Calling all runners!

[Haven]

Hi, Maisie!

I'm a new-ish runner, too! I started a running club for non-runners in college, and ran a lot back then, but never did much running since. Then, my sister coerced me into running a 5K with her on Thanksgiving morning, and now I'm hooked! DH and I are running a 7K the day before Valentine's Day, now.

I wear Vibrams to run errands, but I don't wear them on long runs, yet. My husband is muscle specialist and researcher who focuses on the biomechanics of the foot, and he wears his Vibrams to run and LOVES them. I think your mechanics will have a lot to do with how well you'll transition into running in Vibrams. I'm not a specialist, though, so I won't say any more because it's not my place. I do love my Vibrams for walking around, though, and I'm starting to wear them on shorter runs.They're hot pink and orange.

My sister was NEVER a runner, so she used the Couch to 5K program for our 5K run, and she's hooked now, too. I started the Couch to 5K but lost momentum, so I just ended up going to that first 5K and hoping for the best. It worked out fine!

Have fun running! If you can, sign up for a race, that's what got me hooked.

 

[slg47]

hey Maisie-I wanted to second the couch to 5k program, I think it is really helpful for those starting out! Also I would go to a good running store and get shoes that are right for you (I think for some foot types the vibram 5 fingers are not the best?) Anyway, I did Couch to 5k and then did a 5k, it felt really good Sadly I have a foot injury right now so no running but I think the key is to start slowly, set modest goals, and keep at it. Good luck!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Maisie, I'm glad you posted this! I have a treadmill at home, and I've been looking for some guidance to get started with some sort of running program. So I started Couch to 5K this morning! Wish me luck!

 

[Demon]

I appreciate this tread too, and the cool running link! I will also be doing this on a treadmill, so the distance will be easy to track. But what sort of speeds are we talking about here, for the walkingand for the jogging?

 

[Irishgrrrl]

I appreciate this tread too, and the cool running link! I will also be doing this on a treadmill, so the distance will be easy to track. But what sort of speeds are we talking about here, for the walkingand for the jogging?

Demon, that's a great question! As I mentioned earlier, I just started C25K this morning. And I love that the treadmill makes it so easy to track your speed/time/distance! I found myself walking at about 3 mph and jogging at about 4 mph. I plan to increase those numbers as I go, with a goal of jogging at about 6 mph. I figure 6 mph is a good goal, since that would allow me to complete a full 3 miles (5k) in 30 minutes.

BTW, another nice thing about the treadmill is that I get to run barefoot and in my pajamas!

 

[Demon]

I googled for answers after I asked this, and found that 6 seems to be the speed usually given for jogging, and 3 to 3.5 for walking. At this time, I've been walking at a 1.5 incline at around 3.6 - 3.7 mph. So 4 sounds good for jogging! I think I'll try 4.5 for the jogging, and set the incline back down, at least for now. I've never tried pajama jogging!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

I've never tried pajama jogging!

It's awesome! I highly recommend!

I had been just walking on my treadmill at about 3.5 mph, which was a speed that made my short little legs really work! LOL! Also, I had been using the full incline (10%), which really worked my butt muscles. When I did my 20 minutes this morning, I just set the incline to 0% since the C25K program didn't mention an incline. But I might set it to a slight incline (maybe 1% or so) from now on. (I read on the Runners' Thread over in the Healthy Lifestyle forum that an incline 0.5% to 1% most closely mimics running outside.)

 

[Haven]

I walk at 3.5 mph and start jogging at 6.0 and work my way up from there.
Great question!

 

[Demon]

I've never tried pajama jogging!

It's awesome! I highly recommend!

I had been just walking on my treadmill at about 3.5 mph, which was a speed that made my short little legs really work! LOL! Also, I had been using the full incline (10%), which really worked my butt muscles. When I did my 20 minutes this morning, I just set the incline to 0% since the C25K program didn't mention an incline. But I might set it to a slight incline (maybe 1% or so) from now on. (I read on the Runners' Thread over in the Healthy Lifestyle forum that an incline 0.5% to 1% most closely mimics running outside.)

When I first got my treadmill, I lost 20 lbs right away. Then I hit a plateau and didn't lose another pound (of course I also wasn't watching my diet very closely, lol). Then I had surgery and was off the treadmill for a while, and I've had trouble commiting to it again. This program sounds like a good restart - 20 minutes three times a week at first. And it's a good way to start the jogging, which will surely be more effective than just walking. I'll raise the incline as I get more stamina for the jogging. At least that's my plan....

 

[Demon]

I walk at 3.5 mph and start jogging at 6.0 and work my way up from there.
Great question!

Thanks! The cool running site just said walk and jog with no guidelines to speed that I noticed. I'm hardly a young person anymore so I think starting the jogging at about 4.5 will work well without straining my knees/ankles too much. And who knows, I might be able to get up to 6 sooner than I think, and keep increasing.