What have you learnt from running, spill please?

itstartswithastep
itstartswithastep Posts: 22
in Fitness and Exercise
I have to say the running bug has not bitten yet haha, it was pretty darn hard! I ran non stop for around 8-9 minutes just round the block, then walked briskly for about 6 minutes. Is it weird that when I finished my throat was really really wheezy, it was literally like in the space of fifteen or so minutes I had gotten a cold. I had to clear my throat out loads and when I breathed out deeply (after the run) I wheezed. I also had a really bad earache/ headache and it continued for a while afterwards as well, even though I had in ear phones so the wind (though quite breezy) I thought it might protect my ears more. I really want to improve, though it was painful and my breathing was crazy even though I was going slow. I was thinking of going out for a 2-3 mile runs 5 times a week, how does that sound? I would then hopefully do more and more as I get better. Any tips for beginners, I know there's that C25K thing but I am not really at couch level, but what have you learnt from running? Thanks

Replies

  • krhn
    krhn Posts: 781 Member
    As far as volume of training days, I don't know but from you have experienced. It might be because you just started that you are wheezing, your body might not be use to the amount of air breathed in and out - don't quote me on it though, a way to stop this could be sipping some water to clear out any blockages that's causing the wheezing.
    As far as headaches, it might be because your hyperventilating yourself too much from hard breathing - try slowing your tempo down throughout the run - when I ran (a long long long time ago) I would sort of get dizzy after since the exercise would cause mass flows of blood into your brain and back down again causing irregularities .
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    # 1 Lesson: If you have never run before or if you have otherwise allowed yourself to become unfit then running will be hard and not enjoyable for a while until you start getting in shape. How long this takes is probably variable dependant on the individual but in my case it took until I had accumulated about 150 miles, so several months from start.

    # 2 Lesson: If you stick out the hard part at the beginning and it will eventually become easy. Running at a moderate pace when you are in shape will feel not appreciably harder than walking when you are out of shape.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    When I began running, the same thing happened to me. You have to push yourself through it and keep going. Once you begin seeing improvement, it becomes far more enjoyable. And is it cold where you live?
  • sgmomma
    sgmomma Posts: 299 Member
    Do the couch to 5k program whether you like it or not.
  • Janet_andpie
    Janet_andpie Posts: 22
    I started running about 3 months ago, and to start with it was hard. REALLY HARD.

    When I started I simply couldn't run the 8 or 9 minutes you've just done. I would do 3 minutes, walk until I caught my breath, then run another 3 minutes 3 or 4 times. This helped with the "my lungs have been through a cheese grater" feeling.

    Personally, I find if I run on consecutive days my performance decreases, so I only run 3 times a week. (I do other exercise though, swimming, cycling, horse riding, martial arts)

    Try to focus on breathing deep and slow, I find the more I gasp for breath the more tired I feel. Sometimes I have to slow my pace right down and get my breathing under control before going back to my regular pace.

    Keep at it! It DOES get easier. I think the turning point for me was after about 8 weeks I was first able to jog continuously for 20 minutes, and from that point it got so much easier to add extra time/distance/speed to my routes.

    Your distance sounds about right, as a goal. 3 months in I'm doing a 3 mile jog 3 times a week.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,293 Member
    Do the couch to 5k program whether you like it or not.
    or do the 13 weeks to 10k plan.
    even if you jump in a couple of weeks into it (i wouldn't suggest skipping more than 2 weeks). it doesn't just help build up your bones and tendons slowly, so you can run injury free, it also helps you pace yourself, and learn proper breathing.

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