GRcade

jamcc wrote:I'm considering getting back into running, partly for fitness and partly for fat-burning.. Only thing is it's way more effective to run in the morning, before breakfast for burning fat, but I have enough trouble getting to work on time as it is.

Any ideas?

Get up earlier.

satriales wrote:

jamcc wrote:I'm considering getting back into running, partly for fitness and partly for fat-burning.. Only thing is it's way more effective to run in the morning, before breakfast for burning fat, but I have enough trouble getting to work on time as it is.

Any ideas?

Get up earlier.

Go to bed earlier.


You never know, after gaining fitness your energy levels will be higher so getting up earlier might not be as hard.

Right, I'm looking for a bit of advice here.

I've been getting in to treadmill running at the gym recently - I previously found it deathly dull, and stuck to either bike riding or rowing. I'm not unfit (or I like to think I'm not, anyway), though the Uni lifestyle has been took a little off me as I tend to go to the gym, play footy/tennis or swimming quite a lot when I am at home, but not as much when I'm away. I'm thin and all that, so weight isn't a problem, though traditionally I was always the 100m and 200m runner for my school, so I only had 25 seconds of work to do. My ex-girlfriends found this annoying.

So, I'm trying to get my endurance and stamina up with a view to, hopefully, doing a half marathon within the next year. At the moment, I'm going to the gym about three or four times a week (I usually go once every two or three days and rarely leave it any longer than that). When at the gym, I do quite a few other things for upper body and all that jazz, though the focal point of my workout is always the treadmill at the start.

I started out doing a 30 minute run which, even at the start, I could always finish. Now, I'm upping my speed a little - I do 10km/h for the first 5 minutes, 10.5 until the 15 minute mark and 11km/h for nine minutes. The last minute I usually ramp it up to 14ish km/h and sprint to get me panting a bit. In the past few sessions, I have then done 20 minutes of alternate minutes walking and sprinting - I do a minute light walking as rest and then do a minute of running at 13.5 km/h. Overall, on average I do about 5.5K in the non-stop running bit and about 2.5-3K on the second walking/sprinting bit.

So, I am basically wondering where do I go from here? I could undoubtedly go longer in my non-stop running and/or my stop-start sprinting bit, though I wonder whether more is necessarily the answer or if I should increase my speed and work rate within the time frame I exercise now. I'm not sure I have the time for three hour gym sessions at the moment, especially as my finals loom large.

Also, what is better - the non-stop running or the alternate speeds? My running mate says that the latter is better as it increases stamina and muscle strength, but he is no expert. Both are obviously beneficial at the moment as I am finding it way easier than it was a few weeks back. If I could start swimming again, to compliment the tennis and football I constantly do, then we'd be laughing. As friends.

The other (final) thing is stretching. As I'm sure I don't do enough or do it right and that this, not tiredness or fitness, is the cause of any muscle fatigue I suffer from during and after my running.

Any help would be appreciated, guys. My currently workout plan is becoming a bit easy and formulaic, and I don't want to get stuck in a rut which doesn't really help push me forward.

Go for a run outside? It's nice in the sun and it might be quicker than going to the gym (no time wasted, just step out of the door and go). If your aim is a half marathon then it'd be better training since running in the gym is very different, I find. You can still do the endurance and interval, I usually use lampposts for intervals.

Oh, take a watch too.

http://www.walkjogrun.net

Slartibartfast wrote:Go for a run outside? It's nice in the sun and it might be quicker than going to the gym (no time wasted, just step out of the door and go). If your aim is a half marathon then it'd be better training since running in the gym is very different, I find. You can still do the endurance and interval, I usually use lampposts for intervals.

Oh, take a watch too.

http://www.walkjogrun.net

This- running on threadmills doesn't equate to running outdoors; fresh air,differing conditions under foot, gradient changes that don't look like anything major... it means you are constantly having to adapt your rythm which you don't get with the machines.

When my final major piece of coursework is finished at the end of today, I'll be starting to train for a half marathon in September(19th). I'm a fat bastard whose clearly gone in right over his head here, and I have a shade under five months to prepare for this(I'd like to do it in under 2hrs 30 if possible). Also I have a chocolate ankle - one of the reasons I'm so bloody unfit is that every time I start to get going I injure the strawberry floating thing. Anyone got any tips on how I should start without jogging myself into a coma after thirty seconds?

Just backing up what the other guys have said by saying that running outside is a lot harder than running on a treadmill. All the minor variations in gradient etc. all add up.

