Posted: 3/29/2009 12:51:27 PM EDT
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If you are like me, you keep a journal of every run.
You track your milage, conditions, performance, etc. This thread isnt really about that, at least for me. (but feel free to post anything running related you like) In my journal I'm tracking mostly technical information...never more than 2-3 sentences. I note the weather conditions, progress toward specific goals, note injuries and progress in rehabilitating them, shoe rotation...but there is something missing. I never really record what I saw, comment about the course itself, get into the specifics of how extreme weather made me feel during different stages of the run....that is what I will post here 
If you want to post anything about your runs, please do...I get a lot of motivation from what others share, and I know that I'm not alone. If you are in training for a big race, a casual runner, or just starting out...use this thread to share your experiences out on the roads and trails. For starters, I didnt start seriously running until I was in my 30's. I was a fairly atheletic kid and stayed in top shape up to about 20 years of age. I never ran more than short sprints and never ran distance. I did a mile or two maybe half a dozen time in my teens, but that was it as far as running went....primarily because I hated it! Every time I ran I felt like I was going to cough up a lung. Distance running kicked my ass, and I knew when I was beat, so I just didnt do much cardio. I stuck the the weight room and focused on heavy lifting. I liked the 40 yard dash because it was similar to heavy lifting...you go full throttle for a quick spurt, then take a break. Endurance was the one thing I didnt focus on. From age 20 on I let myself go.....pretty damn far too. Once day when I was around 31 I was carrying the groceries upstairs to my apartment and when I got to the door I was so out of breath that I had to take a break before getting out my keys to open the door. I had gotten up to about 265 pounds (at 6'3") and seriously knew that a heart attack was a matter of when, not if. The next day I went out and bought a pair of running shoes and decided to change my life. I specifically chose running because it had always gotten the best of me....I had never been able to beat it. I knew it would work because I knew just how damn hard it was on my body. Thinking back to that day, I could have never imagined just how much I would do, and just how much I actually would change. My first run.....I didnt have any idea how far I would go, didnt have any idea how many miles it was around the paved path that went off in the distance from my apartment complex, and I had no expectations...just a desire to get off my ass and do something. So, off I went in my new shoes....and I ran, for what I later determined to be about 1/10 of a mile. At the end of that .1 mile I thought my heart was going to explode...I couldnt breathe....I was in bad damn shape. I later determined that the loop around my development was 2.8 miles....I decided that I was going to work my way up to running the whole thing, non-stop, no walking. It took me almost 5 months. Every week I made progress...I'd run a little further, then I'd alternate between running and walking...and then one fateful evening I did it...I was able to complete the whole loop. During this time, I lost a lot of weight....about 50-60 pounds actually. I looked completely different, and I really felt great. I decided to test myself and do something I never imagined possible....I was going to run in a 5k. Not knowing much about the race scene I simply picked one in a big city that was very popular. Much to my surprise, my first race had a registration of around 2500 people, roads had to be closed, the media was there....it was a big event, and a hell of an introduction to racing. I was hooked. All I cared about was finishing....which I did, and then signed up for another race immediately  This next one was a local race, the first year it was ever being held. There were 62 runners. Needless to say, ABC news wasnt there that morning It was a whole different type of event, equally as fun.
I raced for a few years and got my 5k time down into the low 20's, which I was very happy with given what I had come from. I've actually never entered any race longer than a 5k, although I've run 10+ miles several times and run 10k distances regularly. Looking back on the decision to make a change, I couldn't possible have dreamed that years later I'd have logged thousands of miles in my journal, kept the weight that I lost off for good, and I seriously doubt that I would have imagined creating a dedicated message board thread to share all of this with a bunch of strangers.
So, thats my story...feel free to share yours....or a great race you ran, or rehabbing advice from a major injury, or just rehabbing from a common strain. All I ask is that we keep this thread about running....the thoughts that motivate us to run, the things we see when we run, and the things that remind us of why we run. I dont plan to chronicle every run, this thread isnt intended to replace my journal. My journal is my running bible....this thread is just to expand on the thoughts that never seem to make it into writing. |
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Today I did something different.
