Want to start running...need encouragement

[DivaStyleCoach 89]

Hi Everyone!

Ebony,

Let me give you a little tip for preventing and even helping shin splints. Take a wash cloth, or a dish towel and get it soaking wet. (obviously not to be done in your carpeted areas.) Sit on a chair with your legs crossed the way a lady in a short skirt might and pick the wet towel up off the floor using your toes, grabbing between your big toe and the next one. One you get it, lift it as high as you can,and them lower it back, repeating 10 times. This is a great exercise to prevent the splints.

Thanks, Bill! Will give this a try and let you know how it goes...

Thanks to everyone for the encouraging messages...I'm taking them to heart and so far enjoying wogging (jog/walk - borrowed that term from another poster).

My DDog thinks I'm nuts, though LOL - I keep having to encourage him to stay close to me while I'm running - he has no problem keeping up when I just walk.

Downloaded a new C25k program that allows me to use my music - I have an IPhone with tons of music on it, so I'll start with that version tomorrow. Missed my wog this morning because I overslept. If the rain holds off tonight (thunderstorms predicted this afternoon) I'll get my wog in tonight...

You've all made me feel so welcome - thanks again! :biggrin:

[BillOh 13]

Another 5k, another personal record. Love this stuff.

[DivaStyleCoach 89]

Good afternoon Runners and Woggers! :biggrin:

I'm really enjoying my "wog" program...I "wog" three days a week with my DH and DDog, and walk the other 4 days. I try not to miss a single day.

So far, we're doing the wog program on our normal 1 mile walk, and we've worked up to the point where we are jogging more than walking. In the next week or two, we'll be jogging the entire route (except for a block or so where we let DDog do his business). The shin splints have not come back - thanks BillOh for the exercise, I think it really helped - and I'm not as winded as I used to be. I'm not trying to jog really fast, but am trying to go faster than my fast walk. So far it's working wonderfully for me.

Once we get to the point where we are jogging the entire mile, we'll stretch out the distance each week to add more time and effort. I'm looking for a fall 5k run to get us both signed up for - probably late September or early-mid October (or maybe both!).

I didn't think I'd like jogging / running as much as I do now. I'm even getting my rain gear together so I can run in the rain if need be.

Next step - making sure I'm able to run in dry weather in the winter. If there's ice on the ground and the roads are not clear, I'll have to go to the gym, but if the roads are dry and it's not 20 below, out I go!

Thanks for all the encouragement :biggrin:

[BillOh 13]

Great Ebony, I too am thinking about the winter ahead and will be in the same situation, though I think my winters are a little milder than yours. I see your right at the half way point. I attribute my first half to the band and my effort, I attribute a lot of the 2nd half to the running, so make a note to come back near the end of the year so I can give you my "I told you so"

[krtork 0]

Ebony~ Yeah! Glad that you are enjoying your jog/running. It has been so great for me - I love it!

During the winter, make sure you get some yak-trax for the ice. I use them during the winter so that I can run on the snow and ice. I have found that I really like winter running better - not so hot! I can layer up, head out and go. I am sure that we have a much milder winter, but I was running on days that it was 25 out with no problems at all.

Keep up the good work! Find your 5K and get signed up - the first one will get you motivated for the 2nd!

[DivaStyleCoach 89]

Great Ebony, I too am thinking about the winter ahead and will be in the same situation, though I think my winters are a little milder than yours. I see your right at the half way point. I attribute my first half to the band and my effort, I attribute a lot of the 2nd half to the running, so make a note to come back near the end of the year so I can give you my "I told you so"

Will do Bill - and will gladly accept the "I told you so"! In fact, my DH noticed this morning that my legs are thinning out - I gotta believe that the jogging has helped that to happen. It's only been about 2 weeks, but I am very happy with my progress so far.

Ebony~ Yeah! Glad that you are enjoying your jog/running. It has been so great for me - I love it!

Me too - and I never thought I would...

During the winter, make sure you get some yak-trax for the ice. I use them during the winter so that I can run on the snow and ice. I have found that I really like winter running better - not so hot! I can layer up, head out and go. I am sure that we have a much milder winter, but I was running on days that it was 25 out with no problems at all.

Ebony makes notes for Google search *yak trax*...

Keep up the good work! Find your 5K and get signed up - the first one will get you motivated for the 2nd!

I've found about four races in our local area - gotta bounce the list past DH to see which ones also fit into his work schedule. If he can't go with me, I may go on my own...that's a big step, but I think I'll be ready! :biggrin:

[REALIZEinCT 0]

I just finished the c25k program! I can believe what the program has done for me. When I started it running for 60 seconds straight was difficult and now I am running 3.1 miles non-stop!!! :biggrin: My best 5k time on the treadmill so far is 34:50 which I did yesterday. I plan on running a couple of 5k races in the near future. Keep with it all, it does work!

