Just kept running now I'm headed for a marathon!

walkwithme1
walkwithme1 Posts: 492 Member
edited December 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Today I ran 5 miles without stopping! That may not be much to some of you runners but before today, I had only ran 3/4 mile without stopping. Yesterday I c25k day one and thought it was pretty easy. Thanks to a friend here (trijoe) I was pushed to start training for a marathon, it's on my bucket list. I went to the gym only wanting to run a Couple of minutes without stopping. I got to the mile and felt great. Thought I can do more, next thing I know, there goes mile 2 then I start thinking, Misty that 5 k you wanted to do last year that was put off due to injury is right in front of you, next thing I know there goes mile 3 but wait! It's 3 point something isn't it, oh well youve done this much might as well cover all your bases. 4 miles gone, well 5 sounds better than 4 so why not! 5 miles was behind me at 53 minutes. Not sure how good this is but I thought it was great. Did an extra 1/4 mile running just to make sure in case I missed a lap somewhere in my counting.

Am I happy? Beyond happy! And guess who I wanted to tell first. Mfp friends! This is a huge accomplisent for me. Still think I'm dreaming. Now that I KNOW I can do it, I'm going to train for the blue ridge marathon in my city, Roanoke, Virginia. I have exactly one year and I can't wait! Never thought I would be doing this.

Now explain to me please why I was dizzy when I stopped running. I actually had to grab the rail and hold on so I wouldn't fall, my mind was kind of foggy too.
How long before I should run again?
Should my next run be 5 miles, get used to this? Or Longer? Any suggestions would be great.

Replies

  • SaraTN
    SaraTN Posts: 536 Member
    Eat a little something before you run. I prefer something simple and easy like a banana or an english muffin (I run in the mornings most of the time). Another possibility is electrolytes (this usually happens more at mile 7 for me but we are all different) so try some gatorade or similar brand. Are you following a specific marathon training program? Are you doing all of your miles on a treadmill? It is VERY important to get out on the road... it is a very different feel and will help you prevent injury or shin splints... it also is a good indicator of if you are wearing the right shoes or not...

    congtats and best of luck to you
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Congrats! Running is awesome, but going from .75 to 5 miles in one swoop is a recipe for injury. I'm guessing you will be sore as hell tomorrow (perhaps for a few days). Take some time and ramp up slowly...
  • Moriarty_697
    Moriarty_697 Posts: 226 Member
    As far as the dizziness, make sure to always cool down. Just slow down to walk and take it easy for a few minutes. I usually take a walk around the block. Stopping completely can cause some of the dizziness. The other benefit of the cool down is it's a great way to add just a little more exercise to the day though it probably won't feel like exercise after the run.

    Congrats and have fun.
  • Sox90716
    Sox90716 Posts: 976 Member
    Congratulations! I have no idea why you would have felt dizzy. Take a couple of days off and progress slowly. Running is awesome! Stay safe and see you on the road!
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
    I only feel dizzy when I'm dehydrated or didn't eat enough in the hours before my run. So I always make sure to stay well hydrated the entire day, and then eat something at least an hour or two before, even the shorter runs.

    But good for you!!! And you know, even us runners that have run for miles and miles had to start somewhere. Celebrate your little accomplishments, because they add up to great big ones!
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    water and eat something like a banana of nuts or both. stretch and warm up well. if you wear a HRM make sure you're not getting too high and watching your heart rate can help you train your breathes better and bring it down while running. 5miles is awesome. I can't do an entire mile on the current speed level I'm at. go you.
  • walkwithme1
    walkwithme1 Posts: 492 Member
    Ok to help answer questions: I had a bowl of pintos, cornbread and some cooked apples about an hour and half before I ran. I had already drank 8 glasses of water. I warmed up and stretched before the run. And when I stopped I walked another two laps (1/4 mile) after. Ate a banana after i was done. I'm running on the indoor track. Can't do it outside because I need the child care the gym provides and I HATE a treadmill.
    As for shoes, I went to fleet feet and was fitted by a professional.

