Guys and gals (well, Jimmy Saville is such a sweetie),
I started running again after a 13 year gap (ok, those of you who read everything have heard this in other threads - stop yawning!) in June. I've plateaued at 1.5 miles (which I cover at around 9.5 minutes per mile), so decided tonight to do something completely different! (I know, I know.....!)
I generally run at 6am, on an empty stomach. Tonight I ran at 6pm, having had a fairly ordinary kind of lunch. The course I'd planned out was 2 miles.
Boy did I suffer! After 9 minutes I had a severe pain in my left, upper chest, sufficient to make me walk, for fear of keeling over. Later in the run I had to walk again, for the same reason. My legs felt better than they generally do in the morning, but my chest took over an hour to feel normal again.
For non-alarming reasons, in the last twelve months I had an ECG, so I know that my heart is fine. I have asthma, but at no time did I feel truly breathless. Was the pain my stomach contents encroaching on my lung space? Is it easier to run in the morning? How do I move on? If I try run-walk, I get so hung up on how long I'm doing which bit, I can scarcely run at all! I really feel like throwing in the towel. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The main thing is - don't give up, just keep your expectations realistic at this early stage. All of a sudden you'll surprise yourself with what you can do.
Michelle x
For the past month, I have been running without a watch or an HRM - it feels absolutely fantastic! I time myself by looking at the clock when I leave the house, and when I return. Other than that, I run at a pace that feels comfortable, I walk when I need to and run again when I can. The sense of freedom is amazing.
I will probably carry on like this until I feel like I want to go faster, further, do more etc.
Don't give up - you are doing really well. You just need to remember why you started running - what it was that got you out there in the first place - and then you will get back to enjoying it.
Good luck.
Everybody has bad days, its just a case of picking ourselves up out of the dirt and doing it all again. Just keep in your mind that great feeling you get after a run, lots of people don't know what it's like because they're stuck to the sofa.
I've found the HRM really helps but that's a matter of opinion. Some like it, some don't. I set mine between two points. The lower tells me to run, the higher tells me to walk until it hits the lower level again. At first you do more walking than running but after a while that reverses. It's worked for me because basically in the beginning I was trying too hard and like you couldn't be bothered with run 5 walk 5 getting in the way of enjoying the run.
Don't give up... don't throw away all the achievements you've made thus far.... 9.5 mins a mile is a lot faster than a lot of people here and I include myself in that group.
There is quite a good thread going somewhere on this site by somebody that knows a lot more about the subject than most... worth reading before spending money. As AmandaP points out, it doesn't work for everybody.
I am at the same level as you wrt distance and time. I also run at 6 am on an empty stomach and finds it much easier than running in the eve. My legs feel lighter and I run faster. Weird, I know, but I thought to tell you that you are not alone.If mornings work, as it does for me, stick with the mornings - anywat, there is less traffic then, so its great and at the moment, we can see the sun rise.
I'll think of you tomorrow at 5.45am as I crawl out of my bed. Which days do you run, and where?
I try and run 5 days a week (mon-Fri) and do other sport over the weekend (squash, watching tv etc)
I live in Bristol. and close to the downs so tend to run around the downs.
How about you
I run three days a week, cycle (about 3 miles) the other three days, and have one rest day. I live in Surrey, and just run and cyle locally.
I think that you have a bit of a vicious circle here, you are not running for long enough to improve your distances, and I think that the reason for this is that you are running too fast. I believe that if you slow your pace to about 11 minutes per mile you will be much more comfortable and will be able to increase the length of you sessions to 30 minutes. This will give you a much better training effect than 15 minutes of torture. Also do not be afraid to walk if you need to, just make sure your whole session are 30mins or longer. Have a look at Bruce Tulloch's book "Running is easy", the beginners section is full of essential advice on how to start without really hurting yourself.
The other thing to keep in mind is chest pain. An ECG only tells you your heart was OK when the test was done. It does not make you immune to heart attacks!! This is not to alarm you but if you get persistent chest pain when running you shoud get it investigated.
Forget heart monitors until you can run for more than 30 minutes without stopping and really know how monitoring your heart rate can improve your training effort.
I live in Surrey too! I would be well chuffed if I could run 9.5 min mile never mind miles!!
I ca run further but slower - about 11,30 and when I started at Christmas couldn't even manage 400M. Started on about 13 mins.
I was always the one at school huffing and puffing round the 400M track and walking if anyone even mentioned X country! I am convinced that if we start slow enough we can go for longer. if someone had told me last yr this time that I could run 8 miles now (all beit with VERY stiff legs next day) I would have laughed at them . But I did it at the w/e albeit slowly, so keep going. I have dreadful days, the 2 girls I run with are slimmer and faster than me but When it feels great it is fantastic! Keep going.
PS - I belong to St MAry's church in Camberley should you ever visit that area!
Perhaps it's too many cheesy footballs!
Sorry couldn't resist it. Hope you get your problem sorted.
Hope your E mail is enabled
I totally understand your querie about when to run.
I started running again at the beginning of Aug, after an 18 yr break (yawn yawn!!). My inspiration being my brother, who abstained for a similar amount of time, and who is now annoyingly quick (fit, glowing and happy! [bastard!])
When I started again, I expected to be pretty good straight away, and got demoralised pretty darn quick. Me bro gave me some good advice: leave atleast 3~4 hrs between eating and running, drink shed loads of water(all day), don't try too hard.
Sassie x
I am also entered for the Brighton 10K, so I might see you there.
I guess that you havent had the chest paid since, but I wonder if it could have been a stitch. I have had a stitch in the most weird places. Sometimes in a race I get one in my shoulder/chest. Glad you are keeping it going. Good luck in the 10k. What kind of puppy are you going to get?