There are 18 weeks until Hood To Coast! I’m not really excited yet because most of my training thus far has been for the bike ride I’m doing next month. After May 15th my training will shift to running.
(Not My Pic) HOOD TO COAST
Last night I was supposed to meet a friend at the gym to do weights. Unfortunately she canceled so I went on my own. I did a short workout because it was really crowded and I just wasn’t into it. I did 27 minutes on the stair-master and then did 20 minutes of weights. I focused on arms and abs. I’m a tad sore this morning! I burned 330 calories at the gym last night.
I was in kind of a bad mood yesterday. Michael was a sweetie and cheered me up. 🙂 He made dinner (White Trash Casserole) and we watched “Lost” and snuggled. Much better today! 🙂
Do you want to start running but don’t know how?
One way to slowly introduce running into your routine is to follow the Couch to 5K program. Check out the website here: http://www.c25k.com/ I didn’t do this program when I started running. Like everything else in my life, I just figured it out as I went along and did things intuitively. But it sounds like a great program. Each session is about 30 minutes a few times a week. The C25K Program maps out each week for you and helps you build up your stamina.
Couch to 5k
Don’t feel bad if you can’t run the first time out. It is OKAY to run/jog/walk. There is no pressure to be able to run a marathon your first time! 🙂
The general rule for starting a running program is to not increase your running more than 10% each week.
Common running injuries are:
*Runner’s Knee
*Shin Splints
*Tendinitis/Bursitis in knees and ankles
*IT Band Inflammation
Preventing Running Injuries
1. Get a good pair of running shoes. If you can, get fitted at a running store.
2. Don’t overtrain. Adding too much speed, too much distance, too much intensity too soon can cause injuries.
3. Stretch stretch stretch. After you run, always stretch!!!
4. Take a yoga class to improve flexibility.
5. ICE ICE ICE! It really does help sore muscles.
6. Buy a Foam Roller and use it! It’s like giving yourself a deep tissue massage.
7. Drink plenty of water.
8. Be sure to have Rest Days to rest your body. The more you run, the more stamina you have and you’ll find that your recovery time is much shorter!
QUESTION: How did you start running? Do you have advice for beginners?
Shamrock
Kelly
You know I love this!
lisaou11
I loved Couch to 5k! i used it around DEcember-January and now I can run 3-4 miles pretty easily!
Kristen
You’re my gym idol if you can go that long on a stairmaster. Even when I’m in shape, the stairmaster is my mortal enemy. I can never quite manage to make it more than 5 minutes without wanting to cry.
hundredtenpounds
What speed/setting do you use on the stair-master? I usually do 40-60 minutes on the stair-master. It’s one of those rolling stairs–not the type that you just move up and down. If that makes sense. 🙂
Ivie
I am in my last week of C25K with my first 5K this Sunday. When I started, I couldn’t even do the 8 intervals of 60 sec run/90 sec walk; and I thought to myself, I couldn’t do it, but I could. Just taking it slow and pushing yourself is my tip. Also, STRETCH and warm up walk and cool down walk, even if it just a few minutes for each one. I also have terrible knees and surprisingly, the haven’t hurt at all! So You don’t need to wait till you lose weight, get fit, feel better, because running will do that for you!
Okay, off my soapbox. 🙂
hundredtenpounds
Thanks for sharing, Ivie! That’s so great that you did it! Good luck on your 5k!
Kellie
Is hood to coast like the Raganar Relay. I am running that tomorrow.
hundredtenpounds
I’m not sure… It’s a relay race. 197 miles in total. Each team can have a max of 12 people and so that breaks down to every teammate running about 15-20miles.
Kellie
that is like Ragnar. I run 15miles and as a team we do 199miles.
Ashley
I did Couch to 5K and got kind of hung up on week five or six. I couldn’t do whatever it called for (I think it was 20 nonstop running minutes) so I’d just go as long as I could and feel happy with that. I made it to the 5K I’d been training for and was so happy! The program works; it just requires a lot of patience.
hundredtenpounds
I guess I don’t see any harm in doing the program at your own pace. No one says you have to complete it in 9 weeks or 10!
Eunice
Great post! I just started running this year and I love it. The best advice I can give is to do research, educate yourself and surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you. That’s what’s so great about the blogging community 🙂
hundredtenpounds
Thanks for the great advice! I agree, having a community of runners makes it so fun!