stacey, I can't recommend a road race enough. If you like running on your own, you'll really be motivated once you run with a large group of people. And dont worry about your place in the race, or worrying if you'll be last. Typical large road races are 50% runners, 50% walkers.
Me 38, WAW 30 D11 (former marriage) S2 T 8 years M 3 years BD 8/20/23 S 8/20/23
Maybell, I don't have any current running goals. My physical goals are more weight room focused. But I plan on running our city's triple crown in the spring (5K, 10K, 10mile) and going for a time in the 5K, hopefully under 22 minutes
Me 38, WAW 30 D11 (former marriage) S2 T 8 years M 3 years BD 8/20/23 S 8/20/23
I want to run a turkey trot on Thanksgiving and work up to my second half marathon in May. I'm fortunate to live in a town with a huge running culture so I could do a timed 5k every single weekend if I wanted to. I'd love to get my time down to 32 minutes (I know, it's slow, but it'd be a PR) and the half in under three hours. My half last year was just under 3:30 so under 3:00 is a big push too. I'm mostly just glad to be out again.
Would love to hear tips for running in very cold weather. Like, under 30 cold. I don't have a good cold weather running wardrobe and would like to know how to properly equip myself.
Me42, H40 D12, S8, S7 A revealed: 7/13 Sep 4/14; Agreed to D 1/15
Its feeling good to get running again. Was feeling anxious but 3k later the anxiety was pushed out in the struggle for breath
When we are anxious, depressed, obsessed, etc, I think the best thing to do is so high intensity cardio hard and long enough so that the only thing you can possibly think of is he workout. Wear yourself out completely. Then for a while afterwards, you will just feel great about being done with the workout. It should be added to Sandi's rules!
Me 38, WAW 30 D11 (former marriage) S2 T 8 years M 3 years BD 8/20/23 S 8/20/23
A few hours before my BD, I ran three ten minute miles with my training group. All in a row. I was SO PUMPED. I had only started running AT ALL four months before after a lifetime of swearing I never would.
I have never, ever regained that pace. I often feel better when I run, but I also often feel like I am carrying a boulder in my heart and running makes it worse. There were times I tried to run when the boulder got so heavy that I had to sit on a park bench to cry in order to keep walking.
I still carry that boulder some, but I'm trying to be water that wears it away. The boulder slows me down and makes it hard to keep going, which is why I need the yoga to help lighten it. The beauty of running, though, is that if you can get far enough away from your house you have to keep going in order to get home again.
Me42, H40 D12, S8, S7 A revealed: 7/13 Sep 4/14; Agreed to D 1/15
Would love to hear tips for running in very cold weather. Like, under 30 cold. I don't have a good cold weather running wardrobe and would like to know how to properly equip myself.
if you've never ran in the cold regularly, the MOST important thing to learn is that it WILL be uncomfortable the first 3-4 runs, especially your lungs. I'm talking below 30 and especially when you get around 20. It doesn't matter what shape you are in. When I was at my peak (early college days), I still had to adjust to the cold. But once your body gets used to it, cold runs are the best! You never overheat (unless you have in too much clothing and can't take any of it off for whatever reason), it is secluded especially at normally packed parks, it is quiet (animals hibernating). And it just feels great to be exercising during the season when most people are inside packing on their winter pounds. So embrace the cold, don't be discouraged by it! Also, once you get used to it, do NOT be afraid of the really cold temps (10-25 F). You'd be surprised how comfortable you can be if you run hard in that with the right clothes. Plus, there is nothing like getting into a warm shower after a hard, frigid run!
Wardrobe depends on how vigorously you run and how cold it is. If you run hard the whole time, causing your body to make more heat, you'll need less clothes. If you casually or even walk some of it, you'll need more insulation.
when it's cold, you'll always need gloves. Wear a hat/tobaggon that you can take off and carry somembow (tuck into waistband) if you get too hot. It is an easy way to regulate your temperature. When first walk outside, you should feel cold in your clothes. That will change 3 or 4 minutes into the run. Until you know what to wear, I find it enlightening to get dressed, doing some in-place cardio while still in your house for 5 minutes (jumping jacks, whatever), and then step outside. That will be how you feel while running.
Here is my typical outfit for a 30-40F run:
- light gloves - tobaggon that I usually take off 10-15 minutes into run - two thin shirt layers, one long sleeve - shorts, shoes normal
If it dips into the mid 20s or below, I upgrade to heavy gloves and a hoodie. Still run in shorts. If I'm running in the low teens, I might put on full length thermal underwear, top and bottom. If it gets so cold where you need thick layers WHILE running to keep from freezing, then it's time to hit the treadmill or just cozy up with a blanket and a good book lol
Also, as a woman, there is one cold problem that you don't have to deal with that us guys have trouble with, especially when it dips to the low teens or single digits...
Last edited by Card29; 10/19/1409:11 PM.
Me 38, WAW 30 D11 (former marriage) S2 T 8 years M 3 years BD 8/20/23 S 8/20/23
