THSCC Forums

A few weeks ago I decided to take up running. I've done no regular cardio training in my life, and particularly hate running (or did). So far, I'm enjoying things, it seems to be the right thing at the right time in my life. I'm trying to work into things slowly, so I can actually maintain this hobby, but find there is an awful lot of advice on the web, in books, etc. I'm posting here to try and keep the signal to noise ratio a little lower.

My regular course are the trails where I work, I have been run-walking 3.5 miles (a 2.0 mile loop and a 1.5 mile loop) during my lunch break. So far, I'm good for 4 days per week (might do 5, but there is usually some sort of work/life conflict one day per work week). Right now I'm doing 3:00 run with 1:00 walk, but feel like I can probably increase the run 10%/week early on while I develop a stride and things feel more natural.

I'd like to be in a position to compete in a 5K this summer (I hope there are no hills), and maybe a 10K in the fall. I'd love to work up to 5/miles per day, 4 days per week.

Bonus points if I loose a little weight (current is about 175, ideal would be 165).

My only real constraint is time. I need to be done in 40-50 minutes.

Right now, I'm using a Sony W580 cell phone to log my runs. It does music pretty well, and has pedometer functionality/basic fitness. I seem to get pretty consistent results (runs are plotted within about 0.3 miles). I can get the run data from the phone if I want to play with it (I was calculating my cadence tonight - about 70-73 for the better runs). I also downloaded an interval timer for it.

Any other suggestions/cautions? I'm very paranoid of injuries (I've had "bad" feet for the last few years, but they feel great right now). Early on, I've had some misc. joint stiffness and a little dull pain in the right knee (medial area, it comes and goes, seems to be *better* while I run, and worse when it cools off).

I'll probably pick up the book "Running Chi" this weekend. While it seems to have turned into a big marketing/money maker, I do like the concept. I've even toyed with barefoot running once I get some basic level of fitness.

So, on to the questions...

I really like the idea of a heart rate monitor. GPS is cool too (though, it seems like overkill when I run the same trails every day). I am a bit torn between the Garmin offerings (probably a 305 or a 405cx) and the Polar offerings. I like the "personal trainer" mode it seems the Polar offers (RS200 or RS300), they really seem to have target heart rate based training down pat. I can add GPS to the Polar, but the extra receiver seems kind of shoddy to me.

Comments, particularly tailored to my needs...

I really would like one device for everything (including music, but that doesn't seem realistic).

I have the Garmin 405, wife has the newer "cx" model. Like it a lot. I highly recommend getting an HRM and then learn how to use it. You can basically increase your training rate based on what your heart lets you get away with. I've learned something about myself, and that is that I'm *really* susceptible to overdoing things early in a workout to the point that I just can't continue in a reasonable time. Never really realized it until looking at my HRM. Now I just make sure and ramp things up according to what I can stand and not let it "spike" early and life is good. Workouts go a LOT longer and I'm happier doing them.

I honestly think part of my "hatred" for running that I used to have came from the fact that I would try to run with people who didn't have that "problem" and I'd be miserable from the start. No more. I now find I enjoy it.

I also find I enjoy trail running a lot more than pavement. Your mind is more engaged on making sure you don't break your ankle, and therefore unable to wander on to "this is boring" or "this kind of hurts" or "it's hot today....I want ice cream."

But now that I've gotten to where I enjoy it more, the pavement doesn't bother me so much, either. Good music while I run definitely helps, just don't let it pump you up so much that it affects your pace and jacks your heart rate.

The books will help if you're into reading, but definitely consider some regular interval training if you want to race. It is HARD to do well by yourself, but very important. I'm not training for a race, so I don't do it much. Plus it's so much more difficult that I find it hard to self-motivate. *shrug*

There are running clubs, like the Trailheads in Chapel Hill, all over. If you're really serious, consider joining one of those. There is nothing in this world better to push you than another runner. Even if you can only run with a group once a week or something.

Last, don't feel pressure to take it seriously. Take it for what it is...something you WANT to do. No reason to make it into something you don't want to do. I'm weird in that the main reason I have the 405 is that I like data. I don't know why, I'm just a geek that way. *shrug* I still don't use it much for indoor-only workouts (except on my bike trainer and that's only because I have the pod on the bike), but I *really* get annoyed when I forget it or something for an outdoor workout. HATE that. *shrug* What am I gonna do with all that data? Dunno. Having it gives me a sense of accomplishment, though, and that's probably motivational in itself.