Every run I have gone on for years now I knew the exact milage and knew the split points along the path. I stopped wearing a watch so that I'd not be so focused on times during runs, but I started noting the time lapse of the songs on my iPod
I've been tacking up more miles recently...about 30 miles over the last week and a half. I wanted to put up at least a 10k today but I just didnt feel like any of my usual paths. All my usual routes start and end at the end of my street. I always run through my local neighborhoods. Not once in my life have I ever traveled to a place to run, other than for formal races. Today I decided to break all routine. I got ready, hopped in the truck, and headed over to a tow-path along a local canal. Using the stopwatch on my G-Shock I had decided to just do an out & back....head out for 30 minutes and turn around. Simple enough. After all was said and done I ran 70 minutes (didnt feel like stopping when I got back so I tacked on another half mile to round out the time  )
It was cool to go out on a path that had no motor vehicles - nothing to look out for, very few hazards. It was also cold and misty out so there werent many other runners / bikers / walkers out - it was a nasty morning. Here is a picture I took recently of the place I ran...today it was dark, cloudy, and rainy...but its the same place... 
Lesson learned....this was a lot of fun. Breaking routine is good once in a while. There are a few paths like this near me so I wll definitely be doing this again. |
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Knocked down a solid 9 miles tonight.
I've run 5 times in the past 9 days and totaled up 40.5 miles. Really caught my second wind around mile 6 and actually picked up the pace....and on a long uphill section nonetheless
Distance get ones head to a place you just never see in a 5k. It's fun
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Quoted:
How have you never ran a marathon?
Very beautiful picture by the way, wish I had something like that around here. I have contemplated a marathon, but something in my head snaps when I realize that everything I go through on a long run is only half (or less) of what I will need to deal with over a full 26.2
Maybe in late fall...time will tell. Historically I dont run a lot of distance over the summer, mostly under 5 miles. Makes it tougher to ramp up in the fall for me, maybe this year will be different. The place in the picture is a great running path, also great for the mountain bike. I'm hoping to post more pictures of other places I run in the future. There are definitely some cool scenes I take in along my regular routes. |
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Sven - Looks like a cool place for a race!
I did a few 4 mile circuits the past few runs....been taking it easy on my body for the week and healing a bit. Will probably aim for around 15-20 miles during the week and then shoot for a 10+ miler next weekend. Here is another path that I used to run a lot. I dont hit it that often these days....sunsets were always awesome...the opening behind the path faces due West....every night that I ran at dusk the sky would be lit up like a painting. When I get a chance I'll walk over and take a good sunset picture. 
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Great thread!
My story, in brief: I got up to over 330 pounds and had a resting heart rate in the 80s. My blood pressure was high. I looked like crap and everyone thought I was about 10 years older than I really was. Did i mention I was in my late 20s at the time? Took up running. First time I did a mile it was in 12ish minutes and it was a max effort type run for me. I kept at it and added in the elliptical and some group exercise classes. Dropped a crapload of weight and kept at it despite sucking hard at it. Fast forward and I'm in my early 30s now. I run regularly. People tell me I look my age or younger. Resting HR in the 50s. BP is normal. I have run everything from 5ks to huge city wide half marathons. Training for a marathon now. I learned that anyone can lose weight but that's not enough. There has to be a lifestyle change. I'd yo-yo right back up to lardassland if I had it in my mind this this was a "diet" or that I'm "suffering" through exercise. Running is something I do, like showering or brushing my teeth. |
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Quoted:
Great thread! My story, in brief: I got up to over 330 pounds and had a resting heart rate in the 80s. My blood pressure was high. I looked like crap and everyone thought I was about 10 years older than I really was. Did i mention I was in my late 20s at the time? Took up running. First time I did a mile it was in 12ish minutes and it was a max effort type run for me. I kept at it and added in the elliptical and some group exercise classes. Dropped a crapload of weight and kept at it despite sucking hard at it. Fast forward and I'm in my early 30s now. I run regularly. People tell me I look my age or younger. Resting HR in the 50s. BP is normal. I have run everything from 5ks to huge city wide half marathons. Training for a marathon now. I learned that anyone can lose weight but that's not enough. There has to be a lifestyle change. I'd yo-yo right back up to lardassland if I had it in my mind this this was a "diet" or that I'm "suffering" through exercise. Running is something I do, like showering or brushing my teeth. It is a lifestyle....much more than an isolated activity. When I realized I had KEPT the weight off for a year it sunk in that I had actually made a difference that could last. It's lasted for about 6 years now and I cant imagine a day when it wont be a part of my life. Like any commitment...there are sacrifices and there are rewards. Both are neccesary...I've never experienced one without the other. |
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Update Time....
