Thursday, March 14, 2013

People Who Run

So I need some help and advice from people who run, I have some questions and I don't feel like Googling them, I just want someone who's smarter than me about running to help me. 

I started this Couch to 5K program last week, I've done running stuff before, but I've never ever considered myself a "runner". I've never had proper running technique, I've never done any races, I'm just a person who uses a treadmill to try  not to gain any more weight. But now I have gone and convinced my friend that we should sign up for a real life 5K at the end of April. I'm not sure you heard me...THE END OF APRIL. That's like not very far away. So I'm having to stop being a baby about this whole running thing and totally do it for realz. So here are my questions.

1.) I have had my running/workout shoes for like almost 3 years. I don't use them every day of course, but that's a good long time. They don't hurt me, they aren't falling apart, but internet tells me I need new running shoes every 6 months! Is this true life? Do I really need to drop $50+ every 6 months if I'm not a hardcore marathon runner?
How do you know when it's time to get new shoes?

2.) I have pain! in my shoulder when I run, it's not like I hurt my shoulder and now it hurts when I run, its like INSIDE my shoulder, like cramping kind of or when you get a stitch in your side, except it's in my shoulder...Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

3.) Heart rate monitors: I have a chest strap with a watch and it took my gender, age, height and weight and now it tracks my heart rate when I run (which I assume is pretty accurate), the time I'm in my "zone" and how long my workout is...but it also tells me how many calories I burned...but my treadmill that doesn't know me from Jill also tracks my calories and they are VERY DIFFERENT. I assume the watch is more accurate because I told it all my secrets but is it really accurate? Did I really just burn 500 calories in an hour? or is it tricking me to think I'm making a difference? 

SO PLEASE HELP ME people who run...or tell people you know who run and are smart to help me. K Thanks.

Also, this is what I did yesterday...that's pretty much almost 3 miles there...yes I walked a portion of that, but still..I was gonna just push to 3.0 miles but I thought I'd save that treat for myself another day.

And I also ate this stuff:

Yogurt, fruit and Fiber One Chocolate squares

Shredded chicken, refried beans and a cut up red bell pepper.

Pre-workout snack: Apple and PB



Dinner, I found this whole wheat gnocchi and made it with Trader Joe's veggie meatballs, marinara and some peas. The bf told me gnocchi looked like cat vomit so I made him regular pasta with his. lol Thanks for that mental image...yum. Actually, it was yum.




5 comments:

  1. Hi Robyn--found your blog through someone else's (I think Tippy Toe, does that sound right). Anyway. I've been reading and thought I'd comment. I don't really have answers to your questions, but I thought I'd tell you that you can DEFINITELY do that 5K! I started strong in September 2012, never believing I could do a 5K. I started doing treadmill intervals (walk 1 min, jog 2 min) gradually increasing my speed and time. And I found that my stamina and strength really increased and I did my first 5K in February. BTW, I'm in MN too! 5K sounds like a great goal! Good luck!

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    1. Hi Jen- Tippy Toe sounds right! I'm a big fan and it frequent her blog. Thank you for your support of doing a 5K, I'm doing intervals too, I found a weekly program to work my way up. That is great news that you were able to work to a 5K it gives me hope :) I'm guessing you're about as sick of winter then as I am? Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Good Morning!

    3 miles is amazing! That is so great! You will SO be ready for a 5k in April! The nerves make me run faster, usually. And, its a great place to just have a benchmark to make goals from!

    Shoes are definitely important when you run. That is what makes the run either comfortable or uncomfortable. The rule I use is every six months or every 200-250 miles walked or ran.

    I also have a HR monitor. It's nice with the newer treadmills because if you wear just the heart rate strap, it will show you your HR on the treadmill too. LOVE THAT. And a mile run by me or someone else of a different size, bigger or smaller, and their HR determines how many calories you burn.

    There is a blogger at www.runsforcookies.com and she is at her goal weight of 135ish pounds and talked about when she runs a mile, she knows its about 80 calories but before it was more like 100-150. I know that where I am right now in with my weight, its about 135-150 calories per mile, but that will begin to decrease as I lose weight and become more conditioned, meaning that my HR will decrease and I will be more used to running.

    Hope this helps!

    Madalyn

    www.faithfoodexercise.blogspot.com

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    1. Hey Madalyn, I'm hoping too that since I've done C25Ks in the past but never the actual 5K, that signing up for one will give me that added motivation I need. :) Thanks for your confidence in me!
      I guess I have no idea how many miles i have on my shoes! but maybe now is a good time go start shopping so I don't have new shoes right before the race.
      I love 'runs for cookies', how did you figure your calories burned per mile? through your chest strap stats?
      Thanks for the comments running is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be!

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  3. Go to a running store and get fitted according to your gait. And don't get new shoes right before the race! I get new shoes about every 5-6 months. But I don't run a lot right now. When I was running a lot more miles I got shoes every few months.

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