[BillOh 13]

I just finished the c25k program! I can believe what the program has done for me. When I started it running for 60 seconds straight was difficult and now I am running 3.1 miles non-stop!!! :biggrin: My best 5k time on the treadmill so far is 34:50 which I did yesterday. I plan on running a couple of 5k races in the near future. Keep with it all, it does work!

I'll bet you will find your 5k times on the road are better than the ones on the treadmill.

[DivaStyleCoach 89]

Checking in and reporting...

I am LOVING this program! Friday I did my usual wog with DH and DDog - we tend to count 'blocks' instead of time because he doesn't have an iPhone and gets cranky when he tries to check a timer and run at the same time (non-techie that he is...) so we've been alternating running a block (I timed it - about 60 seconds on a shorter block, up to 2 minutes on a longer one) and walking a block. That morning I must have felt the 'groove' because I ran a block further than we had originally intended! It felt so good...I didn't even realize!

We're now running about 3/4 of our mile-long route and only walking a short distance - just enough to let DDog take his 'break'. I know we'll have to extend our route this week because we'll be shortening the time too much if we don't.

I am LOVING this program (did I say that already?) :thumbup: I rotate between two pairs of shoes, and with the exercise that BillOH gave me, no more shin splints! I can feel the difference in my stamina - didn't wog today because it was storming when I got up, but we switched back to 'normal' hours at work, meaning I get my 1-hour lunch back, meaning I can walk the hills near my office again. Did it today, and I felt it, but I wasn't at all tempted to stop halfway like I was when I first started.

I'm so happy I started the couch-2-5k!:wub:

[BillOh 13]

I rotate between two pairs of shoes, and with the exercise that BillOH gave me, no more shin splints! I can feel the difference in my stamina - didn't wog today because it was storming when I got up, but we switched back to 'normal' hours at work, meaning I get my 1-hour lunch back, meaning I can walk the hills near my office again. Did it today, and I felt it, but I wasn't at all tempted to stop halfway like I was when I first started.

I'm so happy I started the couch-2-5k!:thumbup:

A friend of mine started running and he had shin splints as well. The exercise helped him as well. The technique using the towel was written that way because its easy to hurt yourself lifting too much, so if you use the wet towel it falls out of your toes before you could hurt yourself. I did find a write up on the internet where people do the same thing, but just put a small object on top of your feet, but don't go over about 1lb per foot.

[krtork 0]

Checking in and reporting...

I am LOVING :wub: this program!

That morning I must have felt the 'groove' because I ran a block further than we had originally intended! It felt so good...I didn't even realize!

We're now running about 3/4 of our mile-long route and only walking a short distance - just enough to let DDog take his 'break'. I know we'll have to extend our route this week because we'll be shortening the time too much if we don't.

I am LOVING this program (did I say that already?)

I'm so happy I started the couch-2-5k!

Ebony~ WTG! So glad to see that you are increasing your distance and seeing benefits. :thumbup:

[BillOh 13]

That "groove" as you call it is pretty close to what we call "The runner's high" Don't worry it's legal.

[DivaStyleCoach 89]

Good morning Everyone!

Had an awesome "wog" this morning...our usual 1 mile course, only walking two blocks of the entire course now, and the sprint at the end was just wonderful this morning.

I felt strong, flexible, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I really stretched out at the end, felt the length of my stride (I have fairly long legs) and I thought at the end..."What was I waiting for?"

I the C25K process...I may not be following it to the letter, but it's working for me. I'm going to extend my distance this weekend and get my time back to the 30 minute mark.

Thanks for all the encouragement!

[Claudine1975 0]

Good going Ebonyrose!

This morning I was all pumped about my run and my iPod was not charged:cursing:. Instead if pouting about it. I decided to run as much as I can for as long as I can with OUT music. I ran for about 95% of 2.2 miles. I only stopped twice for about 45 seconds. I was so proud of myself Running without musics and with minimal breaks.

Keep up the good work everyone!

[BillOh 13]

Good going Ebonyrose!

This morning I was all pumped about my run and my iPod was not charged:cursing:. Instead if pouting about it. I decided to run as much as I can for as long as I can with OUT music. I ran for about 95% of 2.2 miles. I only stopped twice for about 45 seconds. I was so proud of myself Running without musics and with minimal breaks.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Claudine, that's great. With that you could enter many 5k's now. Many of them are not that competitive and many people walk the entire thing. My wife started that way and by the 3rd one she was running them completely in about 40 minutes. I'm lucky, I live in an area where I could find a 5k nearby every weekend. We are currently doing it every other weekend.

PS. I've inspired one of my skinny and 10 years younger friends to start running. We are running our first 5 k together this weekend. I intend on parking near the finish line and getting a lawn chair and beer (lite of course) and be waiting at the finish line for him.

Edited August 13, 2009 by BillOh