Running**update, 9/15/07****

[dkn1997]

admittedly amateur runner here.  I do it to try and lose weight and it works well.  I found myself in the past falling out of it, so I started doing some races.  5k's, nothing big.  my usual workout is a 3 mile run every other day.  Well...I think I bit off more than I can chew with the next race.  It's called Cow Harbor run in Northport, NY and it's 6 miles and very hilly.  I have stepped it up lately and have been running 2 miles every day, this last week I bumped it up to 3.  I am worried about this race and it's in 2 weeks.  any real runners out there with any advice?  (besides "don't do it, you will die you knucklehead!")

[68chrgrwife]

The only advice I can give you is keep training.  You should have started a while back running everyday (before signing up for this race) and then worked up to running 5 miles a day at least.  But if you step it up a little and keep running extra miles everyday until you race, you should be fine.

Oh and BTW--DON"T DO IT, YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF KNUCKELHEAD!!!

[41husk]

I don't understand, your running and no one is chasing you

[Mean 318]

the hills are your friends! Use them to give you speed and make it less work!

[Rench]

It won't help much for two weeks out, though maybe...

Check out Nikerunning.com.  You don't even have to buy their shoes!  They've got training schedules and calendars built into the site.  It's what I've been using to train for the Chicago marathon coming up in a month-and-change here.  You set up a profile, tell it your goals, and it plans the rest.  Best of all, it builds in rest days, which are nice. 

-Rench

[Charger_Fan]

Running tweaks my back...more.

[74-StreetMachine]

 I tried running once, but the ice cubes kept falling out of my drink.

[71ChallengeHer]

I tried running once, but the ice cubes kept falling out of my drink.

Use a sippy cup

[dkn1997]

......You should have started a while back running everyday (before signing up for this race) and then worked up to running 5 miles a day at least. 
Oh and BTW--DON"T DO IT, YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF KNUCKELHEAD!!!

there's a little back story to the short training schedule.  I was at my 20th high school reuinion last week and I found out that 2 of my former classmates ran in the same 4 mile race as I ran in about a month ago.  The three of us hadn't seen each other in 20 years.   one thing led to another and one of them said, "dude, you gotta do cow harbor"  so it's sort of a matter of pride at this point.

I am they type to just go all out and worry about the injuries later, sort of how a dog will eat till he pukes, so I am confident I will finish the race, it's just a matter of what kind of shape I will be in after...the weather is huge for me. this past week it's been really cool and it felt like I was turbocharged when I was running. the stinky hot stuff is here again, and it feels like running in clay.  I am hoping that the mid september date and early morning start will combine to give me a little extra in the tank.

and I will try that nike schedule, thanks.

[hemigeno]

My grandfather once quipped that he would take up running if he ever noticed a jogger go past his house with a smile on their face.

dkn, I respect your diligence in training and wanting to better your physical condition.     It's just rare that I think of someone running without remembering that remark as well. 

Good luck!! 

[dkn1997]

I hear ya, dude.  It's rough for me sometimes to get motivated, but I am just getting to the point where all of my pants and shorts are falling off me and the feeling I get when I am done with my run is amazing.  If it was just running, then I would be one of the people your grandpops described, no joy.  but I use things like these races  to make it more interesting.  It's pretty cool when I feel like I got nothing left and then a good song comes on my ipod and it really picks me up, somehting like kickstart my heart, or any number of 80's metal tunes. 

when did the 4 mile race, even though I was bringing up the rear and slow, there were people out on thier lawns with little kids cheering us on.  pretty cool.  most of the other runners ignored them, but I am not serious at all about my times or finishing fast, so I acted like rocky going up the steps.  the kids loved it and it made me smile too. 

[Silver R/T]

I'm working hard enough at my job to keep those calories burning

[dkn1997]

I hear you on that, I get to work at 5:45am and leave at 4:45pm pretty much every day.  saturdays are slow, I usually leave around noon. just your average 60 hour work week.  you gotta make the time.  I am thankful that I can start that early in the morning.  If I started with the rest of the world at 8 or 9am, I would never see my kids. 

[68chrgrwife]

I have run in 5k here in San Diego over the Coronado-bay bridge....it was grueling, I did not train before hand, I haden't run in years and I finished just fine...I kept up with a bunch of Marines and just listened to their Cadences the whole way...I jut kept telling my self that I would ook like an idiot if I stopped...so I didn't..yeah I hurt like hell the next day, but I ran the whole dang thing and had a blast....since you are training you'll do fine...I was just busting your balls dude......

[Red Ram]

I'd practice on a few hills. Concentrate on your form to try to be efficient as possible. Think of yourself as your favorite Charger going up a hill...only downshift if you start to lugging. Take a couple of longer runs on a relatively flat course...again concentrate on your form to use the least amount of energy possible. I assume you're doing it for fun and to finish, not to defeat other competitors, so take it relaxed and you'll be fine. If you can run 3 miles you can do 6. Lay off the running at least a couple of days before the race and take an Advil Liqui-gel the night before the race. Good luck!