Dont know if I caught the H1N1 variety influenza or just the plain old seasonal type but something kicked my ass for about 3 weeks. I was up to about 40 miles a week and on the verge of registering for a 1/2 marathon when work got busy and I started to feel like crap. Tried to run through the first week of being sick but it just made things worse....then I took about two weeks off entirely from all exercise. Starting runing about 10 days ago again...lost so much endurance.....illness really sucks. First day out I took on a very easy 4 miler....3 miles out I had to walk, trying not to cough out part of my innards 
After a few easier 5k circuits I was able to knock down 3 miles at about a 9-10 minute pace, which at this point is fine. Will start to ratchet things back up to 5 miles this week and go from there. Doubt I'll run longer distances until the fall now...too damn hot to run far, my body just cant take it 
Here is a path near my house...this is a regular part of my week...several of the loops I've measured out either begin or end on this section of trail... 
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You've got some really nice places to run!
I'm un-offically (need to keep the whammies away!) training for a fall marathon. I'm really only comfortable running on my local roads for a few short hours on Sunday mornings.. From about 6AM to 8AM.. hopefully all of the drunks have made it home, and the 80 year old women aren't headed for church yet. The rest of the time I'd rather run on a treadmill at my gym than deal with traffic. I can just put my earbuds in and just zone out..maybe people-watch a little. |
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Just went on my first run/jog in over a year about two hours ago. I've been stressing all week about finals, which are over now, and figured this would help me chill out. I'm not too out of shape, but it still kicked my ass. I just mapped out my path on google earth and it was roughly 1.7mi. No way I was running for more than 0.9mi-1mi of that, though. I'm going to do it again tomorrow night, and hopefully keep it up every night after work. Wish me luck, haha.
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Just got in from a mellow 4 miler...grey and cloudy here and in the 50's, no one out on the roads really....pretty quiet run.
Still trying to build endurance....amazing what being sick took out of me. Did a great first mile....then got damn tired. Hoping to make some gains before the temps rise up into the 90's again. |
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Yea I know what you mean. Whenever I take more than a couple days off I pay for it big time the next run. I just ran for my first time in over a week and put in 7 miles, thought I would take a little break before my 18 week training begins in june.
I seriously envy those trails 
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This is a really cool thread and feel compelled to contribute to it. Its hard to describe how much running has changed my life. It has completely transformed me from 2 years ago. Physically as well as mentally I am not the same person. I have gone from an obese total wreck of a human being to a lean mean running machine. I am in better shape then i was when I was in HS and I am 50 now. All of this happened in about 2 years.
