ThickMcRunFast Member

Depends on the length of the race I'm training for. 5k? 400m repeats with 90 second recoveries. Marathon? varies, but a lot of stuff in the 1k-2k range, with as much as 2 minute recoveries. Though I will also do 800m and mile repeats for shorter races as well. They all have their place. I will usually warm up for at least…

True. The adrenaline of race day ends up shaving a few minutes off your time anyway. And yes, a lot of people will run in the 30s. Some in the 20s. Some sub 20. And some people will walk the whole thing because they like doing it and get a free tshirt. Just go out, set a bench mark, get used to the race experience, then…

I do weekly goals. Spread out the calories so you can both eat to fuel the run and eat to recover. Plus, it's easier on my body than eating 2000 calories one day and 4000 the next.

Did it occur to you that 'so quit' might have garnered....the exact intended response? That instead of continuing to throw yourself a pity party over one week of less-than-spectacular-rainbows-and-unicorns-progress, you went from "I want to quit" to 'I don't want to quit it was just a bad day'? No? Ok then, keep insulting…

So quit.

A difference compared to what? I mean, 20 minutes of exercise in a week is better than no exercise. If you want to run a 5k or something, then yeah, its not doing much in the way of progression, but everyone has to start somewhere.

If you train properly, there is no reason why you cannot run into your 70s and beyond. Studies indicate that the people who starts running properly (i.e - does not try to do too much too soon, and that are uninjured to begin with) actually have less of an incidence of arthritis than those who do not run.…

I believe there is a "Bridge to 10k" app that uses the same nice lady. However, it might drop you down to running intervals again. If you don't want to do that, then just keep increasing the length of your long run, no more than 10% each week (and actually you can do less than that when first building up).

Usually anything with a 3:1 ratio of carbs to protein. But it also depends on the length of your runs. I won't eat anything special if I'm running under an hour. If I run before breakfast, this usually means I re-fuel with an omelet and some fruit or toast. After long runs I will make a protein shake with fruit in it, in…

Succinct advice...and also correct. The best thing you can do is build up consistency. Hit those weekly mileage goals. Long runs for endurance, speed runs to work on your kick, easy mid-week runs to get stronger. Find a plan (Hal Higdon, Runners World Smart Coach, etc), and stick to it.

totally normal. Especially in hot weather. I tend to eat the same amount of calories every day, rather than just 'eat back' what I have earned...or make it a weekly total. That way I can fuel up for a long run, and let my body get out of shock after without under-eating. I too find that after a long race I have no…

It depends a lot on the length of the run and your goals. For a half marathon or lower distances, you don't really need to 'carb load' (assuming you're getting adequate nutrition and not feeling sluggish on runs). For longer runs, the idea of slamming down a plate of pasta the night before is antiquated. Usually advanced…

6-12 miles per week before 12 weeks of marathon training? Jeezus. All this study proved was that untrained people shouldn't run marathons. Where do I get money to test the hypothesis that bad ideas are bad ideas?

^^ yup. Head up, shoulders back and relaxed. Don't tense your arms either, and keep them dropped. Slowing down may help as well.

Wow. Way to project your feelings on random people driving by you. OP- just go run. As others said, most people just don't give you any thought. A few other runners will give you the 'nod' as they run by. I'm sure there will be the occasional jerkhole, but its silly to not do something you want to based on the hypothetical…

I'd definitely start with new shoes. The right shoe can erase a lot of little aches and pains. I can usually tell when my shoes need to be replaced because I start to feel small shooting pains in my knees. Changing your strike or your gait if that isn't the real problem could just compound things. There aren't any…

Legit curious to know how this went (unless - strong possibility of a troll post). I had a friend once who ran a marathon having only ever run 6 miles. She made it, so its possible. She also went to dinner that night in a wheelchair and hated the whole experience so much she didn't run for the next 8 years.

The good news is that at 25 miles a week, you are perfectly set up to begin marathon training. The bad news is that you have a month until your marathon. Others have said it, but I'll just reiterate. I'm sure you'll be able to finish. I am not sure about how much fun it will be. I would work up to at least 18 miles before…

As others have asked, what is your program/shoe situation like? Calf sleeves are nice but they could just be treating a symptom instead of a root problem. Also, are you running on concrete? If so, switch to asphalt or trails. They are easier on the system when starting out.

Would always hoist.

I think you have to figure out what your goals are. At 20-30 mpw, honestly you shouldn't even notice a mile on what would otherwise be a rest day. You certainly don't need to change nutrition for it. Then again, a single mile, if you are already at that level, isn't really doing anything for you except making more laundry.…

Yeah, for marathons I run fasted (but only because I've done enough that I know how my system reacts to the gels - and I only ever use one kind). For ultra training I will eat more, a gel every 45 minutes, or some other food (often Red Vines, or a slurry I make of peanut butter, honey, and mashed bananas that I carry in a…

This is true. You can usually make it 2-3 hours before really needing one...and even then its not totally necessary. Training runs of up to 20 miles I will do without anything. In a marathon I will take one gel every 6 miles as a boost. Anything longer than a 50k and we're talking about introducing solid food, which is a…

I use in energy gels in races longer than a half marathon, but quite honestly at four miles, you really shouldn't need one. Either there is something in your overall nutrition that is off, or you are developing a mental block about it.

Awesome! Congrats on all the success!

Its possible, there are some stories in here about those who were overweight when beginning to run. Reading some of those will give you an idea of what to expect. The same basic rules apply - get good shoes, and go slow. Shoes perhaps become even more important, since you may need extra support at first.

I'm sorry you were ill and couldn't work out, I can't imagine how frustrating that is. That being said, a deficit that huge with high mileage training combined with not resting when sick is going to compound your problems, not fix them. The last thing you want to do is land back in the hospital. 11 pounds is, objectively,…

Congrats on getting started! On the note of nutrition during running - for a half marathon, its mostly unnecessary to mess around with gels and the like. If you want something to use as a bump, go for it, but if you are fueling your runs properly, you should be good for 2-3ish hours of running before the tank is empty. A…

First off, a 9ish minute mile for someone who has only been running a few months is great! As for the question, you're still at the point where more miles will benefit you more than running faster. Instead of 5 2-3 mile jogs a week, try 4, but make one longer. Something like 3x3 and 1x4. work that one long run up. You…

haha, yes. Mostly don't overthink it. If you're huffing and puffing and struggling to breathe (and you're not doing some intense speed workout), slow down. Some people will tell you to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, but [shrug]. New runners usually have irregular breathing, while veterans tend to…