MFP Runner's Club

willywonka

Happy Thursday Runners :flowerforyou:
I had a nice session of speedwork at the track today. I don't think I have ever sweated so much in my life. I did 400 meter sprints with 1 minute rests in between for a total of 3 miles. I finally learned how to use my new Garmin and I am loving the lap resets, really helps with training.

K2T4e2n6

Hey! Thanks for taking the time out to offer up some tips and advice on how to make my run less...well, I don't want to say painful :laugh: but I DID finish and with a much faster time than I'm used to. I'm completely exhausted but I definitely feel good.

Almost good enough to go out and do it again tomorrow!!

Thanks again!!!

RunRideRay

Squirrel story is cute too, poor little fella. Not quite like elf, but love that movie. Crew of us riding along at a good clip, maybe 25 MPH. Little squirrel decided to run across the road in the middle of our pack. Somehow he catches a front wheel, and gets sucked between the down tube of the bike and the front wheel. The wheel just kept pulling him into the frame putting a skid mark on the poor fella’s tummy. I was riding next to him and could see the terror in his eyes. My buddy slowed down (amazing he did not crash) and after about 10 seconds he could get out and scurried off.

Kechie.. that’s funny, way to be the friendly runner! There’s a wooded park I often run at after work. I call it the EMA circle (extra-marital affair)! We do the same loop, so we see it all. One car shows up, and a person just enjoys bird watching, how nice. Another car shows up, hmm.. where did the bird watcher go… and what the heck is going on inside that SUV? It’s a common sighting on EMA circle…. who needs to watch TV for drama? :smooched: :smooched: :smooched:

You learn to pay attention to everything going when you run, there are truly amazing things that happen everyday.... only if you take the time to notice.

Nuff stories from me.... great job everyone!

Ray

beckyi88

Love the stories!! :laugh: I don't have anything as funny to add, but here is what I do have...
The only incident I've had lately was while running back by my house, I scared a squirrel straight into my cat's path. Cat caught the squirrel, cat lost the squirrel, both went up the tree, cat got squirrel again, frantic human yelled at cat (thinking rabies,etc) cat lost squirrel, human had lots of adrenaline for the next mile!
There was also the bird chasing the squirrel on Tuesday. Very funny....that bird was mad and the squirrel was scared!
Short sprints and mile run with boot camp today. Tomorrow and Saturday will be longer runs...aiming for 5-7 each day.
Thanks for the laughs! :happy:

Becky

runnerdad

SIx mile tempo run in this morning. Lots of entertaining posts to come home to. Good day all around.

hessied

Come on Heather -- you must admit that being chased by a crazy cat or having a squirrel hitch a ride would certainly spice things up a bit!!!

Heck yeah it would! One of my best friends lives in the boonies and crosses paths with black bear all the time on h er runs. I actually bought her pepper spray so she could fend them off if she has to. Normally she'd have her poor boyfriend trail her in his car as she ran. That's a good boy!

hessied

Just got back from a hot and sweaty 7-miler. Felt pretty good today and my legs are not nearly as noodly as I thought they'd be after yesterday's workout. Could my chubby legs be getting stronger??? Hmmm...:noway:

SatelliteCrush80

Hey y'all!

No run for me today...I'm planning on a strength training day. Hoping to get my last run before my race in tomorrow so I can be good and rested for Sunday.

Just so you know, my runs are not nearly as exciting as all this. I've seen some deer, ducks and rabbits at the park, but no bears or anything like that. :laugh:

VballLeash

jabdye- It was water in the water bottle! lol What do you think I have some special mix, if only! :happy:

SatelliteCrush- Good luck on your race, you will do great!

I don't think I have very many exciting running stories except one time I did see some huge guy running really fast (not a runner) down a hill with a huge stick in his hand, on the way back from my run I saw 4 cars that had been broken in to, yea I think he had something to do with that! Good ol' san bernardino, I can't wait to move to where theres a beautiful trail (one week!!!!)

Did 10 this morning, I got out a little late so it was hot but still good. Happy Running!

~Leash

mandyibiza

Try this website its free http://www.activetrainer.com/ ive just started using it, its good to track your fitness activities and has lots of free training programmes..
A year ago I could not run , I have since done half marathon and run about 3 or 4 10k runs a week in under 50 mins, so keep with it, my first 10k run was about 1hr 15
Ran 12k tonight in an hour... The nike+ is good aswell as this motivates you when you compete with other runners in races...

