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Get Running with Couch to 5K

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Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#121

Post by jinto36 »

igouy wrote: post #80
bulldog13 wrote: post #45

What do people think about during their runs? Anything over 30 minutes I find very mind numbing and boring.

Everything that's happening around me in the place that I'm running. Everything I see that's changed since the previous run. Everything I see that's changed since the previous season. Everything I can feel about my body moving Everything that's happened that day.

Same for me, I try to make it meditative in a way. I don't use earbuds or anything, just try to continue existing and moving. Sometimes identify birds. Practice talking to myself in languages I'm studying. In races it turns into body state monitoring and trying to determine when/if to adjust pace. Check in on form. On heart rate. Pick someone up ahead to try to catch. Count down to the next gel or electrolyte tab or water station.

I've done quite a few 2hr+ runs (half marathon to marathon) and 100 mile bike rides, and after a while for me it turns into a psychological game.

Trail running, if you haven't tried it, is much more "stimulating" I might say, depending on where you are there's a lot more focus and attention required to stay on the trail, to stay upright (slipping on mud, ending up in a river), to dodge trees and rocks as required, etc. I personally find there's much more of an aspect of being "in the zone" for trail running, and especially in races, when I miss a turn and have to stop and backtrack, it becomes really obvious that I was in some kind of "flow" state and then got pulled out of it.

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#122

Post by iamacyborg »

twawaaay wrote: post #85
twosdai wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the things I've always wondered about, and I don't know if there is a good scientific answer for it (haven't looked deeply), is if you end up committing to running 5 to 10 minutes a day will you end up turning into the type of person you're describing eventually. I guess my question is that is it likely a person would get the outsized health benefits because they commit to the minor health change which then ca…

I noticed on myself that running long distances is also willpower training. Being able to force myself to stick to something hard/painful causes me to also expand my ability to stick to other things. And when I can't run (for example due to injury) it also affects my ability to stick to a lot of other things that should not be affected by my knee. Another reason why I think running is so beneficial is because when yo…

Steve Magness has a great book on the topic called Do Hard Things. It’s a great read, but makes extra sense for folks who run of engage in hard endurance exercise.

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#123

Post by iamacyborg »

nikanj wrote: post #86
jeltz wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, when the weather is right winter running can be amazing. The perfect is running in like -4 C with crisp air and everything covered in snow or frost.

The amount of light exposure you get is incredible, with the crisp air and the all-white world reflecting the sunshine. So good against seasonal depression

You don’t get great light exposure when it’s cold and you have to wear tights, long sleeves and gloves

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#124

Post by Someone1234 »

leksak wrote: post #108
misterspaceman wrote: post #103

I have a theory that people who want to get in shape but don't know where to start will gravitate towards running, because it's what we all remember doing in grade school gym class. Running is great, I'm not knocking it at all. But I would also try other activities to see what sticks (hiking, weightlifting, rock climbing, social sports leagues, etc.) There's also lots of free beginner-friendly workouts on YouTube (wh…

Running can also be very high impact on joints and if a person hasn't moved around much for quite some time might be asking them to do more than they are ready for.

In particular if people aren't at a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese and running can destroy your knees. Doctors will recommend against it.

Swimming, Rowing, elliptical, cycling, or StairMaster are safer and offer similar health benefits.

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#126

Post by deebosong »

OJFord wrote: post #87
twawaaay wrote: post #48

Personally, I think aren't many better return on investment activities than spending half an hour every day on a morning jog. You can run more than that but I think half an hour steady state easy run each morning gives you 80% of results. If you love running (I do), knock yourself out. But that half an hour is enough to do wonders to your health over long periods of time with minimum chance for negative consequences.…

Personally I think (I don't do !) I'd rather go harder/faster/longer less often. Getting ready for and then showering etc. after such a brief activity every day is just annoying isn't it?

You may be one of those types who enjoy interval training more than longer, steadier, more "laid back" efforts.

Apparently, if you match it to your fitness/ recovery levels (and goals if you have them), doing quality over quantity can be just as good as – and in some cases better than – doing more volume at less intensity.

I personally prefer cycling at a more laid back pace. But if I were back on some run-training regimen, I'd prefer less volume with more intensity workouts. Because I enjoy cycling, and kinda dread running.

But I heard mixing both, in terms of volume and quality, will have the most optimal results in terms of performance gains.

Maybe you know all this already, but just ya know, throwing it out there.

And showering after a workout feels sublime.

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#128

Post by apelapan »

bulldog13 wrote: post #45

What do people think about during their runs? Anything over 30 minutes I find very mind numbing and boring.

The easiest option is to just speed up if you are getting bored. Exertion will clear your mind and focus it on the task at hand. There will simply be no space left in your head for feelings of boredom!

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#129

Post by RavingGoat »

1024core wrote: post #115

What's the alternative for those of us who suffer from Plantar Fasciitis(sp)?

Go to a specialty running store and they will help you find the shoes to help with any biomechanical issues you have (flat feet, over pronation)... plantar fasciitis is usually caused by biomechanical issues.

Re: Get Running with Couch to 5K

#130

Post by andness »

OJFord wrote: post #87
twawaaay wrote: post #48

Personally, I think aren't many better return on investment activities than spending half an hour every day on a morning jog. You can run more than that but I think half an hour steady state easy run each morning gives you 80% of results. If you love running (I do), knock yourself out. But that half an hour is enough to do wonders to your health over long periods of time with minimum chance for negative consequences.…

Personally I think (I don't do !) I'd rather go harder/faster/longer less often. Getting ready for and then showering etc. after such a brief activity every day is just annoying isn't it?

I try to run every day. And I try to run hard every other day, but if I don't feel like running hard one day that's ok. On the hard runs all I do is run. I can't think, I just need to focus on maintaining my pace (when I notice that I'm putting together a coherent string of thoughts it's my cue to go faster).

But on my slow days I think. And it's wonderful. I don't know how many problems I've solved during my runs, but it's a lot. Something about getting outside and moving somehow unties knots in my thinking. And if I don't have a problem to solve I might review some recent stuff I've been studying. I might for example pretend I'm doing a presentation on the topic. Since I'm out there and can't write anything down I have to repeat everything in my head, and that repetition makes it stick. (Works if I'm preparing an actual presentation too!)

Because of this I usually try to go running after 1-2 hours of work. This way when I go running I usually have some material fresh in my mind. Working from home is obviously a big advantage.

I stopped running when I got my current job because there was so much work I wanted to do and didn't think I had the time. Huge mistake. I started running again in August and have been keeping it up since then, and my work has improved a lot.

This probably doesn't work for everyone, but it's an experience worth searching out!

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