My story: I am 50 yo male, married, 2 girls. I too had fallen way out of shape. I was drinking and partying too much. I used to be in shape, and a runner. I have photo of me completing the Peachtree Road Race 10K in 1986 so I knew it was in me and I wanted to be fit and in shape again. I knew drinking was the major culprit and was what I was basically living for. You know after work stop for a few beers, on weekends go to parties, we have all been there. That was keeping the runner in me suppressed. I used to binge and party 3-4 days per week. But the only way I could get there was to make some major changes in my life. So I totally quick drinking in the fall of 2006, cold turkey, no 12 steps or anything like that, just one day woke up and said that's it - never again. I had reached a portly 210 lbs at 5-7 and could not bend over to tie my shoes. I said that is it. I thus began my fitness journey. At first I began walking everyday for an hour. I would try to go 4 miles. I slowly began interjecting short amounts of running. Maybe a 1/10 mile was the most I could muster. One day after about 6 weeks I remember being able to make it a full lap around the local HS track. I was so proud of myself. At the same time weight started dropping off. I had combined my daily walking regimen with diet as well. I got my metabolism stoked and wt continued to fall off. I slowly started replacing the walking with running. I entered my first 5K after about 8 months of walking / running and finished just at 30:00. Now I have been running for 16 months straight. I now weigh 155 lbs. I run 30 miles per week. I have run numerous 5K, 10K, 15K, and 2 half marathons. My 5K time is 22:30. My PR for 10K is 46:11. My HM time is 1:47. I regularly place in the 50-54 age group. I have a stack of race tee shirts that I dont have room to store. I will get up at 5:00 am on a saturday morning when the whole world is sleeping and head out to a race in the local metro area. My wife thinks I am crazy. I am very motivated by running - it is hard to describe. I am totally addicted. What was once a dreaded boring activity is now something I cant live without. There are too many benefits to mention from running. Running challenges me. I get a tremendous sense of accomplishment from it. I dont even look like the same person. I went to a graduation party last weekend in our neighborhood and alot of people had not seen me in the last 2 years. They were astounded. Simply put, running is life. |
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Quoted:
This is a really cool thread and feel compelled to contribute to it. Its hard to describe how much running has changed my life. It has completely transformed me from 2 years ago. Physically as well as mentally I am not the same person. I have gone from an obese total wreck of a human being to a lean mean running machine. I am in better shape then i was when I was in HS and I am 50 now. All of this happened in about 2 years. My story: I am 50 yo male, married, 2 girls. I too had fallen way out of shape. I was drinking and partying too much. I used to be in shape, and a runner. I have photo of me completing the Peachtree Road Race 10K in 1986 so I knew it was in me and I wanted to be fit and in shape again. I knew drinking was the major culprit and was what I was basically living for. You know after work stop for a few beers, on weekends go to parties, we have all been there. That was keeping the runner in me suppressed. I used to binge and party 3-4 days per week. But the only way I could get there was to make some major changes in my life. So I totally quick drinking in the fall of 2006, cold turkey, no 12 steps or anything like that, just one day woke up and said that's it - never again. I had reached a portly 210 lbs at 5-7 and could not bend over to tie my shoes. I said that is it. I thus began my fitness journey. At first I began walking everyday for an hour. I would try to go 4 miles. I slowly began interjecting short amounts of running. Maybe a 1/10 mile was the most I could muster. One day after about 6 weeks I remember being able to make it a full lap around the local HS track. I was so proud of myself. At the same time weight started dropping off. I had combined my daily walking regimen with diet as well. I got my metabolism stoked and wt continued to fall off. I slowly started replacing the walking with running. I entered my first 5K after about 8 months of walking / running and finished just at 30:00. Now I have been running for 16 months straight. I now weigh 155 lbs. I run 30 miles per week. I have run numerous 5K, 10K, 15K, and 2 half marathons. My 5K time is 22:30. My PR for 10K is 46:11. My HM time is 1:47. I regularly place in the 50-54 age group. I have a stack of race tee shirts that I dont have room to store. I will get up at 5:00 am on a saturday morning when the whole world is sleeping and head out to a race in the local metro area. My wife thinks I am crazy. I am very motivated by running - it is hard to describe. I am totally addicted. What was once a dreaded boring activity is now something I cant live without. There are too many benefits to mention from running. Running challenges me. I get a tremendous sense of accomplishment from it. I dont even look like the same person. I went to a graduation party last weekend in our neighborhood and alot of people had not seen me in the last 2 years. They were astounded. Simply put, running is life. Thanks for chiming in....our stories arent far apart. Running really is a lifestyle.....I have never come home from a long run in a bad mood.....never. |