck with your tri training and keep us posted. By the way, that Eric harr book is fantastic -- thanks for the recommendation.

To all the other runners -- graemlins/wave.gif
Teresa

[JalepenoAnn]

Yay, the running thread is back. Hi everyone. My running has been in the dumps the last while. Things are very uncertain with my job and this avian flu in BC. Anyway, just have to ride it out and get my eating and running back in order.

I've decided to forget about any racing for the next while. I have to find the fun in my running again. I missed the 34K a couple weeks ago because of an ankle sprain on my last training run. But right now, the idea of any kind of training just wears me out. I just want to run without worrying about time and distance.

Babe Ruthless~~ I think the pics are back online. They took 'em off for awhile to encourage me to pay for a membership. The freebie was for a limited time. Sorry to hear about your FIL.
If you are out here again, there is always the Sea Wall and Stanley Park for a good run.

Teresa~~ Good job on the training! You'll have a great race!

OK, gotta get ready to head off for my short day at work.

Happy running
Ann

[JenJen_in_NYC]

Morning Runners!

I saw this thread and thought I'd jump on. I'm back to running after a 2-3 year hiatus which included getting married and foot surgery.

I have only been running about 3 times a week, but I am going to increase that number slowly but surely. I am going to commit to at least 10 miles this week.

I have a 5K (my first in a long time) coming up in April. I'm just glad the weather is warming up. I'm so bored of the treadmill at the gym. Unfortunately, it looks like rain all week in NYC :( . I have to get a rain jacket for raining.

Also, can anyone recommend a good pedometer?

One more question - I would like to start doing my runs in the morning before work. I have been trying to set the alarm earlier, but my body keeps fighting it. Any tips from other morning runners?

[NancyH2001]

Hello all you runners. I'm a runner "want-a-be." A friend of mine put it into my head that we should perhaps try a triathalon but since I only bike, I need to try running and swimming. So far after three weeks, I am comfortably jogging for 5 minutes stretches and plan to increase next week.

I enjoy reading your posts for insperation. You all seem to enjoy your runs and that is what I am aiming for. I think when I hit a level of fitness that enjoyment will happen for me too. I do not dislike my jogs, I just don't love them........yet.

[ March 30, 2004, 10:01 AM: Message edited by: NancyH2001 ]

[AndreaDM]

It's nice to see the running thread again. I have been steadily running outside in the cold. I'm so happy now that the decent weather is coming.

We were in Orlando for our March Break and I managed to get out for two runs at Disney World. I was proud of myself for doing that.

I'm training for a half marathon on May 30th and my long run is up to 18km now. Just praying to stay injury free until then. I'm thinking of doing either a 5 or 10 K race on April 18.

Happy running!

Andrea

[runninggirl]

Hi Running Buddies,
I can't wait to run tonight- it's absolutely gorgeous outside, and all the snow and ice should finally be gone! I'm still training for Ironman in Penticton in August, but I'm starting to think I may want to put it off for a year. It's a HUGE time commitment, and I want to enjoy the experience, rather than just endure it.

I'm doing a half-marathon in Vancouver on May 2 so that should be fun. I've also got 2 Half-Ironman races scheduled for July and August, so my schedule is pretty full!

Nice to hear from everyone- lets keep this thread going.

[JenJen_in_NYC]

i just bought a runners wrist band/pocket at lunchtime. very excited about it. got sick of keeping my id in my shoe and my key pinned in my pants ;)

[itsjustme]

Hi there running buddies graemlins/wave.gif Seems like I have only posted on this thread 2 or 3 times since I started running last year - trying to make a more permanent appearance from now on.

Well, I am running my first 5K this Saturday and I'm feeling pretty good about it. The course shouldn't be too bad as it has an uphill start and a downhill finish and the rest is relatively flat. I can do that :D

Question though - I absolutely can not stand to hear myself breathe while I run as it throws of my pace like you wouldn't believe!!! Would it be unusual if I ran with my CD player at the race :confused: In all the pictures I've seen, nobody is carrying one, but I'm not sure I can run without it....