    I just want to make sure I'm doing it the right way. The dizzy part really scared me. When I grabbed onto the rail I thought I was going down and didn't want to stop where I was on the track because I didn't want anyone to overreact. Maybe it's because I didn't stop to get anything to get water till 4 and 1/4 mile. (about 15 seconds) so I experienced this twice. Also noticed I was not sweating but my body was itching and felt hot.
  • Still_Fluffy
    Still_Fluffy Posts: 341 Member
    Way to go. The dizzy thing may simply be your body was out of air or you needed to drink more water. Try it again, drink some more water before/during the run. I've been dizzy after a hard run.Your body went from max effort to totalally stopping. Keep up the running, 53 minutes is a great time for your first time. You're fatser then me and I've ran two marathons. Feel free to add me.
  • ThatDollSally
    ThatDollSally Posts: 473 Member
    That's really inspiring! A friend of mine convinced me to run an 8k (5miles) in August and I'm starting from scratch. This really makes it seem like I can do it!
  • DanTheRunningMan
    DanTheRunningMan Posts: 39
    First thing, congratulations!

    The dizziness could be from several things, like hydration, low electrolytes, getting overheated, or simple tiredness. You bit off a lot all at once, no?

    As for when to run again, I'd take a day off. There are people who can run every day, but I'm not one of them. You don't know whether you are or not. Take it easy so you don't get injured and set back your stratospheric progress. If you train for a marathon, you're going to have your "daily runs" and then "long runs" once a week or so. As the long runs get longer, you'll learn how much recovery you need after. What you just did is a long run for your present state.

    Note that "take it easy" does not mean "sit on the couch." Get out and try to walk at a good pace at least a half hour. Exert yourself a bit and pay attention to what's sore or doesn't feel right. When you start running you've got a lot of things to work out for yourself, like how much, when and what to eat, what shoes work, stretching, what clothes chafe and where, socks, how much rest and recovery you need, which pain you can run through and which calls for a break, and of course which running clothes will best compliment the dynamite body you're making for yourself!
  • roachtg
    roachtg Posts: 56 Member
    Great job! I live in Salem! Other than the few people I know from the Y you are the only other local person I have seen on here.
  • trijoe
    trijoe Posts: 729 Member
    Wow! Talk about a runner's high!

    You could have simply exhausted yourself. If you're not used to going that far, or for that matter that fast, it could be your body just wasn't ready for it. My uneducated guess would be to make sure you progress at a pace your body is happy with.

    Yeah, you're probably going to hurt like hell over the next few days. So you may want to hit the old bottle of aspirin. You might also want to zip on down to your local bookstore/library and see if they have any books on marathon training.

    And, while you're at it, there're some wonderful running groups on MFP that are busting at the seams with marathon topics. You're sure to find a safe and happy home there.

    Good luck, good training, and congratulations. You're gonna be a marathoner, baby!!! (Ain't Life grand!)

    And, since I'm on a roll, I'll end with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Theodore Geisel: "And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!"

    Enjoy your training, and go get 'em!
  • SaraTN
    SaraTN Posts: 536 Member
    Not sweating and itchy hot skin would be a major concern of mine as well -- I think its best you contact your doctor on that one. With that said, it sounds like electrolytes issue. Sip some gatorade before and during the run.

    I understand the challenges of finding the time to run outside - but you will be glad you did. An indoor track is very forgiving and there isnt any gradiation to get used to running up and down hills. What looks like a mild hill while walking or driving is very different than when its presented on mile 7 or 9 or 15 or 25. Perhaps you can find another person in your area with children and could swap some babysitting time so that you can at least hit the road once a week.
  • walkwithme1
    walkwithme1 Posts: 492 Member
    I'm a little worried to about getting out on the road too that I might get stuck. Lol. I've put my husband on warning that once I do get outside he may be coming to get me somewhere down the road. Have to find a safe place to run.
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