VballLeash

Try this website its free http://www.activetrainer.com/ ive just started using it, its good to track your fitness activities and has lots of free training programmes..
A year ago I could not run , I have since done half marathon and run about 3 or 4 10k runs a week in under 50 mins, so keep with it, my first 10k run was about 1hr 15
Ran 12k tonight in an hour... The nike+ is good aswell as this motivates you when you compete with other runners in races...

Thanks Mandy! I believe you are new to the runner's club, WELCOME!!! :happy:

~Leash

sonia2

I just love this thread!!!

7 mile speedwork run this am:

1 mile warm-up
3 x 1600 in 8:52 w/ 800 jogs == 4.5 miles
1.5 mile cool-down

I did it on the treadmill. It was soooo hard, but I finished!

vrdz3215

Nice leisurely 2 miles this morn, plus 20 min on bike and 20 on elliptical, topped off with some weight training! I was on it today!!! Tommorrow will b a 4 mile day! Going to start a training program I got from RUnners world on Monday to try and get my 5K time down to under 23 mins..wish me luck!:flowerforyou:

vrdz3215

I just love this thread!!!

7 mile speedwork run this am:

1 mile warm-up
3 x 1600 in 8:52 w/ 800 jogs == 4.5 miles
1.5 mile cool-down

I did it on the treadmill. It was soooo hard, but I finished!

I don't see how you can do that on a treadmill, I get sooooooooooo bored on the treadmill! I have to be outside to run...i think its the change in the scenery....

sonia2

I don't see how you can do that on a treadmill, I get sooooooooooo bored on the treadmill! I have to be outside to run...i think its the change in the scenery....
[/quote]


That's why it was sooooo hard!!!:laugh: I hate going more than 4 or 5 on a treadmill, but with 3 kids, sometimes I have no choice. I'm like you, I do prefer outside and a change of scenery.

Good luck with that >23 min 5k---- that's fast!! I love to here everyone's times!!

sonia2

I just love this thread!!!

7 mile speedwork run this am:

1 mile warm-up
3 x 1600 in 8:52 w/ 800 jogs == 4.5 miles
1.5 mile cool-down

I did it on the treadmill. It was soooo hard, but I finished!

I don't see how you can do that on a treadmill, I get sooooooooooo bored on the treadmill! I have to be outside to run...i think its the change in the scenery....

That's why it was sooooo hard!!! I hate going more than 4 or 5 on a treadmill, but with 3 kids, sometimes I have no choice. I'm like you, I do prefer outside and a change of scenery.

Good luck with that >23 min 5k---- that's fast!! I love to here everyone's times!!

RunRideRay

Good job Sonia.... 7 mile speedwork on a treadmill is a killer. What a mental challenge.

One of my original posts was about watching movies while running on the treadmill. It's an awesome way to get your mind off from running. You just need a good action flick, like "Taken". I just watched it last month on a trans-atlantic flight and it's the perfect running movie. Get a multi-day rental and break it into two runs, and you'll have an awesome reason to run the next day.

Just a tip... for those that may choose some treadmill reprive.

Raymond

kechiemc

Good morning:flowerforyou:

5 mile interval workout today:
1 mile to warm up
800 meter @ 4:16 w/ 400 meter jogs between
1 mile to cool down

Funny thing: I am repeating this workout b/c I did not hit 4:16 on every interval last week. Today I thought I would run the route in reverse just to mix things up a bit. Omg, there was one hill that almost killed me. I hit 4:20 on all of the other intervals except that one interval, 5:06 - and it wasn't pretty.

Enjoy the day
-Kechie.

jabdye

I just love this thread!!!

7 mile speedwork run this am:

1 mile warm-up
3 x 1600 in 8:52 w/ 800 jogs == 4.5 miles
1.5 mile cool-down

I did it on the treadmill. It was soooo hard, but I finished!

Congrats -- great run!!!

but I must say, I would reather run on the treadmill than outdoors in this heat....being the "treadmill sissy" that I am :laugh:

jabdye

I did 4.5 miles outdoors in the crazy heat and humidity! Had trouble breathing :frown: -- I'm going to try using an inhaler before I go next time to see if I'm truly just a sissy or there is some validity to exercise induced asthma. :grumble:

Hope you all have a happy Friday -- woohoo -- just a few more hours till the weekend officially begins! :drinker:

Enjoy your day!
Julie

foxyforce

hey runner's club!

what does everyone do to stretch? sorry if this is a double post, but i see activity goin on in here
so, my calves hurt the next day after a long jog
is this normal?

and what should i be doing in terms of stretching before and after?

chrissyh

Today will be wk 8 day 2 C25K - I think I am going to do some water aerobics in between my run days (when it's not a strength day) - haven't tried it yet but I figured it would be easy on the joints in between runs.

msarro

I miss running. My ankle/lower calf/tendon feels better but I'm still concerned. I'll give it another day or so.. think that's enough time?

