That is how long it took for me to do a 5k. Ridiculous. I had to walk too much, and it made me feel so defeated. It did not help that I could not find any good music on the radio on my phone. I'm sorry but ballads just tell my brain that walking is ok at that point.
What is my problem? My brain. It keeps saying to me, "Oh Robyn...you know that you don't want to do this! You want to walk! Actually, you want a hot fudge sundae..."
BE QUIET AND LET ME RUN IN PEACE!!
How the heck am I going to do this 10k that is on my deployment goal??
I know that there are people out there who read this and could give out some good advice! How do I get my brain to turn off and let me run without walking??
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Robyn,
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend, Tiffany, has recently started running on a consistent basis and she's mentioned a similar thought process. I picked it up a few years ago, and went through the same thing you had mentioned about wanting to walk, and definitely agree with the hot fudge sundae!! Tiff picked up a book by 'Women's Health' magazine aptly named "The Big Book of Exercises." There are plenty of exercises in there you can choose from to help out with the strength/toning aspect of running, many of which can be done without weights (or with light weights).
Things the helped, and still help me when training to improve my run times, in order of precedence:
1 - iPod; upload music and build playlists designed for different runs.
2 - Training at a gym or separate location. Training at home has never worked for me.
3 - Using weightlifting to supplement my runs.
4 - Finding someone else to train with. This has been the hardest for me, cause no one else really has the same schedule as me.
5 - Keep running in 5k's to allow you to set milestones and keep a short-term goal in front of you.
As for "turning your brain off," it takes time and conditioning your mind. When you get winded and your head is telling you to slow down; i.e. STOP!!! That's your brain going into "crisis mode." You have to teach your head that you don't need to stop, just need to slow down a little. I have three speeds when I run. 1. Sprint (I'm losing oxygen), 2. Run (I'm at status quo, I'm not losing my breath, but eventually I'll tire), and 3. Recover (still moving, but **slightly** slower than my run - just enough so I can catch my breath for my next major push). If you nix the walking portion of your runs, you'll teach your brain you can recover while still moving.
There's tons of other stuff I could share with you, or if you'd like I could get Tiff to contact you to share her perspective.
Hope you continue to work at it! Don't give up! Oh... and Drink water! Lots of it! All the time!
- Doug
Hey Robin! I've learned that the most important thing is to not let the "less good" runs bring you down and discourage you. First of all, what you're doing is more than a lot of people can do, so take pride in that. Second, every bad run is worth that one run when you set a new personal record or when you just feel good the whole time. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of music/playlists, I actually have grown to prefer running without music because I get lost in my thoughts and time goes more quickly. When I have a playlist, it's easy to think "oh my gosh, it's only been 3 minutes??". Silence helps that. :)
The other thing I enjoy is interval training on a treadmill, if you have access to one. I have an OK Go "Master the Treadmill" workout I love (30 minutes), or I'll just pick a good playlist and walk a song, run a song, and alternate as long as I have steam. It's a good way to help build your stamina and increase your pace in manageable increments.
Finally, I've always hated running with other people (I don't like feeling like I'm slowing someone down!) but I recently found a great running group that I love. Check with your local running shoe store (if you have one) or log onto meetup.com to find local running groups. Then, maybe you can find someone who will encourage you and keep you motivated/distract you when you're starting to feel tired.
Most of all, just hang in there. It really does get better.
- Kirsten
Right there with you, Robyn. My brain bad mouths me until I stop ...
ReplyDeleteThink like Dorey...Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming...;) It's been a while since you've been consistently running, honey. It is going to take several work outs before you're comfortable again. Don't let the time or pain get you down. You are only competing with yourself for this and you need to just establish a consistent workout schedule and stick to it. As long as you just keep on schedule, your time and the pain will get better! Don't forget that I'm proud of you for sticking to it!
ReplyDeleteBe a little bit kinder to yourself! For the time being, does it matter how long it takes, and so what if you have to walk a little bit? A few weeks from now, I'm sure you will be walking less, and running faster :) I predict that a year from now, you'll be zooming around our neighborhood like it’s the most natural thing ever! Next time you get your running shoes on, be delighted and proud that you're being consistent and maybe aim to shave a smidge of time off. But gosh, you're too awesome to be so hard on yourself! The fact that you're getting out there is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything above, esp the advice about not letting the bad runs get you down. Sometimes I just have really low energy days and can't muscle through it.
ReplyDeleteWhat has worked for me, endurance wise, is weight training. Once gained more muscle tone in my legs, they could actaully support my chunky butt long enough for me to get through a run and not get sore, wore out, shin splints, etc. I started with one mile, then worked my way up to 1.5, then 2, then 2.5, then 3, and so on.
It's a process, it doesn't happen overnight. But for me, I do it for not only exercise, but also for sanity. With 2 children under the age of 4 at home, and by myself for a long time until Chris redeployed, some days it was all I could do to keep myself from screaming! Oh and I also have to have great music or I lose motivation fast!
Just keep at it! And if you ever want to train together let me know! I go to Energy in Etown 3-4 times per week, but I LOVE running outside more than anything.