So you want to start running

Yay, Congrats ThickMcRunFast! You did get me running, just did five miles yesterday and damn near ruined my iPhone! Bought a belt clip today and looking forward to my next run. Thanks again!!

Thank you for this information!

Great Post and great information! I've been running since February of this year and it's helped me lose 63 pounds. I have about 20 more to go. I've done 2 5ks and an 8k so far this year...I'm training for my first 10k in 8 weeks. I'm up to 6 miles consistently, I'm cross training with HIIT twice a week. Beginners often ask me how I got started running. I was an athlete in college, I always ran for sports. Now, I run for fitness. I run for stress relief. I run for the endorphin rush. I am a runner. I watched my wife training for a half marathon and thought I could do this with her. The first month was VERY hard. My feet were sore, my legs were sore, my ankles were killing me. I wasn't in the same universe as my wife when it came to mileage or speed. Despite that, I took it slow and build up my endurance levels. As my cardiovascular system improved, so did my running. Losing weight has made it so much easier to run long distances without being winded. My resting heart rate is consistently under 50.

Everything you said about running attire and equipment is the truth! I have strong opinions about socks. I will not wear anything cotton because that's inviting blisters! Trust me, it's happened. I invested in a few good pairs of Thorlo Socks. Not cheap, $13 a pair, but they make running more comfortable. Same with shoes. Don't go to Foot Locker, Sport Chalet, Finish Line, or any of those other chain stores. Find a reputable RUNNING STORE and buy shoes from them if you plan on taking this seriously. I got a foot and stride analysis and they sold me shoes that fit how I ran. Turned out, Brooks is my jam. I even got custom insoles so that my foot fits perfectly in the shoe. They weren't cheap, but they were worth every penny for how much time I spend in them! I can't imagine NOT running in the moisture wicking "Under Armour" type material. There's no other way to go! I also invested in a good armband for my iPhone and some good Bose Headphones. If music is your thing while you run, invest in some quality headphones. I also wear compression shorts. For some reason, they seem to enhance my runs so I'm more focused. I've also found that not eating enough food or not being properly hydrated leaves me feeling VERY tired and usually stopping short of my goal for the day. You can't run without fuel. Great Post again!

I am planning to start C25K this week. Great advice!

Thank you!

BUMP!

I want to start running and due to working hours i plan to go out at 8am for 30 mins, i will do the couch to 5k.
My question is when and what do i eat before a run? I know not to go out on empty but then again not after a bowl of porridge.
My hubby suggested fruit and yogurt at 7am, run at 8am then home and have an omelette afterwards.
This question actually relates to all exercise, when and what to eat.

I want to start running and due to working hours i plan to go out at 8am for 30 mins, i will do the couch to 5k.
My question is when and what do i eat before a run? I know not to go out on empty but then again not after a bowl of porridge.
My hubby suggested fruit and yogurt at 7am, run at 8am then home and have an omelette afterwards.
This question actually relates to all exercise, when and what to eat.

For 30 minutes of exercise, you don't usually *need* to eat anything. In general eating is all individual preference. Some people do just fine eating a fair bit of food and others don't.

And it depends a lot on what the rest of your day looks like. I often eat a large lunch and usually go out after work and exercise for an hour or so without eating anything between lunch and exercise - and then I eat immediately afterwards. Sometimes I'll have a small snack of whatever, but in general I prefer a mostly empty stomach.

If I've got a long run and I haven't eaten in a while (like say a morning run when my last meal was dinner at 7) I'll eat a granola bar or a piece of toast, give it maybe 10-15 minutes to settle, and then head out.

It also depends on what exactly you're going out to do - but as a beginner anything you probably won't be doing anything taxing enough that you need to worry too much about eating the 'perfect' pre-workout food. Use this time to experiment with what works for you.


So the short answer is - "It depends." Fruit and yogurt is perfectly fine if you enjoy that sort of thing and if it doesn't upset your stomach when you are working out. Some people might not like filling their stomach with a lot of cold stuff right before exercise and others do just fine with it.

(Oh and um - be aware that coffee is a diuretic. And running tends to get things moving along in that area too. So some people find that coffee needs to be a good hour before they start running so they can get in a potty break BEFORE they leave the house)

thank you!

I want to start running and due to working hours i plan to go out at 8am for 30 mins, i will do the couch to 5k.
My question is when and what do i eat before a run? I know not to go out on empty but then again not after a bowl of porridge.
My hubby suggested fruit and yogurt at 7am, run at 8am then home and have an omelette afterwards.
This question actually relates to all exercise, when and what to eat.

Actually, for a short run in the morning, I usually have a cup of coffee and just go. I might have a yogurt or toast with peanut butter. If you're going to eat anything more than that, you really need to wait a while to let it digest. Good luck!