Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Some background on the whole running thing...
My first thoughts about running/getting fit where in the middle of 2003 but, after going on about it for ages to my long suffering partner and even buying a pair of trainers that where one size too small and completely the wrong type for my feet (didn't know this at the time), I never did set foot outside the door to go running.
Fast forward to the beginning of September 2005 (only took a year) and I finally built myself up to go out, 10 mins later I was fit to drop, I had never felt so knackered and for 2 days afterwards I ached in places that I didn't know could ache.
I did this run (around a local field) for a few more times always coming back wheezing and struggling to breathe (more on that later), a different ache each time and always a very painful right toe. So after reading up on the 'net and discovering the www.runnerworld.co.uk website I realised that my shoes where wrong and promptly went out and bought a pair of Asics GT2090 from JJB Sports (big mistake!) thinking that I knew best after my internet "research". One run later and my knees where hurting like hell, I knew the problem lay with the 2090's as even when walking it felt like they where trying to make my feet/legs move in a way that didn't want to. Lesson 1 learned.
My knees continued to hurt all the way through October so as I healed I spent time reading and learning as much about running as possible. During this time I came across the beginners schedule at www.runnersworld.co.uk and decided that the sensible thing to do would be to follow it once my knees where sorted.
The schedule goes like this...
Week 1 Run one min, walk 90 seconds. Repeat eight times. Do three times a week.
Week 2 Run two mins, walk one min. Repeat seven times. Do three times a week.
Week 3 Run three mins walk one mins. Repeat six times. Do three times a week.
Week 4 Run five mins, walk two mins. Repeat four times. Do three times a week.
Week 5 Run eight mins, walk two mins. Repeat three times. Do three times a week.
Week 6 Run 12 mins, walk one min. Repeat three times. Do three times a week.
Week 7 Run 15 mins, walk one min, Run fifteen mins. Do three times a week
Week 8 Run 30 mins continuously.
To get started I needed a new pair of trainers so off I went to Start Fitness in Newcastle to get a pair fitted properly (once bitten, twice shy) and after spending some time with one of the sales assistant and a treadmill I came away with a nice sparkly pair of Nike Structure Triax 8 which I have come to love.
The hardest part of the schedule I found was going from week 1 to week 2 and had to repeat week 1. This was due to my asthma that I've had since a child, luckily I had my first visit to an asthma clinic in over 10 years round about the same time as I started the schedule and was prescribed a controller, similar to one I used as a child, and since I've started using it I've had no problems with my breathing.
So now I'm on week 5, my resting HR is down below 50, I've lost ½ a stone and generally I feel better and fitter than I have in a long time.
I would recommend it to anyone.
Fast forward to the beginning of September 2005 (only took a year) and I finally built myself up to go out, 10 mins later I was fit to drop, I had never felt so knackered and for 2 days afterwards I ached in places that I didn't know could ache.
I did this run (around a local field) for a few more times always coming back wheezing and struggling to breathe (more on that later), a different ache each time and always a very painful right toe. So after reading up on the 'net and discovering the www.runnerworld.co.uk website I realised that my shoes where wrong and promptly went out and bought a pair of Asics GT2090 from JJB Sports (big mistake!) thinking that I knew best after my internet "research". One run later and my knees where hurting like hell, I knew the problem lay with the 2090's as even when walking it felt like they where trying to make my feet/legs move in a way that didn't want to. Lesson 1 learned.
My knees continued to hurt all the way through October so as I healed I spent time reading and learning as much about running as possible. During this time I came across the beginners schedule at www.runnersworld.co.uk and decided that the sensible thing to do would be to follow it once my knees where sorted.
The schedule goes like this...
Week 1 Run one min, walk 90 seconds. Repeat eight times. Do three times a week.
Week 2 Run two mins, walk one min. Repeat seven times. Do three times a week.
Week 3 Run three mins walk one mins. Repeat six times. Do three times a week.
Week 4 Run five mins, walk two mins. Repeat four times. Do three times a week.
Week 5 Run eight mins, walk two mins. Repeat three times. Do three times a week.
Week 6 Run 12 mins, walk one min. Repeat three times. Do three times a week.
Week 7 Run 15 mins, walk one min, Run fifteen mins. Do three times a week
Week 8 Run 30 mins continuously.
To get started I needed a new pair of trainers so off I went to Start Fitness in Newcastle to get a pair fitted properly (once bitten, twice shy) and after spending some time with one of the sales assistant and a treadmill I came away with a nice sparkly pair of Nike Structure Triax 8 which I have come to love.
The hardest part of the schedule I found was going from week 1 to week 2 and had to repeat week 1. This was due to my asthma that I've had since a child, luckily I had my first visit to an asthma clinic in over 10 years round about the same time as I started the schedule and was prescribed a controller, similar to one I used as a child, and since I've started using it I've had no problems with my breathing.
So now I'm on week 5, my resting HR is down below 50, I've lost ½ a stone and generally I feel better and fitter than I have in a long time.
I would recommend it to anyone.
# posted by Focus : Wednesday, December 08, 2004
