How to Start Running • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Start Running

#91

Post by thrownaway2424 » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:04 PM UTC

notacoward wrote: post #11

So much bad advice. (1) Actually it does matter how and where (relative to your body) you land your foot. Contrary to the article, many people do need to fix their "natural" form and/or get shoes that help them avoid pronation, both to avoid injury and to increase the enjoyment that will help them stick with it. (2) Similarly, the article's advice about stretching is way out of date. It's now consensus that static st…

"but if you're running in crowded times or places it's irresponsible to deafen yourself"

Odd that every car sold today is marketed on the basis of being quiet inside and having a deafening sound system. Why is it so important for runners to have their senses of hearing? So that they don't inadvertently get murdered by the functionally deaf in cars?

Re: How to Start Running

#92

Post by wjagodfrey » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:05 PM UTC

notacoward wrote: post #11

So much bad advice. (1) Actually it does matter how and where (relative to your body) you land your foot. Contrary to the article, many people do need to fix their "natural" form and/or get shoes that help them avoid pronation, both to avoid injury and to increase the enjoyment that will help them stick with it. (2) Similarly, the article's advice about stretching is way out of date. It's now consensus that static st…

This comment needs to be at the top

Re: How to Start Running

#93

Post by js2 » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:06 PM UTC

tomp wrote: post #73

js2 wrote: post #14

As someone who's already run 900 miles and four marathons year-to-date, I'll add some hard won advice: 1) Do not be in a hurry. Most runners do way too much way too soon. You will likely get injured. You gain aerobic capacity in a matter of weeks to months. But soft tissues, tendons, ligaments, bone density... those takes years to adapt. 2) If you're getting injured, something is wrong. You're doing too much too soon…

How about the front squat? I've heard it's better for the back, balance and arm training... how about its impact on running?

As my coach would say, stop over-thinking it. Just pick up the damn bar and put it down. Either or both are fine. The overhead squat is also excellent, but vastly more difficult.

Re: How to Start Running

#94

Post by mynewtb » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:09 PM UTC

enraged_camel wrote: post #54

z3t4 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

2) A little bit of stretching wont hurt, just don't do it too extensively. Stretching relaxes the muscles and increase range of motion, witch can have a positive effect on your running. It can also help the muscles "warm up". If stretching was so bad, you wouldn't see elite athletes do it, or cats and dogs.

He said static stretching is bad, and it absolutely is. Athletes do dynamic stretching.

What's the difference?

Re: How to Start Running

#95

Post by dahart » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:12 PM UTC

I'm surprised at the amount of discussion about headphones. Safety issues aside -- certainly only listen when it doesn't affect safety -- what are your favorite headphones for running? And what are your favorite apps for music?

I've been using yrbuds, and I love them compared to all other headphones I've tried, but I'm still interested in what works for others and what else might work even better for me.

For music, I've been using RockMyRun, and I absolutely love being able to set an RPM for pacing that doesn't change. There's almost nothing else I like about this app, it's slow and buggy, but the RPM feature keeps me using it, even with music styles I don't care for. :P

Re: How to Start Running

#96

Post by RockyMcNuts » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:12 PM UTC

z3t4 wrote: post #20

notacoward wrote: post #11

So much bad advice. (1) Actually it does matter how and where (relative to your body) you land your foot. Contrary to the article, many people do need to fix their "natural" form and/or get shoes that help them avoid pronation, both to avoid injury and to increase the enjoyment that will help them stick with it. (2) Similarly, the article's advice about stretching is way out of date. It's now consensus that static st…

2) A little bit of stretching wont hurt, just don't do it too extensively. Stretching relaxes the muscles and increase range of motion, witch can have a positive effect on your running. It can also help the muscles "warm up". If stretching was so bad, you wouldn't see elite athletes do it, or cats and dogs.

dynamic stretching and warming up before, static stretching after (ie holding 30 seconds at maximum extension).

if you run a lot, because it's a narrow range of motion, if you don't stretch, then over years you will definitely run into flexibility problems that stretching would have helped alleviate.

For instance runner's knee occurs when you strengthen and shorten muscles, and they tend to pull up your kneecap so it is out of position and no longer glides smoothly in its slot. (naive and possible not 100% complete or correct explanation).

If you're going to run regularly for years, a flexibility regimen is key to staying healthy. Also listen to your body, increase distance (and speed) gradually.

I think increased risk of injury applies more to e.g. sprinters or football players increasing risk of straining a hamstring by doing a static stretch prior to an activity with explosive acceleration.

Re: How to Start Running

#97

Post by Chris2048 » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:15 PM UTC

saulrh wrote: post #83

CJefferson wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, I started doing a couch to 5k, I'm now off running, and I've got a constant pain in my knee which shows no signs of going away. Turns out my technique was bad and I had a week muscle in my knee, now I've badly messed it up. The worst thing is that it never hurt seriously -- you can build up some serious damage without ever being in serious pain.

Same thing happened to me, though in my case it was less of naturally bad technique and more that I have naturally weak joints that I tried using without sufficient other supporting muscles for stabilization. Missing a few http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RequiredSecondary... . Now it's going to take a year or two, maybe more, to get the joints back to where they were so I can try again.

I had to go through a few cycles of getting shin-splints, stopping for a while, then starting again. Each time I could run further before the splints.

Maybe it's technique, but I thought it was my tendons/bone needing to strengthen after endured stress.

Re: How to Start Running

#98

Post by massysett » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:15 PM UTC

notacoward wrote: post #11

So much bad advice. (1) Actually it does matter how and where (relative to your body) you land your foot. Contrary to the article, many people do need to fix their "natural" form and/or get shoes that help them avoid pronation, both to avoid injury and to increase the enjoyment that will help them stick with it. (2) Similarly, the article's advice about stretching is way out of date. It's now consensus that static st…

I also think the idea of a total beginner picking a marathon is bad advice. A very fit person could pull this off, but they know who they are. Someone who has been running for quite some time and wants to start off with a marathon could do it too. But couch to marathon is a bad idea.

Re: How to Start Running

#99

Post by Chris2048 » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:17 PM UTC

gtirloni wrote: post #19

The absolute best way to keep yourself running is to find a race, sign up for it, pay for it and put it on your calendar. I've wasted a lot of money thinking this way. Unless you're cash-strapped and it meant a lot buying that ticket/software/tool/book/etc, you just shrug it off and move to the next target. Money doesn't buy discipline. YMMV.

A deadline can push you to keep at it, but if you're truly strapped for time don't do it.

Re: How to Start Running

#100

Post by tunesmith » Sat, Apr 02, 2016, 10:18 PM UTC

dahart wrote: post #95

I'm surprised at the amount of discussion about headphones. Safety issues aside -- certainly only listen when it doesn't affect safety -- what are your favorite headphones for running? And what are your favorite apps for music? I've been using yrbuds, and I love them compared to all other headphones I've tried, but I'm still interested in what works for others and what else might work even better for me. For music, I…

The only thing that works for me is earphones with earclick molds. Larger speakers that you don't have to jam into your canals. Unfortunately, there aren't many of these, and the urbanears "medis plus" aren't even made anymore. I don't think there are any that are bluetooth, either.

The ones that hook around the earlobe are ok, but most of those are the ones with the smaller speakers that have to sit against your ear canal just right, or they go partly into your canal in a way that is never quite perfect. Both lead to sound that is massively different from step to step. Completely frustrating.