you don't need to carb load for a 5k & other running wisdom

Bumping this to come back to! Trying to become a runner myself.

consider that if you take pepper spray more so for fear of bears than people, that they may just think of it as extra seasoning!! lol

:laugh: Damn you, I already have a slight bear phobia! Not around here, black bears in this part of the country are usually docile, but as I've considered moving out to grizzly country, I had planned to carry bear spray. But not in hopes of attracting bears who like their food spicy!

LOL! Our bears aren't docile....we have the fur of one that was rather nasty hanging on our living room wall. (sorry vegans) Make sure if you use bear spray, you don't accidently spray yourself in the face, I hear its incredibly painful lol. And we carry whistles when we hike....they aren't a fan of loud noises.

We also have mean moose that run around town in winter lol. They are scarier then the bears.


And I LOVE this thread, so many great tips!

Bear spray is painful. OC spray (pepper spray) which is stronger is painful. And anytime you use it there is a big risk of cross contamination which sucks.

My first 5km speed walkers left a nice path in the snow forme to follow like bread crumbs lol

lol they were about 70 years old and highfived me as they passed lol i just about cried
im about a 15 min mile ( turtles pass me )
but ehhh im moving some day I willpaass them haha

If you think running is boring or stupid or no fun, try to find a local group of Hashers "On-on!" (Hash House Harriers) At the very least you'll meet really fun people. They are very welcoming of runners and run-walk-run-walk-runners of all levels. Plus, there's usually beer at the end. (If you like beer.)

If your doctor says don't run, don't. Even if you feel better or really want to or are crabby because you can't, don't. If you don't listen you might never be able to run again, or never again as well or as long or without lots of pain. Ask me how I know.

A very specific one - if you live in the inner city and there is one big park where dogs are allowed off-leash (and indeed, welcomed off leash), you should, well, expect there to be dogs. I run in that park, and I also walk my dogs there (my arthritic dog doesn't run so I don't run with him.) Bing snide, giving me dirty looks or otherwise indicating that my dogs should not be where you are running is ridiculous. It's a well signed, well regulated, well known OFF LEASH PARK. There's 10000 places for you to run that are none of these things so if you don't like dogs, go there. And if you run over my poor old arthritic dog who's doing his best to get out of your way, you better hope to heck you can outrun ME!! /pant pant rage pant

Get out of the gym and off the treadmill, but if that's the only way you're going to run, just run on the treadmill, then. Just run. You'll get outdoor fever soon enough.

Trim the corners of your toenails. Not so much that they ingrow, just take off the sharp edges.

If your big toenails turn black and fall off, your shoes don't fit properly - this is caused from them slamming into the toebox of your shoe. However, if you do a lot of downhills, it can happen anyway. Most runners have lost big toenails, its not unusual.

Buy a cast iron sportsbra. Do research. Get a good one. Your boobs will HURT if you don't.

A terrible run today doesn't mean the same tomorrow. Three or four in a row might mean you need a few days off - don't overtrain.

Cross train. Weight train. Core work makes awesome runners. So do squats and hamstring work. So does upper body work because it helps your posture. Don't neglect other areas of exercise.

Pump your arms. Use good form. If you're flagging, pump your arms even harder - you'll feel silly but it can give you a boost.

Cotton is not your friend. Also, your own sweat and rain is heavy if you wear cotton and not fabrics that wick and dry.

If you have flat feet you can still run! Just be prepared to pay a motzza for your shoes and look like Frankenstein's monster wearing his boots. But you can run! (My running shoes weigh 3/4lb/750gms.)

Listen to your body, but don't listen to it complain. In other words, running - at first and sometimes always - is kinda painful and you get puffed and feel ick and that's normal, don't stop. If it hurts and it shouldn't? Stop. If it goes tingly or numb and it shoudn't? STOP. You don't get extra hero points for pushing through abnormal pain.

Gymwraps (Google them) are the bomb and I love them and they keep the sweat off my hair so I can run at lunchtime and shower and still go back to work without totally wrecking it.

You might not think so, but pretty soon you'll know your own 'patterns' for want of a better word. That first km? I'm gonna die. Always. I can't breathe and it hurts and I hate it and I want to quit every single time. But if I tought that out it gets anywhere from tolerable to awesome. But for me that 1st km is gonna suck always. Other runners have different bad spots (my husband's hits around 3km and lasts until 5km, for example, and his beginning run is his favourite.) Once you know, it's better so you know you won't die.

Couch to 5k is amazeballs for new runners, and also for runners who have been out of the game for a while. The secret is you can repeat weeks if you're stuck. Don't quit! I repeated week 1 seven times when I was 120kgs!

I can't run much anymore due to a back injury - I can but only less than 5min at a time until my leg goes dead, and then once I have surgery I'll never run again. So if you can run, run! Enjoy it!

I have a friend who just stopped running when he turned 88, and he misses it but he broke a hip and the doctor told him to quit. He used to run marathons and ultras. The kicker? He didn't start until he was in his early 60s. So you're never too old to start, just do it!

Wash them ASAP after running then they don't have as much chance to smell (bacteria have less time to grow).

Oh yeah....running is mental. As the great Finnish distance runner said, "Mind is everything: muscle--pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind."

Once your mind has decided, the body has no choice but to submit.

I just LOVED this!!!

you would probably do good to take an nsaid like motrin before running. I am just starting c25k so I'm not a running expert but I take motrin before I do Curves/Zumba and other various exercises because it helps with the soreness later.

This was for the person talking about using painkillers or something like that.....

I run 3 or 4 times a week & notice a difference on days when I wear heels to work.....my legs/feet feel very different.

For races, carry Kleenex.....nervous stomach plus running has put me using the various port a potties at races. Sometimes there is no toilet paper.

I love running! Great thread!

Lots of good info in here. My wife, some friends, and I are running a 5k in May, Run For Your Lives. We are wanting to start training for it soon. I'm glad I read this.

you would probably do good to take an nsaid like motrin before running. I am just starting c25k so I'm not a running expert but I take motrin before I do Curves/Zumba and other various exercises because it helps with the soreness later.

Uhm, no. Taking NSAIDs while running is never a good idea. It could mask pain that could cause further injuries, and taking too many while exercising could lead to kidney failure and other complications.

It can also hurt your stomach.

Lots of great info....thanks!

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