Runners, what's your limit? How many miles/day, rest days...

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  • cwsikes
    cwsikes Posts: 86
    Started out 3 years ago not being able to run a single block without feeling like I was going to die. I completed the C25K program and now I can run! I now run at least a mile everyday (running streak of 455 days) with my regular run being 3 miles. I try to keep my normal weekly mileage around 20-25 miles a week in addition to cycling. My pace ranges from 8 min/mile to 15 min/mile depending on the type of race (5k versus 50k ultra trail runs). My 5k pace started at 11:30 min/mile and is now around 8:00 min/mile. I take rest days whenever I feel like it but I always run my mile.
  • ambiedawnz
    ambiedawnz Posts: 108 Member
    To the OP, I'm a beginner and love reading posts like this and seeing how long it has taken for someone to start running and any problems or training techniques they've come across during. Thank you for posting this topic! I can't wait to be able to accomplish a 5k without stopping to walk! I can't even begin to imagine EVER being able to do a half marathon.
    Right now I can only jog, and can make it 10 minutes before I need to stop and walk for a bit. I'm about to start the c25k program and hope I have a lot of success with it.
    I started pretty much unable to do anything. I worked out that a run round the block was exactly a kilometre and started out trying to run that without stopping. It took three or four attempts and then on 1st July I did it - before going out later that evening and doing it again! I had real trouble breathing and didn't expect to get much further.

    The weather here got stupidly hot in July so I spent the month doing intervals on a stationary bike and some light weights. On 31st July I managed to string the two kilometres together and was thrilled to bits.

    That was Wednesday. The following Sunday I ran three, and then did it again the next evening. Two days later, five. Three days after that, seven. Two days after that, ten! I went from 2km to 10km in two and a half weeks.

    My breathing is far less of an issue now - my lesson has been completely a mental thing, not to give up before I've reached my actual limit. I have all kinds of psychological tricks to keep me going and the physical aspect of it seems to be far less of a problem. Don't get me wrong, the 10km was tough and has taken some recovery afterwards, but I went out and did 3km three days later and was fine.

    Next challenges are 15km, and getting faster at shorter distances.

    Would you mind sharing some of your psychological tricks? I seem to have trouble keeping mentally focused during my jogging and finding it difficult to keep myself from thinking about how much time I have left or how much I just want to stop or how my legs feel etc.
  • boosieswoozie
    boosieswoozie Posts: 5
    I'm pretty overweight atm and just started to get back to a exercise routine. I started a week ago and was only able to jog about 1.3 miles now I can jog/run from 2.5-3 miles a day. I rest at least once a week, two if i have shin split pains or something. My BPM has significantly lowered during streneous exercise and I am now scared to up the intensity of my jog because I always feel dead after I run those 3 miles. The biggest motivation you can get from jogging is to know how significantly easier it gets to jog after you setup a routine.
    Keep at it and you'll feel great and happier.
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,659 Member
    I'm pretty overweight atm and just started to get back to a exercise routine. I started a week ago and was only able to jog about 1.3 miles now I can jog/run from 2.5-3 miles a day. I rest at least once a week, two if i have shin split pains or something. My BPM has significantly lowered during streneous exercise and I am now scared to up the intensity of my jog because I always feel dead after I run those 3 miles. The biggest motivation you can get from jogging is to know how significantly easier it gets to jog after you setup a routine.
    Keep at it and you'll feel great and happier.
    Splints are horrible :frown:

    Try Sorbothane Insoles for those splints, they absorb 80-90% of the shock. Also, have you had your running gait analysed and correct shoes fitted? It can make a hell of a difference and possibly stop the damned splints.

    WTG on your running by the way and you are 100% correct in that it definitely gets easier :flowerforyou:

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