Does running get easier!?

[Brians147 50]

I run 6.2 miles every other day and when I started 4 months ago I too shook and shivered as I ran. Get a good compression shirt and pants like that made by Underarmor. It holds all the looseness in place as you run. I did and I love them now. They are skin tight as you can see in the photo below but they make all the difference in the world. Running gets easier as you progress but don't go to fast or you'll get injured. 1 mile to start is too fast. Walk before you run girl.

I had my surgery on April 23rd, 2014 in Tijuana and started walking slowly a month later. that progressed to walking quicker and longer over the next two months until I was walking 10k (6.2 miles) very quickly. I'm Canadian hence the metric crap. We hate it too. At that point I started to run a minute/walk 5. Eventually I could run a mile then two and now the 10k.

Running is all about form I discovered. If you don't employ the right form you will hurt. It takes time to build up stamina. I run outside. Today it was -23 here in Saskatoon but layered up and ran 4 miles of sprints. Crazy Canuck? You bet but I feel great, pain free, and stress reduced.

Brian Trainor  

[danyelleb 386]

This has been an interesting thread to read, because I have always hated running. I always loved sports, but never could run worth a darn. I don't currently aspire to run, you know, EVER, but I really want to do one of those obstacle courses with the mud and stuff. I doubt that qualifies as "running" really, but someday I will do one of those - what's that one where you jump over fire? Not. That. One. LOL

In order to get my 5k on, I do random walking events, and I even bought the event shirts last year because they finally fit me! I recently did a Turkey Trot in the pouring rain on Thanksgiving and it was fun despite the sogginess. I've set a goal for the new year to do at least 4 events in 2015 (only managed 2 in 2014), even if I'm only walking.

That's an awesome goal!!! Obstacle races are a lot of fun. So is the color run. Look into that one too!!

[deedadumble 1,033]

That's an awesome goal!!! Obstacle races are a lot of fun. So is the color run. Look into that one too!!

Do you know which obstacle run would be good to start with? I know the Spartan race makes you do burpees for skipping obstacles.

[Brians147 50]

Check out this medal from the Mississippi Half Marathon Race. If that doesn't make you want to run there is none. Amazing.

[amazon 579]

You guys so inspirational

I've just tarted mixing in some running (ok, jogging) in to my time on the treadmill. It really felt great afterwards.

Unfortunately, my knee is not cooperating. I think it's the patella tendon yelling back at me. So now I'm resting it and applying ice at times. I hope this doesn't stop me from being able to proceed with mixing in some running!

Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

[jess9395 5,450]

You guys so inspirational

I've just tarted mixing in some running (ok, jogging) in to my time on the treadmill. It really felt great afterwards.

Unfortunately, my knee is not cooperating. I think it's the patella tendon yelling back at me. So now I'm resting it and applying ice at times. I hope this doesn't stop me from being able to proceed with mixing in some running!

Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

Check out IT band, sounds like yours may be tight. Yoga, foam rolling, myofacial release are good things for loosening it!

Edited January 12, 2015 by jess9395

[deedadumble 1,033]

You guys so inspirational

I've just tarted mixing in some running (ok, jogging) in to my time on the treadmill. It really felt great afterwards.

Unfortunately, my knee is not cooperating. I think it's the patella tendon yelling back at me. So now I'm resting it and applying ice at times. I hope this doesn't stop me from being able to proceed with mixing in some running!

Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

Check out Chi running for help on your running form. You may be striding too far in front of your body and putting stress on your knees. There are videos on YouTube and websites dedicated to it.

Have you been fitted for running shoes? If not, try out some with a "zero drop" or "minimal drop". They will also help with knee issues. I wear Brooks PureCadence and love them. Since I switched from Brooks Adrenalines I've had a lot less knee pain.

If it's a patella problem (chondromalacia), physical therapy can help build the inner quad muscles to help pull the patella into correct alignment with the knee groove. Taping using KT tape can also help, but it needs to be done correctly.

[Chrystee 838]

You guys so inspirational

I've just tarted mixing in some running (ok, jogging) in to my time on the treadmill. It really felt great afterwards.

Unfortunately, my knee is not cooperating. I think it's the patella tendon yelling back at me. So now I'm resting it and applying ice at times. I hope this doesn't stop me from being able to proceed with mixing in some running!

Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

Check out Chi running for help on your running form. You may be striding too far in front of your body and putting stress on your knees. There are videos on YouTube and websites dedicated to it.

Have you been fitted for running shoes? If not, try out some with a "zero drop" or "minimal drop". They will also help with knee issues. I wear Brooks PureCadence and love them. Since I switched from Brooks Adrenalines I've had a lot less knee pain.

If it's a patella problem (chondromalacia), physical therapy can help build the inner quad muscles to help pull the patella into correct alignment with the knee groove. Taping using KT tape can also help, but it needs to be done correctly.

I agree with all points.. Most likely IT band.. and definitely get the minimal type shoes. I had horrible shin splints, until I switched.

