RonandDi Member

Running shoes are over rated, and completely unnecessary. You can run barefooted if you want, form is more important. But it is easier to buy shoes to cover up the form.

I disagree, timing yourself is a good way to see how much you have improved. I don't think it helps you get better, but it will show progress. Besides, what is the difference between timing yourself and signing up for a 5k?

Way to go! You might want to pick a distance, like 3 miles, once you get to that distance, start timing yourself 1 or 2 days a week and try to do it a little faster each time. I still think long and slow is the biggest help for getting your endurance up, but the shorter fast runs are nice to help you see the improvements.

When I started, I didn't know anything about a C25K program, I just went out and ran as far as I could, which wasn't far, and walked the rest of the 30 minutes. I did that same distance (time actually, treadmill) till I could do that comfortably, then added to it a little at a time. I made it through the beginners stage…

The thing about breathing through the nose is that you can't get the volume you can through the mouth. And if I'm really pushing it, I want as much volume as I can get. Hell, I'd try to suck air in my ears if I thought I could get more into my lungs. Breathing through the nose is a good way to calm yourself down, but if…

I don't know about the walking part, but not too long ago, I was in the same spot as you. I think that if you watch your pace, and stay around a 10 minute mile, you should be able to run the whole thing. After all, that's the pace you do now. I was really surprised at how much farther I could go just by going from a 9 to 9…

I used to try and figure out what worked best...now I just suck in as much as I can, as fast as I need it. I do however try to blow/push it out. In my case, the more I tried to breath by steps, the more I would speed up as my breathing picked up....that was a bad combination. I found that the less I thought about it, the…

I'm one of the odd ones, I don't mind running on the treadmill. I get up and watch the morning news while getting my daily 4 miles in. I like running outside and do it as much as I can, but find it easier to get my run in first thing before everyone is up. Also, I think that running outside is easier than inside, I can…

I had a lot of trouble stretching my runs past about 4 miles due to not being able to keep a slower pace. No matter how hard I tried I always wanted to run at about a 9mm, and could only do that for about 4 miles. I bought a gps watch and it helped me get the feel for the slower pace. It wasn't long before I was about to…

Lucky man. :) I alternate between cottage cheese and carnation sugar free breakfast drink.

Welcome to MFP...there are more "experts" here than on any site I've ever visited. I am a fairly new runner, although I do get out 6 days a week and average about 25 MPW or so. I consistantly net under 1200 calories a day, and a lot of times it is under 1000 and I have been doing this for about 7 months, all while…

I have been asking myself the same question as you. I hope to be moving to maintenance levels in another 2 or 3 weeks. I really never changed what I ate, just how much, and I'm happy with the portion sizes I'm eating now. Like was mentioned, I plan on adding slowly, and adding some of the higher calorie…

It worked/is still working for me. One thing to keep in mind, the workout that gets you to 180 today might only get you to 160 next week. I have been increasing my workout to try and keep my HR close to the same week to week. Good luck and keep with it...it does work.

Congrats. I know how you feel...It's only been a few months since I did the same thing. It is an awesome feeling, and very addicting. Keep it up.

Most of the time when a new runner talks about wanting to increase speed, speed isn't normally the problem. It's more that they can't run fast for as long as they would like. For me, I worked on distance first then the speed came as I got used to the distance. The first time I ran 3 miles I felt lucky to do it at a 10:00…

From the first day I started running (and walking at that time), I ran 5 days a week. I didn't run for very long mind you, but I was always pushing myself. Now I run 6 days a week. There isn't anything wrong with running 5 or 6 or even 7 days a week, lot of people do it. The big thing is to listen to your body and pay…

Couldn't have said it better myself!

And did you read the last part of my post?

I think the speed you are looking for will come in the form of endurance. Today you may be able to run .5 mile at a pace of 9mm, but to go 3 miles you have to slow down to 12mm. Eventually you will be able to go farther at the faster pace.

There are a lot of people that would say I don't eat enough for how much I burn exercising. But for the past 7 months I've been able to get up every morning and do a little more than I did the day before. And I feel great doing it. All this and I very rarely net 1200 calories a day, a lot of the time I don't hit 1000. I'm…

Shame on him.

I just got the 110 and have used it just once so far. But I don't have the HRM for it yet. As for the watch itself, I like it so far. It helped me keep my pace in check. It did have a little trouble locating the satalites though. Not sure if it was just the particular day, or what. I'll have to use it a few more times to…

A lot of people hate on treadmills, but I like mine. I get up an hour early every morning and get a run in. That is the only time I can be sure nothing will get in my way and I don't have to worry about the weather. I also get to watch the morning news. I prefer to run outside, but the treadmill is very convienient.

Intersting stuff on some of these lists. To be honest, about the only thing we have changed is the amount of cottage cheese and fruit we buy. We go through a lot of cottage cheese, cantalope, Honeydew and watermellon. We just buy a little less of everything else.

Regardless of fitness level, I think going from not running to a half is setting yourself up for an injury. Thats a lot of pounding in a short amount of time. Good luck, I hope you do it.

I won't comment of if you should rest or not, but I have sore knees from time to time. I run 3 miles every morning and some days I "feel" my knees. Other days I don't notice them. It's never been anything that has made me consider stopping. I would say that some (I hate to say soreness, but) soreness is common, but not to…

A few weeks ago I bought a pair of NB Minimus shoes. I have been taking it slow. Started out at a half mile every other day and now I'm at 1 mile every other day. I like the way it feels to run in them and can't wait to be able to run at will with them.

This is me also....

Ha...then you're in the wrong place.

I've been doing it for the past 6 months and It's worked for me. I very rarely eat what MFP says I can during the week, and normally end up at, or just above what it says on the weekend. Seems to even out in the end.