runners

[never alone]

I have started running and really don't have any other runners to talk to. It would be nice if I did. I am running in a 10k this weekend. I would like to hear the opinions of other runners about training and related subjects.

 

[MrJim]

I used to but knees started hurting too much so I walk instead, about a 4mph pace, but did enjoy running, ok it was more like a shuffle

 

[never alone]

4mph is a pretty good pace. I also go for walks daily--but much slower. I live in the country and walk in the woods. I used to run on the road to get in shape but after a month or 2 my knee would start to hurt. I gave up on that. Now I just run on the treadmill 3 days week. That does not hurt my knee. I also do many other leg exercises to get my legs in shape. I run in a 5k race about every 2 months to motivate me to stay in shape. The occasional 5k is not enough to hurt my knee. So far this is working out OK. I hope I can continue this. I don't run the 5ks to win but just to finish with a decent time (which for me is pretty slow). Thanks for contacting me.

 

[MrJim]

4mph is a pretty good pace. I also go for walks daily--but much slower. I live in the country and walk in the woods. I used to run on the road to get in shape but after a month or 2 my knee would start to hurt. I gave up on that. Now I just run on the treadmill 3 days week. That does not hurt my knee. I also do many other leg exercises to get my legs in shape. I run in a 5k race about every 2 months to motivate me to stay in shape. The occasional 5k is not enough to hurt my knee. So far this is working out OK. I hope I can continue this. I don't run the 5ks to win but just to finish with a decent time (which for me is pretty slow). Thanks for contacting me.

I've never tried a treadmill, surely has to be easier than the road. I always wear good shoes, big guy like me and Brooks Beast are a natural fit...being flatfooted doesn't help.

During my daily walks I would jog a bit but even that was causing some knee soreness though it may be that, because I walk during lunchtime at work, the steeltoed Timberland workboots might not be the best workout footwear though I definitely do not have any foot pain/soreness at all after 3 months of walking in them.

Folks suggest running in grass but I found the unevenness of ground to be as big a problem as the hardness of road.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

I like running...I'm not fast, but am pretty good in the endurance department. I've got a few things coming up this summer running related, so will be hitting the road a bit more (and the treadmill a bit less) especially now that ski season is winding down

 

[never alone]

I had some Brooks Beasts before. I need good shoes with good support because I overpronate (run on the inside of my feet). I ran a 10k last Saturday and boy am I sore. I wasn't in as good as shape as I thought I was. The first half of the race I did OK but the 2nd half I was barely running. They say that the treadmill doesn't get you in shape like running on the road and that must be true to some degree. Maybe I better stick with 5ks. Also, I have an opportunity to run in sand by a river nearby. They say that is easy on the joints. I need to try that. Also I am thinking of buying a stiff plastic orthothic insole to provide more support when I run. Next weekend I will be running a 5k with my daughter who has never run a 5k before. I hope she enjoys it. The upcoming 5K is for a church to raise $ for missions to Africa. Many 5Ks are to raise money for worthy causes like digging wells or feeding the poor in Africa. Normally I don't run 2 weekends in a row like I am doing this weekend but I could not pass them up since they are for charities I believe in.
Have a great day!

 

[never alone]

I went skiing once and I think it is about the best time I ever had in my life. I need to do it some more before I get too old to do it.
I am not a very fast runner. My running style is poor I guess because of my body mechanics. I have never been a good runner. In school I was one of the slowest runners on the football team. However, one thing I have always been good at is pushing myself no matter how tired I get. I have just tried 5ks and 1 -10K but would like to try a marathon this summer. I have a lot of races planned.

 

[haroldron]

In the run try to find someone who is going at a pace you are comfortable with or maybe a bit faster and try to keep them near so you have a reasonable objective.

 

[BBShopMom]

I used to run pretty regularly, but stopped. I'm hoping to get started again ... maybe tonight even!

I do mostly road running, but I enjoy trail running too. I'm a baby when it comes to weather, so I do the treadmill also. Considering the way the weather works here in Ohio, the treadmill will probably see me more than my neighborhood.

 

[never alone]

I have discovered that works very well for me when running races. I think it is a good idea.

 

[never alone]

Running is a great way to stay in good shape. I hope you get back into it. I wish I could run on the road but always had to quit after several months due to my knee starting to hurt. That's the reason I run on the treadmill now. However, I do run in some races occasionally but that is not enough to affect my knee. I have noticed that running on the treatmill does not get me in as good as shape for running as running on the road. When I run in a road race it is much harder than running the same distance on the treatmill. I live near a large river with much sand and I am thinking of trying to run in the sand. That would be easy on the knee from what I have read about it. However, as you mentioned, I also do not like to run when it is too cold outside. Running to hard work until you get into really good shape and it becomes more fun. It feels good to run long distances without getting tired. It is a sense of achievement and confidence. I guess that's why they refer to as a "runner's high". I understand that endorphines are also involved in this of course.
Anyway, the benefits of exercise are great--both physically and mentally. I read recently that people who exercise are also less likely to get dementia later on.
It is sometimes hard to stay motivated to exercise. I go to a small gym to work out and am getting to know some of the guys there and they encourage me. My wife goes to work out with me at times and I like that. I talked my daughter into running a 5K with me this weekend. It will be her first one. I hope she likes it.
Have a great day. Good luck with your exercise program.