Babe ~ Sorry to hear about your FIL. Good luck with your training! What are the distances from swimming, biking and running in a triathlon? I can do all of those things - just not sure I could do it on the same day :D

Nancy ~ I was not thrilled about running until I was able to hit that 20 minute mark. Up to that point it just felt like a lot of work!!!! Keep going though, it will get easier and you will enjoy it more and more.

Happy running everyone!!!!

[JenJen_in_NYC]

HI Runners,

I'm having some MAJOR stomach issues after EVERY run. Anyone have this problem?

[gingerbug]

I, too, am a wannabe runner. I have a 2.2 mile loop around my neighborhood & I walk this about 4 times a week & try to run as much as I possibly can during this trip. I agree that I don't love it yet, but I feel SO much better when I'm out there! I'm scared to even try a 5K for fear I'd give out before the end, but my goal (although it may take forever) is to run the Boston Marathon! It'll take years before I get there, but that's my dream!

[JenJen_in_NYC]

i ran this morning at 5:20am in the rain.
when i got out of bed, DH said "**** , you are serious about this, huh"
YUPPER! :D

Still having the stoamch problems after running though. Anyone have a similar experience?

[treesaw]

JenJen,

Good for you -- doesn't it feel great to know that you've done something great for yourself already today?

Stomach issues happen to a lot of runners. Usually its a sign that you're not drinking enough water. Make sure you are properly hydrated. It could also be what you're eating before your run, if you do. Sports gels are great energy boosters, but people often have a hard time digesting them. Also, with the amount of fibre many of us eat doing WW, that can cause issues. Watch your fibre intake the night before you run.

Hope that helps -- and good luck,
Teresa

[michellelee]

I used to be a runner over a year ago before I had my daughter and it's so hard getting back into it.

I've decided to start by walking at least 3 days a week for the month of April. When May hits, I'll start jogging, and hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be running a few miles a day.

Good luck to you all with your competitions and personal goals.

[JenJen_in_NYC]

Originally posted by treesaw:
JenJen,

Good for you -- doesn't it feel great to know that you've done something great for yourself already today?

Stomach issues happen to a lot of runners. Usually its a sign that you're not drinking enough water. Make sure you are properly hydrated. It could also be what you're eating before your run, if you do. Sports gels are great energy boosters, but people often have a hard time digesting them. Also, with the amount of fibre many of us eat doing WW, that can cause issues. Watch your fibre intake the night before you run.

Hope that helps -- and good luck,
Teresa Hi Teresa,
Yes! It feels great to know that if I do nothing else all day, I made a huge accomplishment before 6am. graemlins/bcbsalute.gif
Regarding the stomach problems: i thought maybe I wasnt waiting long enough after a meal. Usually run at 7pm when I havent eaten in at least 3-4 hours, but not hungry yet. Always completely hydrated as I drink water ALL DAY at work. So I ran this morning partially to see if it was that I needed more time after a meal. I had the same problems so THATS not it. Next I will try taking some stomach OTC med prior to the run and see what happens then. I f keep changing, one thing at a time, until my dr. appt with the GI dr. on the 16th.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

[itsjustme]

Whelp - I ran my first 5K race this morning and I was rather pleased with myself :D I am not by any means a RUNNER - definitely more of a jogger - but I love it all the same!

So anyway, I went in just hoping to finish in under 40 minutes - my fastest time on the treadmill was right around 37 minutes, so I thought with the wind and hills that 40 mins would be pretty good. But, I beat my record and finished at 34:27 graemlins/crazy.gif I was 26th in my age group, 187th among the women and 485th overall. I'm not sure how many runners there were, but I'd estimate about 100 finished after me - so it wasn't too bad for my first race.

Nobody answered my CD player question, but I thought I would answer it for any others who were curious. I did take mine and there were several other people there with them - not the serious 20mins and under crowd - but the recreational joggers like myself had them. Some had those headsets and others had MP3 players, but there were a few of us with portable players.

