Runners, I need help

Ripper · #1 07-11-2010, 09:59 PM

I'm having a slight problem right now. I want to get back into running, but can never seem to motivate myself to do so other than at times such as when I'm writing this (roughly midnight)

I used to run XC and track in high school (not saying I was fast at all but I ran) but I havent run consistently since XC my senior year. I'm in my 2nd year of college now, and the freshman 15+ has fully kicked in. This I could probably ignore if I hadn't also lost any semblance of stamina I once had.

You see, I also like to drive cars. Fast. However, in a sport where you spend hours and hours trying to get your 400 lb car down to 399, being 215 doesn't exactly make that much sense. I'm getting to be faster, but I know that that is hurting me. Can definitely see it in recreational karts, where I believe it is costing me about .5 seconds per lap relative to our other drivers, which is huge on a .25 mile track.

The weight I can get around in most events with the liberal use of the right pedal however. The biggest problem I've now found is after 5-10 minutes in our Formula car, I'm exhausted. I know I can do better than that, if I was also able to run more than a mile at a time.

So I'd like to be able to get back under 200 lbs, possibly to my XC weight of 190 if at all possible or even back to a 25 minute 5k time, but I just don't know how to. Occasionally I've gotten the motivation for a day, gone out and run/walked 2-3 miles in 40 minutes and then pretty much given up. I think my biggest problem is that I just dont have a set plan, and obviously you dont see improvement after doing something once, but I cant keep at it long enough to see improvement.

Can anyone offer some tips on what I should do? Granted, its not the relationship/legal advice TB is so famous for, but I'm hoping someone can help me out a little bit.

Nappa · #2 07-11-2010, 10:03 PM

Don't know if I can help you, but I hate running. I much prefer biking. It seems to be a lower impact from of exercise. Do you have a job that requires you take transportation to? If so you could try biking there. Just to keep up a more consistent exercise regiment. Little exercise everyday is better than sporadic exercise.

tplyons · #3 07-11-2010, 11:30 PM

Nike+ ... really.

nikeplus.com will allow you to set goals, and track your progress towards them. I was doing great up until I came down with the flu two months ago, and unfortunately haven't had the motivation to get back into it. Well, tomorrow's the day and I'll hopefully be back to running in no time.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 07-12-2010, 01:13 AM

I was where you were not even 5 months ago. I had gotten out of a year and a half long relationship and basically hit rock bottom for about a year afterwards and stopped lifting, running, hanging out with people... you name it. Anyways, (and this is kinda lame and sappy but whatevs) I recently had gotten back in touch with my best friend from high school and we got to talking and apparently she was training to do a marathon with her friend. Long story short I began training myself so that we could run together over breaks and for a while she was my muse to stay in shape, get my life together, and to keep at it. Now I do it for myself and not her, but I still appreciate what she gave me.

Anyways, I told you that to tell you that starting the program and keeping with it for the first month is the hard part, but once you get past it it becomes second nature. Look for something that inspires you to do it - do it for your health, to look good for the ladies, to have some sort of competition with yourself, etc... and once you get going don't stop. It's always easy to say you'll do it tomorrow, but believe me when I tell you that tomorrow never comes. Create a schedule and stick to it like white on rice. It's also important that you create one that is reasonable and obtainable. Don't start off with a 10 mile run if you can't even run 1 nonstop.

Here's one tip I tell people looking to get into this sort of thing that seems to work extremely well for motivation but it sounds really lame when you first hear it. What you do is find a picture of a member of the same sex of you that you find attractive with their shirt off. Then take a picture of yourself, cut your head out, and replace their head with the picture of yours that you just cut out. Finally, put that new picture of you somewhere where you'll see it often throughout the day like your nightstand, bathroom mirror, etc... This will hopefully give you some positive reinforcement and will motivate you to try to obtain that body through working out and running.

