OMG I signed up for a 5k run at the annual sports weekend in my city.I really do not think I will place or anything, but I am looking for a new hobby other than photography and this may be it. I am so nervous now but a got a friend to sign up with me so it wont be so bad.The only negative is I didnt look at the running course until now and I see its running 4x around a specific area-I really thought it would be a continual run but i guess its okay. The other thing is since its in the middle of the city its on cobblestones so since I live here I guess i will use that to my advantage and start practicing running the track.

Good job!
Yes, my grandpa (who still runs and he's 77, usually comes in 1st or 2nd place) says to practive on the terrain you will be competing. BUT I still say practice on the safest terrain for your knees I run on dirt--I seldom if ever do concrete or asphault because I don't want to risk injury. Please be careful!

I am definitely going to try to be as careful as possible. Since I live 5 minutes from he middle of downtown i run on on sorts of terrain on my run-I am only running every other day until i build up my muscles as well as indurance.

Congratulations!! I have yet to work up a courage to sign up for a 5 k!! Running on coblestone might be difficult, I never tried it, let us know how you are doing with it!!
This might sound silly but I finally figured out what I was doing wrong with my running sessions. I tried to go too fast!! so I got winded and had to stop every mile or so.
This weekend I slowed down to a jog (14 min/mile). I realize people might be able to walk faster than I run but it works for me. I was able to go 3 miles without stopping and felt I could have gone longer. And the best thing is: even that I am slow my heart-rate was constantly in the zone for weight loss. (about 115-120)
With my "new-found speed" I was able to run 12 miles last week (4x3) and lost twice as much weight as I usually do.
I never thought I would ever be able to run. Now I just have to work up the courage to sign up for a 5 K!!
Hajni

Hello fellow runners!!!

Yesterday I ran the "Run San Ramon" race with my family (5K). 4 of us 5 placed; my second cousin got 1st overall at an amazing 15:59 (he's 18 years old and is "out of shape," says he's shooting for under 15 minutes); I came in 1st for women 20-24 at 21:02; my gramps was peerless (he's 77) and came in 1st as well; my great uncle came in 3rd at 24 min and some change for men 60-64. My aunt videotaped it. Picture is me, gramps, my aunt, my second cousin, my mom and my great uncle.

Part of me is very pleased I've gotten fast. Another part of me thinks I could have done better--I didn't sleep hardly at all that night, went to bed at midnight and got up at 6am. I had been drinking too much the week before. Also, this race was lame because the 10K-ers went first, so I had to pass a bunch of people and that slowed me down. There were 18-year-old hottie females in front of me that got 19+ minutes and I couldn't keep up with them. I'm going to train harder.

You see, I have got very competitive.

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I run when dogs chase me. Does this count?

Nice try, Steve!!
We love you anyway!

I would consider myself a runner.

But in my world, runner = sprinter.

I can run far, I just choose not to.

Congrats curvie girlie!!
You really had a great time I can only hope to one day run that fast.Its really in your blood I think I am the only person in my family that has ever ran for no reason-LOL
I wish I could lengthen my stride I am 5'9 got any tips for me?

FINE THEN! Of course you're welcome!

Thank you very much!

My runners book says lengthening strides usues more energy, which is something you do not want to do. It says Olympic runners average 180 steps per minute while a novice runner's average is 160 steps or so.

Faster = little quick steps

To get faster, you have to train. You have to practice running really fast. It sucks. Trust me. BUT once your body knows that, next time is easier and so on. It took me a year to get from 23:07 to 21:02 for a 5K. But then again, I kickbox and weight train and that takes time away.

M'Kay:
Jack Daniels, Ph.D ( no I'm NOT making this up, pg. 37 of The Complete Book of Running for Women, Claire Kowalchik, pub. 1999) and sports scientist found that Olympic runners in 1984 took about 180 STEPS PER MINUTE. He also found that beginning runners took 150-160 steps per minute, which costs more energy. "A slow stride rate means you spend more time in the air and thus land harder. With a quicker turnover, you will land lightly, which lessons yoiur risk of injury."

All right. Now for increasing speed, guess what works? HA! INTERVAL TRAINING!!!!!!!! We knew that!

Tomorrow I'm going to SLV High's track with the mushy red turf. I shall sprint the straights and jog around the turns, over and over again. This will help me get faster. I talked to a sprinter at my gym (who now plays basketball): he said bound off your toes and land on the balls of your feet, get started and go faster! Sprinting will help me get faster in general, then I'lll practice 5Ks going all out. I hope to be running 19:50 5Ks eventually. Wish me luck!

Wow thanks for the informations-it makes alot of sense. I need to work on speed but its sooo grueling running intervals-LOL
Your a little rabbit, your would have to literally light me on fire to get me to run that fast
I am going to try to work on speed tomorrow morning hopefully it will be a good thing.If you dont see me post you know I am laying on the pavement waiting to be peeled off.
I really thing once I get down to my goal weight I will run alot faster-I feel so heavy and my ass literally drags me down when I am running.

LOL!!!

LOL!!!!

Hey, good luck! Also to me, the Law of Inertia still stands for exercising--no one wants to shock her body, but that's what it takes!

Remember, it took me seven years to get from running 2 miles in 16 minutes to 13 minutes and change. That seems so measly to me but it's true!

We-ell, you're beautiful the way you are But I understand, because it is somewhat true. Fat is going to be along for the ride. Muscle is going to help propel you. Leaness with tight muscle is probably going to be ideal. I heard some of the fastest women runners in the world actually have higher body fat than their peers (uh, but it's still like 17%, way less than us!). I improved my 5K by over 2 minutes from last year--last year I weighed 154, this year 144. BUT I was training all year long. It is impossible for me to say if I would have been slower if I had that extra 10 lbs fat--no way of knowing.

Either way, mentally you'll feel lighter and faster if you view yourself that way, probably. But remember--you're still better and faster than an out-of-shape supermodel!!!