[Rovobay 920]

Okay, I have started running. wahooooo.... I am up to 5k (mix of run and walk) complete in under 40 minutes. as I build endurance, I need to learn about form. so many questions that I feel need to be answered in person, by a pro.... I live in Portland, maybe I can "run" into the famous coach/athlete Alberto Salazar and have him give me some pointers. Or go back to high school (undercover) and join a track team.... I really do feel that I need to learn proper form now so I advance correctly. I have no idea what I look like when I run. loosing another 40+ pounds or so would help immensely as well. love this thread.

[amazon 579]

Thanks @@Chrystee @@deedadumble @@jess9395

I looked up the symptoms related to the IT band. It's the opposite of what I experienced. My pain is on the inside vs. the outside. hmmm.

I have flat feet and I do have orthotics, although when I wear boots, etc. I don't use them. But I wear sneakers with them most days at work (yah, stylish I know - finding shoes that fit orthotics is a royal pain).

Fortunately my knee has improved quite a bit from rest. That's a good thing I think.

I plan to go get fitted for some running shoes in the very near future. I have a few options in my area (Marathon Sports, New Balance...). I think I need to do this before I do more running.

Edited January 14, 2015 by amazon

[esskay77 785]

I used to have pain on the inside of my knee (inside of my leg at the knee if that makes sense). My issue ended up being the MCL (vs the usual ACL that most people have trouble with). Physical therapy helped me very quickly. I just needed to properly build up the muscles around the knee for proper support. It's been great ever since! Try a physical therapist--they are BRILLIANT!

[amazon 579]

I used to have pain on the inside of my knee (inside of my leg at the knee if that makes sense). My issue ended up being the MCL (vs the usual ACL that most people have trouble with). Physical therapy helped me very quickly. I just needed to properly build up the muscles around the knee for proper support. It's been great ever since! Try a physical therapist--they are BRILLIANT!

Thanks! Makes perfect sense to me

It just so happens I'm seeing my ortho in one week - a follow up from getting a cortisone shot in my right hip (bursa). It's been much better since then (hence the running).

I can at least have him check out my knee and see if he'll send me for some PT.

[Brians147 50]

FINALLY A BREAK IN THE POLAR VORTEX!

It's 1c (34f) here in Saskatoon, Canada. I ran last week in -32c weather with s windchill of -50c. For my nonCanadian friends, -40c is -40f so that's freakin' cold.

We ran 7k of steep hills last night then I went to a 1.5 hr yoga for runners class. Pretty tired this morning but but by this afternoon, I couldn't resist the warm weather and the sun so I went out for a 4 mile easy run.

I'm now down 127 lbs in 8 months post mini gastric bypass surgery and am 4 lbs from goal of 189 at 6'1".

[Brians147 50]

Though I said I wasn't going to run today after yesterday's muscle burning hill run I just could not run when it's above freezing here. From running in -30c (about 25 below F) weather last week to 2c (36F) today, I had to get out. Ran 6.24k (about 4 miles) at an easy pace and felt great.

If you're post Bariatric surgery, get active but start slow. Exercise is the second tool we have been granted in this lifestyle do over. The first tool was the surgery. It's not a cure, but a terrific tool if we use it properly. The ability to finally move and become active because we've lost some or a lot of weight us the second tool. Look upon these things as gifts given to us who have struggled all our lives with weight issues. Fur maybe the first time in a long time we have the control to change our lives.

Exercise is the second gift or tool. Make good use of it because it will bestow a ton of bonuses upon you if you do.

Walk before you run. Walk daily for a month, and slowly increase your distance. Once you can walk an hour, start to increase your speed for the same distance. From there add a run segment but very slowly.

Walk 5-7 mins, run 1, repeat for that same distance. After a couple months you'll be running the entire distance.

Remember why your doing it. You're not a professional. No one is paying you to be active or run. You are doing it for your health, for stress reduction, and most of all because you enjoy it. If it's not fun, why are you running?

Two years ago my dad died in hospital. The week before he passed, I was at his side visiting. He had a breathing tube dvd a feeding tube down his throat. He couldn't talk, take care of his bodily functions alone, nor could he do much but sleep. The doctors came to his bed to ask him if he wanted DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), or did he want Heroic Measures taken in the event his heart stopped. My dad told them he wanted quality of life, not quantity and decided to accept the DNR. A week later he died of double pneumonia.

I think about that moment often.

Quality of life over quantity.

What kind of quality did we have when we were 100, 120, 150 lbs it more overweight? I was on 15 pills a day for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, GERD, depression, and herniated discs in my lower back which I've had surgically repaired. Gallstones necessitated the removal of my gallbladder last year.

My quality of life sucked but now I have these two tools that just keep giving back the more I use them. Life has changed since I've become active, since I've had surgery, and since I've dropped over 100 lbs. Join me because if I can do it, anyone can. It just takes time that's all.

[esskay77 785]

Thank you @@Brians147, that was very inspirational!!