To increase your overall fitness you are best doing a mix of normal distance runs and interval running (ie sprint for 10/20 seconds, jog for 30 etc.). Your body can get too comfortable doing normal runs and kind-of go into autopilot, and that's why its good to mix in interval runs to keep your body on it's toes (so to speak )

First thing's first - get good trainers. Don't go to JJB, get yourself to a running shop so they can examine your stride. Also, don't be stingy price-wise - paying an extra £20 is better than having to take a month off running because of an injury.

Yeah, my mate's a runner so I'm going to get a bit of advice from him about equipment, shoes and whatnot as well. Reading back through the thread I noticed you mentioned a place on Great Western Road as well, I'll probably give that place a look sometime next week. Cheers mate

Depending how fit you are, you could try following this guide:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... ning-guide

That's for 2 months, so gives you July, August and September to improve on that! I take it you are doing the Glasgow half marathon? I really fancied doing that this year, but it ended up clashing with a holiday I had booked Good luck!

Upping my distance to 10 miles a day now (most days) in preparation for the GUCR.

Also set up a twitter account to act as a diary for my running events. The Runkeeper app on my iPhone can automatically store runs and updated twitter so I have a permanent diary of each run/event. Only thing is battery is a killer.

So this is it, after months of training I will be taking part in the Grand Union Canal Race tomorrow in order to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

This is a 145 mile non stop endurance race starting from Birmingham to London.

Details of the event of here: http://www.gucr.co.uk

If anybody wishes to make a donation you can do so here. http://www.justgiving.com/paulali2010

I've also set up a twitter feed to record progress. http://www.twitter.com/paul_ali

My ambitions are fairly modest (i.e. just finish) but I will do a write up afterwards for anyone who is interested.

Wish me luck!

Jesus Christ, good luck Avon!

Have you read Ultra-marathon man? Bout some dude who does those sort of endurance races. Good read, even if he does come across a little bit crazy.

Good luck you loco person you.

I got a stitch just reading the title!

Good luck fella.

Well the good news is that I managed to complete the 145m race although 50% of the field didn't make it. There's a full report here with a few pictures for those who are interested.

Report

http://earley-gunners.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-grand-union-canal-race-report.html

Avon wrote:Well the good news is that I managed to complete the 145m race although 50% of the field didn't make it. There's a full report here with a few pictures for those who are interested.

Report

http://earley-gunners.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-grand-union-canal-race-report.html

That's actually insane Congrats!

Trying to find something to listen to music on whilst running, I regret getting rid of my shitty little mp3 players I've had in the past now iPod Classic is a bit too hefty to carry.

Avon wrote:Well the good news is that I managed to complete the 145m race although 50% of the field didn't make it. There's a full report here with a few pictures for those who are interested.

Report

http://earley-gunners.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-grand-union-canal-race-report.html

Absolutely nuts, but very well done! Was a really good read, especially all the planning that went into it. How are your feet now?

Has anyone any experience of the Vibram Five Finger trainers?

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/

I've heard nothing but praise for them, and I'm getting very tempted to try them out. As you are forced to run on the ball of your foot, your usual runs work your calves much harder apparently.

Is running the day after your last one something to avoid? I went for one last night, but if I get the time I'm tempted to go out for one tonight as well. I try to go, Monday, Wednesday, Friday but I feel like I have some catching up to do now, didn't go at all for a week or so.

Right so as the nice fellow Avon pointed out, here is the running thread.

Currently Im managing 4.5 miles in just under 30 minutes, as I have nothing to gauge this against, I think its quite a decent time. Ive been training for two weeks, I try to run 3 times a week and I need to start swimming. For someone who is so thin..is there any chance that I might put some weight on by doing this.

Im running a marathon in April next year, so you are all going to sponsor me to.

glowy69 wrote:Right so as the nice fellow Avon pointed out, here is the running thread.

Currently Im managing 4.5 miles in just under 30 minutes, as I have nothing to gauge this against, I think its quite a decent time. Ive been training for two weeks, I try to run 3 times a week and I need to start swimming. For someone who is so thin..is there any chance that I might put some weight on by doing this.

Im running a marathon in April next year, so you are all going to sponsor me to.

Sorry to say, but there is no way you will put on weight while distance training, and if anything you will lose weight. If you want to put on weight then you will have to focus on weight training and reduce the cardio. If you want to achieve a quick running pace, then you don't want to be carrying that extra muscle

glowy69 wrote:Currently Im managing 4.5 miles in just under 30 minutes, as I have nothing to gauge this against, I think its quite a decent time. Ive been training for two weeks, I try to run 3 times a week and I need to start swimming. For someone who is so thin..is there any chance that I might put some weight on by doing this.

That's an excellent time. 6 minutes per mile is a great benchmark, and though you're just shy of that, you're pretty damn close. But no, like the man said, no chance of putting weight on while you're running distances like that.