aswearingen22 Member

How long have you been running distances of 3+ miles? That answer is needed for me to give advice. What's your current pace?

I've never gotten all the way through the book, but definitely recommend it from what I've read! I also got his Racing Weight Cookbook and really like it.

I think part of this might be mental. Second, I'm not sure about where you are, but the humidity is increasing here, which makes running feel so much harder and takes the body a few weeks to acclimate to, and will slow our paces too. Third, I think you're running them too fast. If you're out of breath in 4 mins, that's a…

I have the Garmin 610 and love it. You don't need to spend that much though, you can use one of the cheaper models (such as the 10 for $130). I wear the chest strap so I get an accurate calorie count (as accurate as you can get anyway), and also like being able to monitor my heart rate during a run, I know my fitness is…

Have you replaced your shoes lately? I can always feel it in my knees when it's time to replace my shoes. I'd start there (and if you haven't been to a local running store to be fitted for running shoes, that is step #1). Second, ice the knee for 15 mins on, 15 mins off, as frequently as you can. Third, take ibuprofen to…

If your goal is to run an outdoor 5k, get off the treadmill and get your runs done outside!:) Or at least half of them. But definitely stick to the 3 days a week of running the plan calls for and follow the plan as it's written. I would make sure you get at least one complete rest day a week, but the other 3 days, feel…

Well I'm someone that can attest to weight definitely affects my times, as I like to bounce up and down 20 pounds a lot, and have run things heavier, then thinner, then heavier again, urgh. 5'2", in my mid-30's, started running distances beyond 3 miles 3.5 years ago. 2:19 half at 150 pounds (2012) 2:04 half at 140 pounds…

Agreed. Also, I'd be careful about just adding mileage here and there to all the weeks. There's a reason Hal has written the plans the way they're written, he's trying to get a first time marathoner to the start line, uninjured. The first marathon training cycle is going to beat you up, you likely won't need to add extra…

+1

Pretty much every half my DH and I have ever run involve a very busy day/weekend the rest of the day with kids activities/sports like soccer, gymnastics, plans with friends, bday parties, and then our own commitments as well, etc. There would never be a weekend that would be completely open, like ever. I can usually power…

Yep, C25K is the best suggestion. You're currently running a 20 min mile, but want to run an 8 min mile? Yea, that's going to take a while, possibly years depending on your training, weight, etc. I've been running years and an 8 min mile is still not possible for 3 miles at a time. First get your distance up, run for a…

I bought mine local, but just bought two for my parents with the premium heart rate strap for mother's day and father's day. Ordered them from free2dayshipping.com (which is really heartratemonitorsusa.com). I found a 5% code online which pretty much covered the tax as tax was charged for my state and got free 2 day ship…

Mine is very similar, but I'm a spreadsheet geek and have some add'l info on there;) But like you, I like having it all in one place. Plus, it's helping me know that on a normal day where I run say 3 miles, I should be eating 1700 calories. On long run days, I should be eating 2900 calories, etc. I like seeing it at…

Go to your running specialty store (not the big box sporting goods store). They'll evaluate your gait and suggest which shoes would work in a bunch of different brands and models/price points within the brand, and then you try them all on and see which works for you. A typical running shoe should last 300-500 miles, on the…

I've been running in the mornings for a few years. Sunday's is easy to get up at 5:45 as I have to leave the house at 6:40 to meet my running group at 7. No option to be late there, people counting on me. The rest of the week is harder. Sometimes I run with neighbors and that's motivation as someone is waiting on their…

All I was going to say is what's been said, your distribution of weekly mileage is off. It's never good to have 50% of your weekly mileage in one day, and you have 63% of it in one day. THAT'S why you're not recovered, you don't have the weekly base to support and recover from that distance. I aim to have my long run be no…

Are you planning to run? Then you need a pair of running shoes, you can do all those other activities in them, but you'll have to replace them sooner then, they should last around 300-500 miles. Go to a local running specialty store (not a sporting goods store) and get fitted. The brands you'll see runners wear most often…

This. I'd aim to start with a 5k twice a week and then do maybe 8k on the weekend and increase your distance by 10% a week total. The weekend long run should be nice and easy and slow. Make one during the week the same way. Then if you want, you can take one of the other weekday runs a little quicker (a little...speed work…

I'm only echoing what others have said. Make sure you've been fitted for running shoes at a reputable local running specialty store. That's all you'll need for 3 miles. If you get through C25K and want to push the distance further, then you can start adding a Garmin, fuel belt, spibelt, more running clothes, etc. No sense…

Yes, use the # from your HRM, MFP's #'s are notoriously inflated.

I'm 5'2" and my happy weight is around 130, and that is a size 4 bottom and xs top for me. I've always carried a lot of muscle, so my body comp isn't that of really tiny. I got down to the low 120's in my mid-20's (which was back to high school weight), but it's really hard to maintain that weight for me. Now in my…

Skipping coffee before a long run sounds awful to me. Up at 5:30, to the kitchen in pj's to make coffee, by the time I'm dressed, it's done it's magic and I can use the bathroom and get that safely out of the way before the long run. Then post-long run/race, it's a stop by Starbucks for a skinny vanilla latte. you mean…

Well I signed up!:) I can always drop the second one to a half marathon if I'm really not feeling it. Running Twin Cities as my goal race with friends sounds MUCH more appealing than Wichita by myself. I'll crawl that one if I have to. ETA: yes, I've read skinnyrunner in the past:)

Anyone feel free to add me. I started running consistently about 3.5 years ago and since have completed about a dozen half marathons and two marathons. I'm in the middle of running 5 spring half's (2 down, 3 to go) and next month will start training for marathon #3 (and possibly #4) in October. I'm also trying to lose the…

DH and I ran RNR New Orleans in February and I was fully prepared to hate it based on everything I know about RNR races. But we were both pleasantly surprised. It was very well run, well organized, bands great, aid stations great, shirts were great, medals were awesome, etc. It was a "bargain" at around $120 compared to…

I listen to running podcasts while I run (I probably have a dozen or so I listen to). It keeps my mind off of the mileage and lets me kind of zone out into podcast land. When I try music, I use it more as "background noise" and start thinking too much about the running. I'd like to give audiobooks a try soon too.

I'm a runner and had bronchitis in March, as hard as it is to say this to a runner, no, you shouldn't be running. The more you run, the longer it will take to clear it up. Get to the dr for meds if you haven't already (I had to get an inhaler), and take a week off until it's completely clear, then come back slowly (slower…

First, I always take my phone for safety. Most of the time I also start the "road ID" app where I have it set to to send to my DH that tells him I'm going for a run and how long I'll be gone and he can actually track where I am. I also listen to music/podcasts while I run. As for carrying other stuff, depends on the run.…

As everyone else said, don't say "jogging" or "jogger", you're a runner and you're running:) You can aim to increase the pace of your run, but it's still a run! Increasing your pace is something every runner is always striving to do, even Shalane with her 5 min miles in a marathon!:)

Be careful about too much too fast, it's a recipe for injury. What is your current pace per mile? I'd aim to run maybe 3 miles 3 days a week with an hour run one day on the weekend (or double or so what a daily run would be) and then very gradually increase it from there, no more than a 10% mileage increase per week.