Active Community: Message List - Will I ever be a runner?

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:03:20 GMT

I have been running for about a year after power lifting hardcore for a year and it takes time. I was where you are at for the longest time and then one week it just clicked and everything improved. I found that when you feel like you cant go any further push yourself another 50 feet or another 30 seconds on a treadmill and then repeat, slow down to a crawl if you have to. There is no shame in walking but a whole lot in flat out giving up on yourself.

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:34:49 GMT

You should definitely get on a smart training plan (C25K will work) and gradually build the time you're running until you can complete a 5k running the entire time. Once you do that I think your motivation will be at an all-time high.

Running is all about patience and a gradual progression of increasing your mileage. Don't get discouraged, just work smarter! If you can run .5 miles yesterday, you can run .6 miles a few days later.

Good luck!

- Jason.

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:55:48 GMT

Oh yes you it will just take time and training. My daughter, husband and I started running 8 months ago with the inauguration Marathon and Half Marathon in Morgan Hill in November 2010. We felt in love with running right away. As soon as we crossed the finished line we were ready for the next. We have ran 3 1/2 marathons and 2 10ks. On our first half I thought Iwas going to die at the end but my goal was for us to run all 26.2 miles one day and with lots of training we are on track to do it in October 2011 (again in Morgan Hill). I have read a few books about training to run marathons and I believe that all the information has really helped me with my training. One of the books that i recommend would be The Marathon Method by Tom Holland and like someone else said use the Jeff Galloway method. for every mile you run walk a minute. it takes time, training and faith but if you really want to complete a 1/2 or even full marathon you will. positive thinking will also help you. Good Luck and for what I read on your question you are already a runner if you ask me.

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:19:21 GMT

Thank you to everyone for you comments and I very much appreciate them. I'm going to not give up and keep going at it. I will have to tell keep telling myself to "slow down" and not get discouraged that I may have to walk for part of my runs. The humidity in Iowa right now has really put a damper on my progress, but I'm going to keep at it. Maybe some day I will be able to run/walk a 1/2 marathon!!! :) I've read all of the articles on Couch 2 5K and had someone running with me on some of my runs.

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:43:33 GMT

Wait a minute, who are you going to "disappoint"? Aren't you doing this for yourself? Maybe the first thing you need is an attitude adjustment. You aren't doing this to prove anything to anyone else. You are doing this for YOUR benefit. If your progress is slow, then at least it is still progress and you are doing better now than you were when you started.

Will you ever be a runner? Well if you run, then you are a runner by definition ("one who runs"). Will you ever run a marathon in 3 hours? Maybe, maybe not. But if your goal is to move forward - literally - a mile at a time then you are achieving that goal. If you stick with it and push yourself to improve, you will gradually cover those distances faster and easier. And you will do it all for YOU and no one else!

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:33:13 GMT

Holy smoke - you've done all those races and don't consider yourself a runner? Do you have a little 'head' stuff and too high expectations going on? Jeff Galloway endorses a run/walk in his training and completes marathons that way. I've even heard people that have better times doing that. I've not tried it, but I don't think being a runner means you absolutely run every step. For running less than 6 months you've had huge accomplishments simply completing those races. Now what I learned for myself, I had to build an endurance base before speed, and that meant slowing down - way down. I can now complete 3 miles in 36 minutes which is WAY better than my first (and only) 5K time. Progress is slow in this world of "I want it hot and I want it now" mentality. You're doing great. Keep plugging away. You're up, you're off the couch, and you're making progress. Good luck and keep us posted!

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:08:25 GMT

I didn't consider myself a runner for a long time, and I was like you - walking probably at least 1/2 of a 5K. And I started running back in January! But in the last few weeks I've gotten to where I consider myself a runner. I had to increase my endurance, and something around that time finally clicked so I could run 25 minutes of a 30 minute session. Just keep believing in yourself! You can do it!

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:18:40 GMT

I agree with the previous poster. You're just starting out on what can be a LONG road of happy and much healthier for you running. Don't let anybody, especially yourself discount the value of what you are accomplishing every time you get out there and do your best. You are miles ahead of where you were before starting and have absolutely no timetable to live up to for making progress. If you want to make yourself miserable you can keep on comparing yourself to some theoretical "real runner." My advice is don't.

Set yourself some smaller goals for whittling down the walk intervals, but don't worry if it takes awhile. If you keep after it and just enjoy doing what you can do, you will make progress. More important, you'll be getting healthier every step of the way.

Run well!

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:57:17 GMT

If you think you are a runner, then you are a runner! Mental attitude is half of what being a runner is about. I have plenty of friends who I consider runners and who consider themselves runners that run/walk their races. You shouldn't worry about disappointing anyone, running is something to do for yourself. Be thankful for the distance you are able to run and keep working on it and you'll find your endurance steadily improving. Make sure you're setting reasonable goals for yourself to increase the distance you run and you'll be running the entire race soon enough. If you aren't keeping a running log it might help so that you can see your progress. You might be running more than you are giving yourself credit for. Good luck and keep running!

Re: Will I ever be a runner?

guest — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:42:32 GMT

It can easily take 6 months to a year to build a solid base of running fitness. You've been running only since March, so hang in there! You're completing distances up to 7 mi - you are doing very well. As for being able to run the entire distances without walking - You may be going just a little too fast for your current fitness level. Try reducing your pace by about 15 to 30 sec/mile and see if that makes a difference in the distance you can run.