Chrissy - I'm proud of you, you're doing awesome with c25k

Loathesome - I try to stretch/loosen the following:

ankles: Keep your leg straight and point your toes, then draw a circle with them moving only your ankle, both directions for about 30 seconds.

calves - wall push ups

shins - sit down with my legs under me, bent at the knees. Then, keeping your weight on your feet, pull up the knee on the side you want to stretch.

Quads - Stand on one foot and hold the other close to your butt, tight enough to stretch

Hamstring - Bend over and touch your toes

Groin - Sit in a "butterfly" position and press down on both of your knees.

Arms - move your arms in a circle, and just do general arm stretches.

jodi0117

hey runner's club!

what does everyone do to stretch? sorry if this is a double post, but i see activity goin on in here
so, my calves hurt the next day after a long jog
is this normal?

and what should i be doing in terms of stretching before and after?

Hello! I would suggest not to stretch before you run, but make sure you get in a good warmup--5 minutes of walking/light jogging and then cool down the same way. Then, msarro gave you some good overall stretches. I would add maybe a "downward facing dog" yoga pose--great for calves!
Or, you could stand with your toes on a step/curb/ledge and drop your heel off the back-also good!

Good luck to you,
Jodi

jodi0117

Howdy everyone!

Got up nice and early this morning to beat the heat (is that actually possible?)--got in an 8-miler. I can add to the list of interesting things seen on runs: I saw a wild turkey with three babies following close behind this morning-too cute! Anybody know what turkey babies are called? I can't seem to remember or maybe I never knew. I also get to see lots of armadillos, you know, alive, not dead on the road!

The most adrenaline pumping experience I've had is doing a "hop, skip and jump" over a rattlesnake in my pathway that I didn't see until the last minute--YIKES!

I am jealous of those who have treadmills--I used to have that option!

SatelliteCrush--good luck on your 5K this weekend--remember, you are only racing against yourself!

I think I am still on my "runner's high" I can't seem to shut up!

Have a great day everyone!
Jodi

jabdye

Jodi -- why not stretch? I don't stretch a ton before my run -- but feel like a need some. Is that harmful???

kechiemc

Jodi -- why not stretch? I don't stretch a ton before my run -- but feel like a need some. Is that harmful???

There was a recent study on Runner's World that recommended stretching after you run. I personally am not good at stretching at all.:embarassed:

jodi0117

Jodi -- why not stretch? I don't stretch a ton before my run -- but feel like a need some. Is that harmful???

I guess I didn't mean you shouldn't stretch at all before, but you shouldn't stretch before you warm up your muscles a bit. I will stretch occasionally after a short warmup if I'm still feeling a little stiff, but I save any major stretching for after.

msarro

Jodi -- why not stretch? I don't stretch a ton before my run -- but feel like a need some. Is that harmful???

I guess I didn't mean you shouldn't stretch at all before, but you shouldn't stretch before you warm up your muscles a bit. I will stretch occasionally after a short warmup if I'm still feeling a little stiff, but I save any major stretching for after.

I think this may be kind of a personal thing that people will have to play with, at least for certain muscle groups. I know if I don't stretch my shins before I warmup/run they become mindnumbingly painful very fast. Stretching before eliminates that

RunRideRay

I have never stretched before running, but always take 2 miles with a nice and easy warm up. Beside, we have had tons of posts about how awful the first mile is anyway.

Same on the back end of a run, I have the last mile or so a cool down.

Stretching is great at preventing injuries. I'll be honest, I never correlate my run to stretching (I run, therefore I must stretch) but just fit it in whenever I can. I'll even stretch in the driveway just hanging out with kids... but I guess I don't mind the weird looks by folks driving by. For me, it's usually just focused on hamstring stretches. Now that I am doing some Yoga each week.... that's working everything else.

BTW... beside Msarro, tight calves mean they are getting stronger. They are one of the "weaker" muscle groups when you start running, but develop much faster than upper leg. They should not stay sore for long but will quickly get stronger and better defined... wooohooo right! :drinker: :drinker:

Raymond