GOAD on the Run - New Runner Wednesday
shenry111
Posts: 4,401 Member
This thread is for GOADies who like to run. New runners, old runners, and even wannabe runners meet here to discuss the joys and challenges of running. Use this space to log your miles, ask questions, share your race reports, or for anything else related to running.
New runners - and even those just thinking about starting out - are always welcome. There's no reason to lurk here. Join the pack and tell us about your running!
Oftentimes the GotR thread will pose a question or raise an issue in order to facilitate the conversation, but this is always an open forum to chat about any running-related topic.
TOPIC OF THE DAY: Life Change. How does life change and life cycles affect your running?
New runners - and even those just thinking about starting out - are always welcome. There's no reason to lurk here. Join the pack and tell us about your running!
Oftentimes the GotR thread will pose a question or raise an issue in order to facilitate the conversation, but this is always an open forum to chat about any running-related topic.
TOPIC OF THE DAY: Life Change. How does life change and life cycles affect your running?
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Good Morning!
I'm still dealing with calf issues, but I hope to try a little running tonight. I had planned on running last night, but we were out late, and I didn't get it done.
When trying to think of a topic for New Runner Wednesday, I found myself thinking about our little group here, and how it has changed over the years. We have move platforms. One of our members, Dennis, passed. I miss Dennis, and the energy that he brought to this group. I see some of our former members on FB, and wonder if they still run at all, like Colorado Brian. I have other FB friends, like my friend Bill in CA who was forced to quit running due to long term injury (back in his case.) Still others in our group appear to be running, but pop in and out of this board once in awhile, but not regularly.
I realize that life cycles happen. I ran for 5 years after starting at age 49. I stopped for two years, and now I've started and stopped for half a dozen times. My brain says that I love running, and that the running really helps me with my depression. I'm now finishing up two weeks without the anti-depression meds. My body seems to resist wanting to run these days. I find myself wondering if walking would be enough, or if I want to even switch sports, like getting into bike riding more. It is times like this that I miss Dennis. I remember that he went through several injuries, including a broken hip, if I remember correctly. I remember that he was having trouble running for awhile, and got more heavily into biking. In his case, all of that morphed into his enjoyment of the tri. I don't think that Dennis ever really did learn to enjoy swimming in open water.
Well, what does all of this rambling mean? I don't know. I'm reflective in part, because my wife and I talked about this at counseling last night. We have a grief group that has morphed such that we are not sure we want to return for the start of the Fall season. I think that is what has me rambling about this group, and the changes that I've seen with it.
For me, I can't imagine not having this core group of friends that you have become. I have only met one of you, and this is Bill in DC, who is also not running anymore. I think that this group serves an important function for many, and I also feel that we might have a lot of lurkers in the shadows. At times, I wonder how we can lure new members in, which is the tie to New Runner Wednesday.
I'm not looking for answers with this ramble, except for the question on how to lure new members to this group. I am curious, however, if others of you have experienced issues with life cycles, or seasons in your own experience.
Steve
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In 2003 I did my first triathlon. I joined a training group and made friends that I still have to this day. But of those friends, I think that only one still does the occasional triathlon. Many of them still swim and bike ride, but several have had to take either a temporary or permanent hiatus from running. We are all in our 50's so sometimes our minds are willing, but our bodies aren't. A couple of these friends, myself included, have gotten into snowshoeing. Hiking is another popular activity.
Biking has been a lifelong passion of mine, firmly established in childhood as it was my way to escape and explore the neighborhoods. My asthma kept me from running until I was in my late 20's and finally got on better medications. My large excursions up the scale would put most physical activity on hold for years, but then when I'd lose the weight, the bike would get dusted off again. Running has been less frequent. I ran a couple of years when I was 28-29 but then marriage, moving, and lots of overtime put that on hold (plus a 130 pound weight gain). I got back into running in 2002-2005 but then a chronic injury forced me to give it up. I still walked marathons in 2007, 2008, and 2009. My doctoral program really reduced my activity from 2009-2012.
I finally tested the waters again with running in 2013 and have finally been consistent since I did a 5K on Thanksgiving day of that year. I stay motivated to run by signing up for races well in advance. That is the only way you can get me to run in the summer heat and humidity!
I finally got back into the pool last November. I had stopped swimming in 2007 due to shoulder issues. Now I just swim a short distance at least once a week. I have no interest in tackling a triathlon again, but I do enjoy the benefits of swimming regularly.
As for biking, while it never really stopped, there were several years that the bike only got ridden when we went up to Wisconsin for our annual vacation. I've been much more consistent since 2014 and finally did a 100 mile bike ride again in 2015 as well as this past summer. Next year's challenge will be a 200K as I happened to cross paths with an ultra long distance cyclist who came through our lab recently.
