What to do BEFORE you start!

rduhlir
rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
Hey everyone,

It is your wonderful, poster posting, information sharing running friend Becky, back with another new post. This is a welcome to all the new comers. I come back from vacation for 4 days and see like 20 new people. Winter is over, spring has begun and it has herded a new crop of C25K participants. Funny how the sun does that to people.

Whether you are a week in or are researching to start your journey, this is one thread you want to read. This will be the low down. Your one stop, shop to get all information you need to make sure your starting is injury free and as successful as possible. So here we go....the biggies that everyone should know before begining.....

1. Get a check up
Sure you feel great. But if you are a man over 45 or a woman over 55, and especially if you have known illnesses, go see your doctor before starting. There might be risk factors you dont' know about, i.e. maybe you have high blood pressure and don't know it. Get the okay from your doctor, or at least set up a monitoring schedule to make sure you remaining healthy and injury free. This is a good time to get recommendations from your doctor on sports medicine clinics, for either sports massages or for anyt injuries you might end up getting further down the road.

2. Set a goal
They become your incentives. If you don't set goals, you'll get bored. Becoming bored means you increase your chance of quiting. Set a target. Maybe it is as simple as being able to run for 30 minutes straight, or maybe it is to run that 5K in July. Make sure it is realistic. Starting today, and hoping to run a 5K tomorrow isn't.

3. Take it slow
If you need to repeat a week, do not be afraid to do so. Also, don't go out guns blazing. Slow is the new fast. Going too fast or too much too soon can cause injury, which puts you right back at the begining.

4. Buy Running shoes
Most people dont' want to invest in this at the begining because they are afraid they won't stick it out. But, buying running shoes can mean the difference between success and failure. Go to a running store and get fitted. That doesn't mean you have to buy them there. I have gone to the running store, gotten fitted and then found the shoes for half the price at Rack Room.

5. Set up a walk base
This is super important. If you are someone who can not go 100 feet without stopping for a breath of air then you need to stop and consider where you are realisticly. Creating a 30 minute/3 days a week walking base will help you increase your chance at success.

6. Consider time over distance
When you start, it shouldn't be about how far or how fast you can do something. It should be about how long. Running by time de-emphasized pace, and allows you to adjust to how YOU feel that day.

7. Tap the power of three
Three days a week minimum. Studies have shown that people who do not run regularly are more prone to quit. You can not achive running fitness unless you do it consistently.

8. Get to week 6
I say this because at this point you actually in the running portion of the program, have will have been running consistantly for 3 weeks. This is the turning point for most runners. Your metabolism is changing, you're getting more and more energetic, and your diet has probably improved.

9. Endurance over speed
Work on completing the program before worrying about how fast you are going. Once you are done you can readjust your focus to speed.

10. Seek Peer Pressure
Join a running club, or go to your local running store and see if they do organized runs. Breakaway (both Memphis stores) have group runs on Wednesdays. Meeting friends and having running buddies will help you maintain the new lifestyle.

11. Reward Yourself
When you hit milestones, give yourself a treat. Get yourself a medal, or get a cupcake (Gigi's was my reward hahaha). But, reward yourself for a job well done.

12. Get your family involved
If you have ever wondered if you could get your kids into it, the answer is yes. The C25K program is actually a good program to start children out on. The distance is minimal, and the run/walk splits are perfect recoveries for growing bodies. And, if you can enlist your SO to get involved you can make the runs family time.

13. Mix it up
Don't run the same place very time. Get out and run every where. Run down the street (get flashers if there are no sidewalks), run trails, run around the pond, run at the park.

14. Accept bad runs
Everyone has them. Everyone will have them. They are unavoidable. Accept the fact that not every run will end up you feeling great. On those tough days, slow down and focus on the task at hand.

15. Accentuate the positive
Don't put added pressure on yourself. Focus on the accomplishment of each workout.

16. Stretch, stretch, oh and stretch
What to stretch?
>>Hamstrings
>>Calves
>>Quads
«13456710

Replies

  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I'm going to bump this one regularly. GREAT information. GREAT post!
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Bumping to the top
  • kristafb
    kristafb Posts: 770 Member
    Lots of great info here. thank you for posting this.
  • timeasterday
    timeasterday Posts: 1,368 Member
    Great info!! I totally agree about the walking base. Before I ever started running I spent nearly a year walking our entire hilly neighborhood (4 miles) 3 days a week. Running seemed easy after all that.
  • Love this. Right now I am focused on getting myself through the program, but as soon as I am done I will be recruiting my 10 and 8 year old boys and my hubby. The baby will just get to go along for the ride.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Bumping
  • fitplease
    fitplease Posts: 647 Member
    Great list. I agree!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Bumping!
  • grapefruitannie
    grapefruitannie Posts: 122 Member
    good info thanks for sharing :flowerforyou:
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    BUMP
  • russlynne
    russlynne Posts: 40 Member
    new here....
    what is bumping???
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Bump means just pushing the thread to the top of the forum
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Yes, the message boards sort the topics so that the one with the last post goes to the top. I thought this topic would be valuable to you and I wanted to make it easy for you to find, so I posted a message in it.

    Since I didn't have anything new to add to the topic, I wrote 'bump.' Some think it means "Bringing Up My Post." I'm not sure of the actual origin, but it's traditional on the internet now.
  • yamsteroo
    yamsteroo Posts: 480 Member
    Lots of great tips there for beginners (like me!!).

    This really is a great group for people just starting out running as the more experienced are so encouraging - thanks! :)
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Just passing along what I get. You'll find that runners are a supportive community no matter what level we're at. It's too hard a sport not to be.
  • Mom_Ellis
    Mom_Ellis Posts: 72 Member
    Thank you for the information!!
  • amberpic
    amberpic Posts: 20
    I've been building up my walking base for the past month and will be starting on Monday!
  • Soxgirl97
    Soxgirl97 Posts: 44 Member
    Thank you for taking the time to post this!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    This is a must read!