--Donnie

_________________
My Blog

Well, I was still having trouble deciding between the Polar heart rate monitors and a Garmin, then I read the manuals/websites a little better. Polar is promising Mac support for downloads sometime this summer. Garmin has it now and has had it for a while.

Win for Garmin. I ordered a Forerunner 305 last night.

The Garmin also has a lot of support from 3rd party folks.

Well, just don't expect much from the Garmin Mac support. It's a pile of random programs that will do most of what you NEED, but little of what you WANT.

The ANT agent works fine for the 405, though, so I assume that whatever the 305 needs will work fine, too, for the upload side.


--Donnie

_________________
My Blog

Got all my goodies...

I had my Garmin track my drive home... So far it seems to work. THe application "Trail Runner" looks to be much nicer than the Garmin stuff. It's also donation-ware, so there is no risk in trying it out.

It's ironic that I'll probably try this out with a bike ride before I try it jogging. I wasn't even really planning any cross training, but my ankle hurts, so I need to do something with less impact. Off to Crabtree for a short lunch time ride.

Ironic that as soon as my knees got used to the running, the ankle started to hurt. I figure it will be some time before everything is either in shape or fails.

I also picked up some Sennheiser headphones (wrap around the back of the head). Much more comfortable than the ear buds I was wearing, so that is a win. They also sound pretty good. They also stay put (my ear buds kept needing adjustment).

My Sony Walkman phone jumped out of my pocket last friday, and landed in the middle of the road. I didn't discover it for about 5 minutes, so by the time I got back to it, it was run over and pretty busted (still made calls, but very mangled display). Oh well, the Garmin and an iPod pretty much duplicate everything it could do, only better.

Sally decided she wanted to be able to jog with me (when the time permits). She doesn't have time to go jogging (or would have to do it in the darkness of AM or PM), so we also got a treadmill. Now I don't have to go outside when it's cold.

This is getting expensive.

One tip...make sure you remember to set the exercise type (running or biking) ON THE WATCH each time you change. At least with the 405, it's doing calorie counting (which is a guestimate at best, I admit) using math on the watch, and if you have the wrong exercise set, well, it gets that data wrong. Yes, Garmin Connect does let you set the activity type, but it does NOT recalculate any of the calorie stuff based on the change.

I never bothered doing this and noticed my numbers seemed WAY out of wack. Once I started changing it (still forget a lot) it started to make a lot more sense.

It will automatically switch to bike mode if it senses a cadence sensor. I'm guessing it'll do the same with the foot pod. Unfortunately the foot pod is $99 and doesn't tell me anything I care about, really. And cadence sensors are $60. I have one on my road bike (which I really only use in a trainer inside), but they're a pain to move around (like, you really can't easily) and I have a couple mountain bikes I ride regularly. So I'll live with the bad memory problem, I guess (especially since the cadence sensor also wouldn't tell me any additional data that I *care* about on a mountain bike...road bike, sure, but not mtn).


--Donnie

_________________
My Blog

Not running, but getting fit nonetheless.

Here is my first workout using my new Garmin stuff. I went to Crabtree and rode at lunch, 4.4 miles, at 6 mph (ironically, almost the exact same speed that I jog).

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/32409728

I'm surprised that I could maintain that heart rate without feeling too bad, only at the very end when I did a short climb and kept it near 180 the whole time, did I think, "I'm ready to go home now."

The real trick will be to go back in 2 months and do the same ride faster, at a lower average heart rate.

Cool stuff.

So did you end up staying on the new treads or switching back to the old knobbies?

_________________
Keith Q.
2008 Top Gun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmX8XuZ_DCo&NR=1

The slicks. At my pace, they worked fine. It's also been VERY dry lately so everything is hard packed. I gave up a little bit on one or two climbs, and could really imagine them being horrible if there was a lot of pine straw down.

After the ride today, I can see the appeal of shocks (at least up front).

I recently picked up a Stumpjumper for my wife and a Gary Fisher for myself. Both have front shocks and I am more pleased with them than I thought I'd be.

By the way, I bought these bikes used and incredibly cheap. There are great deals out there if you aren't chasing the hot bike of the year.

_________________
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

You'll see hills at most 5ks around here ( raleigh).

Downtown raleight is kinda flat depending where the race is.
Wilmington is nice and flat.

I've got 2 running apps on my iPhone. One of them allows facebook comments as i run and it will speak it out to me. Kinda hilarious when you're running and you start to hear curse words left and right.

_________________
'11 RallyX VP
1998 Integra Type R - track fun
1999 Subaru 2.5RS - dirt fun