Anyways, that's my 5 cents (adjusted for inflation

).

tink9975 · #5 07-12-2010, 07:56 AM

There is the Couch to 5k program. As a former XC runner, it might be a little lightweight for you, but its a good 8 or 9 week program with a different routine each week. you can find podcasts that will give you walk/run cues set to music (not the best music, but the beats help me get the right pace).

Im currently on week 4, trying to drop a little weight and get back into shape

syciprider · #6 07-12-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper

So I'd like to be able to get back under 200 lbs, possibly to my XC weight of 190 if at all possible or even back to a 25 minute 5k time, but I just don't know how to. Occasionally I've gotten the motivation for a day, gone out and run/walked 2-3 miles in 40 minutes and then pretty much given up. I think my biggest problem is that I just dont have a set plan, and obviously you dont see improvement after doing something once, but I cant keep at it long enough to see improvement.

Can anyone offer some tips on what I should do? Granted, its not the relationship/legal advice TB is so famous for, but I'm hoping someone can help me out a little bit.

1. You have to draw it from within you to go out there and get your butt kicked. Only you can figure out what sort of motivation works for you. I use my advancing age

2. Find a running buddy who is slightly faster than you (mine is a redheaded 24 y. o. female Ensign

).

3. Calories in < Calories out.

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 07-12-2010, 01:39 PM

Running is one thing, tho I prefer rowing, but you'd need a gym or some kit for that.

Also, look into some crossfit

Norwegianwood · #8 07-12-2010, 02:36 PM

I started running just before christmas. At that time I could barely run 10 minutes at a slow pace before collapsing. Today I ran 10k at 49,5 minutes. I've also combined this with a healthy diet and shed about 35 lbs.

My main tip would be this: Set a goal (mine was running every other day). Try to stick to it. But if you don't alway manage - don't panick! This also goes for dieting. If you binge eat one evening, don't worry about it. It doesn't matter. Just get back on track the next day. Earlier I have always lost all faith in my abilities after failing to run on a scheduled day, or ate too much. I simply gave up. Not this time round, and it worked wonders.

I also did not focus on speed at all in the beginning, but simply being able to run for an hour. Once you're able to run for an hour every other day, those kilos will disappear. As soon as I had that ability, I started mixing it up with intervals and fartslek.

A final note on dieting: "Dieting" really isn't the word. I simply stopped eating candy/sweets/desserts during the week, and ate more healty food. That means a Chicken Fillet with potatoes rather than a Chicken Burger with fries. I didn't worry about avoiding carbs or anything. It's really damn easy to sustain a calorie deficit once you know a bit more about what you eat.

I'm sorry about giving you my life story here, but hopefully there's lessons to be learned for others as well.

And good luck!

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 07-12-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syciprider

1. You have to draw it from within you to go out there and get your butt kicked. Only you can figure out what sort of motivation works for you. I use my advancing age

2. Find a running buddy who is slightly faster than you (mine is a redheaded 24 y. o. female Ensign

).

3. Calories in < Calories out.

No pics, no 24 year old redhead

**smperry** · #10 07-12-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tink9975

There is the Couch to 5k program. As a former XC runner, it might be a little lightweight for you, but its a good 8 or 9 week program with a different routine each week. you can find podcasts that will give you walk/run cues set to music (not the best music, but the beats help me get the right pace).

Im currently on week 4, trying to drop a little weight and get back into shape

Couch to 5K worked great for me and my wife. It was slow building up, but that allowed me to not push myself and drop it. I used my own music, but whatever works for you is best.

beelzelboss · #11 07-13-2010, 03:26 AM

This has worked great for me. Just start off slow and keep it easy.

Ripper · #12 07-13-2010, 06:08 AM

Thanks guys. It really looks like that Couch to 5k would be what I need, though granted it looks like they were doing 10 minute miles for the jog section and I might try to push that down closer to 9 for a while. Hopefully by the end of this school term if I stick to it I'll be able to finish that workout and I'll actually keep at it