[JalepenoAnn]

Hi runners. Just when I start to get motivated again, disaster. I had a good run on Thursday, managing to get in 7 miles. Today, I went with a group of my friends up to a trail about 30 minutes from home. There was a lot of climbing and I just wasn't having a wonderful day. After an hour, I didn't want to be there any more, but was committed. Anyway, I carried on....brought up the rear, but I didn't really care. The view from the top WAS rather worth it....coming out into a meadow and being surrounded by the snow covered local mountains and beautiful sunshine. We could see Vancouver and the various lakes and inlets around us. Anyway, after that, we carried on, still climbing. By this time, I was developing a serious attitude problem. Finally we reached the point where we were on the way back down. I could smell the barn and was trying to pick up the pace a bit. I was so tired though, I went right over on my ankle. I heard the dreaded "crunch". My df, Charlie was waiting a bit down the trail and saw me hobbling. He half carried me down to the main trail where we were closer to the parking lot. By that time, the pain had eased off enough so that I could jog/hobble back down to the car. I've got ice on it now, but it's very swollen. I will probably be off running for a couple weeks and no technical trails for awhile after that. At least it happened toward the end of the run. We got in close to 3 hours before it happened, but I really wish I woulda stayed in bed today.

Diane~~ How's the training for the Vancouver Half? It's getting close now. I thought about doing the marathon, but am so burned out right now, I've put all races on hold.

Pam~~ Most people find running easier after they reach that 20 minute mark. It takes about that long for the body to warm up. Congrats on your first 5K. You should be proud of yourself.

Gingerbug~~ Love your name. Just go for it. Enter a 5K and just do it. If you're worried about not making it, do a walk/run through the whole thing. You won't have any problem. I qualified for and ran in Boston marathon 2 years ago. It was one of the high lights of my running years. It's a great goal!

Jen~~ Having digestive troubles on the run is pretty common. I ran one of my most miserable marathons like that. graemlins/crazy.gif Have you tried to keep track of what you're eating? Maybe that will give you an idea of what's not agreeing with you.
I always found that I was more prone to the problem at that time of the month too.

OK, guess I better go put more ice on my ankle. Between this and the avain flu giving me fits over my job, I just feel like eating everything in sight right now. Hard to do holding an ice pack though.

Happy running,
Ann

[runninggirl]

Hi guys,

We had a beautiful weekend (other than the wind) and I actually got in my first bike ride outdoors of the year. I've really been struggling with getting any distance runs back after my sprained ankle (ANN, I TOTALLY FEEL YOUR PAIN) but I did 12 miles this weekend. I'm still intending to do the half-marathon in Vancouver on May 2, but I definately don't have the base to do it seriously, so I'm doing it as a training run.

Hopefully the nice weather continues!!!!
How was everyone's weekend runs?

[JenJen_in_NYC]

HI Runners!

Another week begins. Ann - Im so sorry about your injury. I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks so much to those of you with ideas about my stomach problems. I also have an ulcer so I am going to see a GI specialist on the 16th (first available appt.) and I will let you know what happens.

I dont have any good run stories for the weekend. After my Friday morning run, Saturday I ran on the TM with a friend because it was too **** cold out. Isnt it supposed to be the Spring?? Sunday was a rest day.

I hope to run this evening, but not sure since my house is a mess.
Happy Running!

[treesaw]

Howdy folks,

Ann -- so sorry to hear about your ankle. That is a big fear of mine. I broke my ankle two years ago and I'm super paranoid that I'm going to reinjure it running or playing volleyball. Take care of yourselfand you'll be back in racing form before you know it.

My weekend run was done in the blowing snow. Ugh. Isn't winter over yet? However, I did manage 14K, the furthest I've ever run. And though it was tough, I felt pretty good after the fact. I think I'm on track to be in good shape for the half at the end of May.

Pam -- congrats on your race -- great time!

Diane -- send some of that nice weather my way, please and thanks!

To all the other running buddies -- happy trails!
Teresa graemlins/wave.gif