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Newbie to running

Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:04 am
by Reneeistryingtorun
Hi my name is Renee and I am 35 years old, and I have for the first time in my life thanks to your app I downloaded on my ipod started running (slowly!) I have been a swimmer all my life and have never really had any inclination to run anywhere, the end of my driveway was a long way for me, even though I could swim for an hour and do 5kms without thinking about it.
My main goal was -due to medication and knee reconstructive surgery- I had in a very short period of time - about 5 weeks put on 20kgs and it didn't really matter if I ate lettuce or normal meals I had developed a type of metabolic syndrome.
A few weeks ago we had a post flood recovery dinner in our town, we have had two massive floods here in two years, and our special guest for the evening was Rob De Castella (Australian marathon runner) I sat with him at the table but the next day I attended a school where he talked about his marathon project with some Australian Indigenous kids. We pretty much had our own inspirational couple of hours with Deek where I got to ask heaps of questions. After that it was time for me to drop him at the airport and I got to tell him my story of what was going on. He said - if you start running, regardless of what you eat the weight will fall off. Tell yourself while you are running how good you feel, how easy this is, and what a difference this is going to make to my life- the positive self talk will help you get there.
And so far it has worked. I am about to start week 3 of your get running program, during week 2 I had to go back to a week 1 run cause I was feeling a bit tired and I am a bit nervous about week 3 - to me (a previous) non runner it looks huge, but my goal, as long as I am still shuffling along then I will call it a run!!!

My other motivation was for a mental health reason, I had post natal depression after my second son, he is four now and I find this gives me a greater awareness of the bigger picture and where our worries (which in the scheme of things) are not so big and that really - life is quite good if you make it good.

Looking forward to continuing the program, enjoying some physical and mental fitness and losing some weight in the process.
cheers all
Renee

Re: Newbie to running

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 1:28 pm
by Ian
Hi Renee,
Every week seems like a daunting challenge, but every week so far (just started W5) I have managed to do it. The app slowly builds up your stamina, which you already have plenty of from swimming. The rests have been hugely important to me. Somebody once told me that it is while you are resting that your muscles get stronger... not while actually running. I've no idea if it's true or not, but I know that the rests have made the difference between me injuring myself or not.
Keep a close eye on that knee. I have a slightly dodgy left knee and if it starts to hurt then I'll have to stop for longer than the programme says (there is a difference between fatigue and pain). So far though no problems because of the rest times and stretching really well after each cool down. I never stretch at any other time (stretching cold muscles is a bad idea I'm told).
The mental health thing is a huge reason for anybody to run whether they have suffered depression of any kind or not. I have certainly found in my few weeks that I feel more energetic and happier, and I wasn't aware that I was less happy beforehand.
There are lots of people that have completed this programme who don't have any real fitness in their background. If they (by they I mean me really) can do it anybody can. I remember well how week 3 felt. Those 3 minute runs seemed like such a huge jump. But I can honestly say that only 2 weeks later they would be easy. No run is harder than the first run other than psychologically. When each one comes you will be ready. As the voice in the app says "Remember you are running three times as long as your first week!" That's great!

Re: Newbie to running

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:40 pm
by KeepTrying
Great reply Ian. Glad w5 is going well. Wait till the buzz you'll get from your w5r3 run!

You are spot on about the positive feelings from going through this programme. Physically and mentally.

But it is also addictive. It's only just a week since I graduated from the course. But I did a fantastic-feeling 72mins solid running (12.5km) this morning !

Re: Newbie to running

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:42 pm
by Reneeistryingtorun
Thanks Ian,
wonderful reply and I am still going, have had a really crappy "mentally challenging" week this week, and would like to try and head out for another run tomorrow, it is 3.30am in the morning and should be asleep but am finding I cannot because of all the things running round in my head, if I can manage a run in the morning it will help get some of the rubbish out. I have my last week 3 run to go and yes the three minutes was hard, but I slowed the run down and just kept shuffling along.
Thank you for your encouragement.
Renee

Re: Newbie to running

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:21 pm
by KeepTrying
Stick with it Renee. Let the wind in your hair de litter your head too. :) There's a great article this month in Runners World - a UK Magazine about a woman who found that running helped her through her postnatal depression and aided her recovery. Enjoy the runs.

Re: Newbie to running

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:27 pm
by Born to Plod
Sounds like you're doing great. You've got the right attitude, and that's half the battle.

Keep it up :)

J