I know someday I'll likely not be able to run, but as long as I can hike, bike, swim, and snowshoe, I'm good. My bucket list is to hike all the segments of the Ice Age trail in Wisconsin. I've done some of them this year. It will be a 15-20 year project.
End of my ramble!
Regina0 -
I hoped more GoaD runners would find their way here. I'm sure people will continue to come in and out of the group as their interests wax and wane. As long as I'm here, I'll keep trying to encourage new runners and be a virtual running buddy.
I'm thinking about the QotD, and perhaps I'll have some more thoughts to share later. At the top of my mind now is the question of whether I will someday "life cycle" into running less or not running at all. I guess it's a possibility, but I hope not. I've already morphed into a more casual runner after 6-7 years of 1000+ miles per year. I'm running much less than that now, mostly because of lingering injury, but I still enjoy the activity in the moment and enjoy being relatively fit in general. I'd like to run more marathons, but I don't feel like I have to. There's so much to enjoy about running for fun and fitness without the competitive part even coming into the equation.
I ran two miles last evening with DW alongside on her bike. Beautiful autumn evening with lots of reds and oranges really popping right now.
This Sunday DW and I will be course marshals for the Twin Cities Marathon. Very excited for that. I ducked out of the head course marshal role that I've done the past four years and opted to work one busy intersection in a friend's section instead. Should be a blast!0 -
@Calvin2008Brian - here's hoping for good weather for the marathon this weekend! I bet the colors are beautiful up in your area. They were just starting to turn when I was up in Wisconsin last weekend. I hope to get back up there in 3 weeks.1
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I was the stereotypical fat kid growing up until about age 12, when I started riding my bike and thinned up considerably. Played football in HS, but I was never one of the fast (or faster) kids and always thought you had to be "fast" to "run".
GotR and C25K were my gateways into running 5 years ago when I joined WW and GoaD online. For that, I am forever grateful. At that point, I still had too much preconceived junk in my head of how fast/far I had to run and not being satisfied with the progress I had already made.
From 2013 until Memorial Day this year, I put almost 100# back on. Now as my weight is coming back down, I have been able to get back into running like reconnecting with a long time friend. I am not as worried about pace or distance now as I used to be, although I would like to improve both. But I know that losing more weight will help both those areas. I never thought that someone at 350+ lbs would ever be considered a "runner" or even a "jogger". But I like the feel of being able to run, the sense of accomplishment of covering X miles and the feeling I get once the run is over.
Right now I alternate running days with pool days. I guess I am only a bicycle away from embracing the triathlete lifestyle. But that will be at least another 50-75# down the road. I have also learned that I really have disdain for almost all stationary exercise machines. Certain exercise bikes are the exception.
As far as the actual 'life cycle" question, I hope that I never have to cycle out of running, or if I do that I will be in good enough shape to still bike and work out in the pool. There is a part of me that wishes I had "cycled in" to running sooner. For me right now, it is not about the next race, it is just about the next time I get to run.0 -
Missed a workout yesterday. DD had a HS band concert and I did a poor job of planning meals and workouts to accommodate that evening treat. 3 miles on the schedule this evening, and it should be a very nice evening once again. It really cooled off here overnight. Low 40s this morning!0
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2.5 mi today in the pre-dawn, then my legs said it was time to stop. A warmup in TN has the early morning temp at 58. The only bad part is someone smokes a pipe at that time of the morning and I smell it every time at that part of the lap.0
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I'm planning to start on C25K. Not sure my knees and bad ankle can take it, but I'm going to try.2
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Awesome, @OldHufflepuff! There are lots of C25K devotees hanging around here, so be sure to pop in with any questions or to share the experience.
I don't know if this applies, but others have commented before about difficulty with literally coming off the couch into the C25K plan. If you've been mostly sedentary, it's probably best to begin with several weeks of walking.0 -
Rain and thunder forced me inside this morning and onto the treadmill for 35 minutes of run/walk intervals. Legs felt good! Should be able to do my outside run tomorrow instead.0
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Calvin2008Brian wrote: »Awesome, @OldHufflepuff! There are lots of C25K devotees hanging around here, so be sure to pop in with any questions or to share the experience.
I don't know if this applies, but others have commented before about difficulty with literally coming off the couch into the C25K plan. If you've been mostly sedentary, it's probably best to begin with several weeks of walking.
I own a treadmill. Assuming we survive the visit of cousin Matthew (the hurricane), I'm going to get it out this weekend, dust it off, oil it, and try walking on it.0 -
@OldHufflepuff The treadmill was great for figuring out what a comfortable pace should be for a brisk walk and for a jog. I started c25k at 6'1" and 390#. You can definitely do this. Just listen to your body as to what you can and cannot do.0
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