 

[WolfGate]

Never alone - as you already figured, if you want to run races on the road, you'll need to train (at least some) off the treadmill. Neither one prepares you for the other. I'm the opposite currently - I run almost exclusively on the road, so when I do a treadmill run two things happen. First, I run about 1 minute per mile slower and it feels like the same effort. Second, things ache that don't bother me on the road.

Keep it up! Running is great. I love racing because it gives you the chance to measure how you're improving.

 

[MrJim]

Running is a great way to stay in good shape. I hope you get back into it. I wish I could run on the road but always had to quit after several months due to my knee starting to hurt. That's the reason I run on the treadmill now. However, I do run in some races occasionally but that is not enough to affect my knee. I have noticed that running on the treatmill does not get me in as good as shape for running as running on the road. When I run in a road race it is much harder than running the same distance on the treatmill. I live near a large river with much sand and I am thinking of trying to run in the sand. That would be easy on the knee from what I have read about it. However, as you mentioned, I also do not like to run when it is too cold outside. Running to hard work until you get into really good shape and it becomes more fun. It feels good to run long distances without getting tired. It is a sense of achievement and confidence. I guess that's why they refer to as a "runner's high". I understand that endorphines are also involved in this of course.
Anyway, the benefits of exercise are great--both physically and mentally. I read recently that people who exercise are also less likely to get dementia later on.
It is sometimes hard to stay motivated to exercise. I go to a small gym to work out and am getting to know some of the guys there and they encourage me. My wife goes to work out with me at times and I like that. I talked my daughter into running a 5K with me this weekend. It will be her first one. I hope she likes it.
Have a great day. Good luck with your exercise program.

Ten years older than me running two races two weeks in a row~~I grew up in SW MO and always heard Okies were a special breed

 

[never alone]

Thanks for the encouragement. Working out and running is self-reinforcing in many respects but it also helps a lot to get encouragement from others. I want to improve my time in my races and that also motivates me. I am not really competing against the other racers as much as I am competing against myself. I ran a 5K today and there was a guy there about my age that ran it in 20 minutes. Wow! Due to my ackward runnning style I know I could never run that fast but I will do the best I can. At this point I am ashamed to tell people my time but that will change after another couple months of working out.

 

[never alone]

I never heard Okies were a special breed. I do know one thing though and that is I am sore--especially my calves. I plan to spread out my races from now on. Some people probably think I'm too old for this sort of thing. But I intend to do the best I can within my capabilities. I set some goals to try different types a races and see how I do with the longer races. I even want to try an indoor triathalon to see what that is like.
Have a blessed day and thanks for contacting me.

 

[MrJim]

Keep on as long as you're able, nothing gained just sittin' around is there? While the other fellow did it in 20 think of the folks half your age that can't even run a mile...and there are plenty.

 

[never alone]

You are an encourager. You remind me of Barnabas. I would also like to encourage you to "keep on keeping on" with your running and physical fitness program. God Bless.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

One of the things that draws me to running around here is that I went to a few local 5k races and at the awards ceremony, there was competition in the 80+ age group!

I'm working to make time to get out with a local running club, hoping that running with a few other folks will help with pushing my pace a bit..I'm slow, but steady, and have a crazy idea now to end the summer with a 50K because it has a 16 hour time limit!

 

[never alone]

It would be nice to run with other people and be a part of a running club. That's a great idea. I am excited for you and your plan of running a 50K. That would be a great achievement. Setting goals like that also helps one to train harder to get into better shape. I have been thinking about doing some long distance running later on when I get in better shape. I have not yet decided which races to try yet. I will wait and see how my next few races go and what kind of endurance I have. At this time a 10K has been my longest race. They even have a race that is 100 miles long and if you finish it in 30 hours you get a free belt buckle. That is pretty extreme. I doubt if I get crazy enough to try it--however, I do think about it at times. It would be more logical for me to try a 15K first, than a 25K, than a marathan, and than a 50K. I will have to wait and see how things go. I wish you the best in your running endeavors.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

It would be nice to run with other people and be a part of a running club. That's a great idea. I am excited for you and your plan of running a 50K. That would be a great achievement. Setting goals like that also helps one to train harder to get into better shape. I have been thinking about doing some long distance running later on when I get in better shape. I have not yet decided which races to try yet. I will wait and see how my next few races go and what kind of endurance I have. At this time a 10K has been my longest race. They even have a race that is 100 miles long and if you finish it in 30 hours you get a free belt buckle. That is pretty extreme. I doubt if I get crazy enough to try it--however, I do think about it at times. It would be more logical for me to try a 15K first, than a 25K, than a marathan, and than a 50K. I will have to wait and see how things go. I wish you the best in your running endeavors.

Thanks! The 100 milers like the one you mentioned are pretty tempting...I'd love to get there someday. My summer is shaping up and looking fun, got a Spartan race coming up in a month (5k with obstacles), and I'm going to get in a fun 5k walk and maybe a 5k run in the two weeks before. Then my big fun event, a memorial 14k mountain race (did it last year and had a blast). Then maybe look at that 50k depending on how it all goes.