[dkn1997]

I'd practice on a few hills. Concentrate on your form to try to be efficient as possible. Think of yourself as your favorite Charger going up a hill...only downshift if you start to lugging. Take a couple of longer runs on a relatively flat course...again concentrate on your form to use the least amount of energy possible. I assume you're doing it for fun and to finish, not to defeat other competitors, so take it relaxed and you'll be fine. If you can run 3 miles you can do 6. Lay off the running at least a couple of days before the race and take an Advil Liqui-gel the night before the race. Good luck!

good stuff there. I had already planned to take at least a day off running before, but it's a saturday and maybe now I will shut it down on weds.  as for the hills, where I live, there are some very steep hills, so part of my daily run is at least 2 very steep grades. not the longest in th world, but still steep.  I am not small, 5'7" and 225lbs.  but I am like a diesel.  I run slow, but don't slow down much on hills.  I ran a really hilly 5k last year on 4th of july in some horrendous heat and I finished top 10 in my age group and got a medal.  I beat guys who looked like they were in way better shape than me. advil is a good tip too. thanks.

[nh_mopar_fan]

I do anywhere from 20-25 miles a week depending on my schedule (it's hard to find the time some weeks).

My advice is to do what you're already doing and pace yourself. That goes for uphill and downhill. If you run a 5k at a pace where you can carry on a conversation, you can run 6 miles without any issues. I think that's key, pick a pace that you can maintain, you'll find that if you start too slow, you will automatically increase your speed. At least, that's the way it is with me.

I usually run in what they call the "clydesdale" class. I'm not breaking any records.

Good luck!

[dkn1997]

thanks, NH.  nice to hear from a fellow clydesdale!  even though your'e probably  a redsox/patriots fan!!

[Brock Samson]

 
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2TBF1LNmM4Q

 
 

[nh_mopar_fan]

thanks, NH.  nice to hear from a fellow clydesdale!  even though your'e probably  a redsox/patriots fan!!

[bull]

I can never get past the damn shin splints to keep at it. I run for a few days before I can barely walk and then give up. How do you get around that BS and keep going?

[68chrgrwife]

I can never get past the damn shin splints to keep at it. I run for a few days before I can barely walk and then give up. How do you get around that BS and keep going?

get better shoes...if you are running on hard surfaces (The road) you need a shoe with very good cushion sole.  also when you start to feel the splints tape up your lower leg this will help keep your muscle from tearing more.

[nh_mopar_fan]

I can never get past the damn shin splints to keep at it. I run for a few days before I can barely walk and then give up. How do you get around that BS and keep going?

The right shoes are very important. You may also need to start with shorter distances as well. When I first started, years ago, I got them as well. Took a week or two off and started back with a shorter distance and gradually moved it up.

But, if you feel discomfort in your knees or any other joints after running, you need new sneakers. Don't go cheap, go to a store that deal with runners and they will find you a pair that fits your running style.

[dkn1997]

I can never get past the damn shin splints to keep at it. I run for a few days before I can barely walk and then give up. How do you get around that BS and keep going?

I had the same thing bull.  I went out and spent 120 bucks on good shoes and went to a running store where they looked at my skanky wide feet and picked the shoe for me.  Also, if you want to get into it again, run at a track at a local school. almost all nowadays are made of a mix of asphalt and rubber so they are hard on the surface, but you can feel it give when you press hard enough.  boring as hell running in circles, though.

I still deal with shin splints occasionallly and I just stopped giving a shit about them. they have never fully gone away so I just run through the slight pain.   I was told by someone in the know that if you work out your calves that it will take stress off the front of the leg.  there are several excercises you can do for this even sitting in an office or just being near a set of steps.   

and NH, how'd that game work out for you guys last night?  positively damonic for us!!! and I hate Kevin youkilis and varitek.  We can never get those 2 out. would love to have them on my team!!  you can keep manny, though.  although the phrase "hey, it's just manny being manny" is one of my favorites.

[nh_mopar_fan]

I can never get past the damn shin splints to keep at it. I run for a few days before I can barely walk and then give up. How do you get around that BS and keep going?

I had the same thing bull.  I went out and spent 120 bucks on good shoes and went to a running store where they looked at my skanky wide feet and picked the shoe for me.  Also, if you want to get into it again, run at a track at a local school. almost all nowadays are made of a mix of asphalt and rubber so they are hard on the surface, but you can feel it give when you press hard enough.  boring as hell running in circles, though.

I still deal with shin splints occasionallly and I just stopped giving a shit about them. they have never fully gone away so I just run through the slight pain.   I was told by someone in the know that if you work out your calves that it will take stress off the front of the leg.  there are several excercises you can do for this even sitting in an office or just being near a set of steps.   

and NH, how'd that game work out for you guys last night?  positively damonic for us!!! and I hate Kevin youkilis and varitek.  We can never get those 2 out. would love to have them on my team!!  you can keep manny, though.  although the phrase "hey, it's just manny being manny" is one of my favorites.

Glad you like Damon because you own him for another year and he's aging before our eyes.

In any case, the division is over. Stick a fork in em.

Worry about catching Seattle.