The new goal has been set

A friend of mine observed that I am serious about losing weight and doing
a very proper workout routine. She asked me to join her and another friend
in training for a mini-triathlon. They are both as skinny as possible. It
will be an enormous boost for my physical fitness, so I said yes. I enjoy
swimming, and am actually not a bad long distance swimmer, same goes for
biking. However, running has never been my thing. Nevertheless, I want to
make this work.

Anyone has tips on how to work on a running routine? My problem is
twofold. First off I have bad knees (which I am working on by
strengthening my upper thighs doing weights). But second I usually start
to see black spots about 5 minutes into the run, even if I take it easy
and am physically fit. It feels like I overheat and I look red like a
tomato. Walking at any pace is fine, running is not... Clues?

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 195 - 180

"Boemsi" wrote in message
news
A friend of mine observed that I am serious about losing weight and doing
a very proper workout routine. She asked me to join her and another friend
in training for a mini-triathlon. They are both as skinny as possible. It
will be an enormous boost for my physical fitness, so I said yes. I enjoy
swimming, and am actually not a bad long distance swimmer, same goes for
biking. However, running has never been my thing. Nevertheless, I want to
make this work.

Anyone has tips on how to work on a running routine? My problem is
twofold. First off I have bad knees (which I am working on by
strengthening my upper thighs doing weights). But second I usually start
to see black spots about 5 minutes into the run, even if I take it easy
and am physically fit. It feels like I overheat and I look red like a
tomato. Walking at any pace is fine, running is not... Clues?

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 195 - 180

First of all, most mini-tri's have a 5K run which is only 3.1 miles (yea,
*only*) and since you are doing this for the fun your only goal is to
finish. Here's the plan I used to start running last year. I don't know
how much time you have but this takes quite a bit of time. Do this 3-4x a
week.
week 1: run 1 minute/walk 4 minutes for a total of 30 minutes - btw don't
sprint just go at a comfortable pace
week 2: run 2 minutes/walk 3 minutes for 30 minutes
week 3: run 3 minutes/walk 2 minutes for 30 minutes
week 4: run 4 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 5: run 5 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 6: run 6 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 7: run 7 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 8: run 8 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 9: run 9 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 10: run 10 minutes - repeat 2x for a total of 30 minutes - apparently
once you can run comfortably for 10 minutes, you can do 30. I was doing 30
minutes by week 6 or 7 but I didn't have knee trouble.

If you have knee trouble you probably shouldn't run but if you insist, make
sure you get shoes made for running. If you are overweight, get motion
control shoes that will keep your feet hitting the ground properly. Don't
run on pavement, try grass when possible or if there's a track in your area
that's rubberized.

Good luck with your mini-tri. I'd love to do one, but I'd drown in the
swimming part

Jenn

"Boemsi" wrote in message
news
A friend of mine observed that I am serious about losing weight and doing
a very proper workout routine. She asked me to join her and another friend
in training for a mini-triathlon. They are both as skinny as possible. It
will be an enormous boost for my physical fitness, so I said yes. I enjoy
swimming, and am actually not a bad long distance swimmer, same goes for
biking. However, running has never been my thing. Nevertheless, I want to
make this work.

Anyone has tips on how to work on a running routine? My problem is
twofold. First off I have bad knees (which I am working on by
strengthening my upper thighs doing weights). But second I usually start
to see black spots about 5 minutes into the run, even if I take it easy
and am physically fit. It feels like I overheat and I look red like a
tomato. Walking at any pace is fine, running is not... Clues?

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 195 - 180

First of all, most mini-tri's have a 5K run which is only 3.1 miles (yea,
*only*) and since you are doing this for the fun your only goal is to
finish. Here's the plan I used to start running last year. I don't know
how much time you have but this takes quite a bit of time. Do this 3-4x a
week.
week 1: run 1 minute/walk 4 minutes for a total of 30 minutes - btw don't
sprint just go at a comfortable pace
week 2: run 2 minutes/walk 3 minutes for 30 minutes
week 3: run 3 minutes/walk 2 minutes for 30 minutes
week 4: run 4 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 5: run 5 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 6: run 6 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 7: run 7 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 8: run 8 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 9: run 9 minutes/walk 1 minute for 30 minutes
week 10: run 10 minutes - repeat 2x for a total of 30 minutes - apparently
once you can run comfortably for 10 minutes, you can do 30. I was doing 30
minutes by week 6 or 7 but I didn't have knee trouble.

If you have knee trouble you probably shouldn't run but if you insist, make
sure you get shoes made for running. If you are overweight, get motion
control shoes that will keep your feet hitting the ground properly. Don't
run on pavement, try grass when possible or if there's a track in your area
that's rubberized.

Good luck with your mini-tri. I'd love to do one, but I'd drown in the
swimming part

Jenn

Thanks for the excellent tips Jenn! That sounds like a schedule I can
stick to. I've been working on my knees. The problem is that my kneecap is
drawn to the outside, because the thigh muscles on that side are stronger.
I've been training the opposite muscles for a few weeks now, and
definitely start to notice an improvement. I also have a fully equipped
athletics center across the street from my job, with indoor and outdoor
track (oooh, the luxury!).

Good luck with your mini-tri. I'd love to do one, but I'd drown in the
swimming part

Hehe, that's my strong part, always loved to swim...

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180

Thanks for the excellent tips Jenn! That sounds like a schedule I can
stick to. I've been working on my knees. The problem is that my kneecap is
drawn to the outside, because the thigh muscles on that side are stronger.
I've been training the opposite muscles for a few weeks now, and
definitely start to notice an improvement. I also have a fully equipped
athletics center across the street from my job, with indoor and outdoor
track (oooh, the luxury!).

Good luck with your mini-tri. I'd love to do one, but I'd drown in the
swimming part

Hehe, that's my strong part, always loved to swim...

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:37:46 +0000, Ignoramus22762 wrote:

my suggestion is to not run if you experience knee pain. At least
without approval from some relevant doctor. I doubt you want to have
artificial knees.

At the moment I don't have pain and haven't had for years. As I just
described in my answer to Jenn, my kneecap is drawn to the outside of my
joint, and under duration stress will wear out the cartilage. In the past
I've had very good results with training the muscles on the upper/inner
sides of my thighs to correct for this.

Also, taking glucosamine helps with osteoarthritis (deterioraion of
the cartilage in knee joints).

I'll keep that in mind, but I'd rather not take anything. If it turns out
the running will not work for me, I'll stick to the swimming and biking.

I would not run together with people who are much better runners than
me.

I know my friend is a good runner, but another friend will join us too and
for her I have no clue. For the most part we'll have to train by ourselves
anyway, as our working schedules do not allow us to meet daily.

Thanks for the tips!

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:37:46 +0000, Ignoramus22762 wrote:

my suggestion is to not run if you experience knee pain. At least
without approval from some relevant doctor. I doubt you want to have
artificial knees.

At the moment I don't have pain and haven't had for years. As I just
described in my answer to Jenn, my kneecap is drawn to the outside of my
joint, and under duration stress will wear out the cartilage. In the past
I've had very good results with training the muscles on the upper/inner
sides of my thighs to correct for this.

Also, taking glucosamine helps with osteoarthritis (deterioraion of
the cartilage in knee joints).

I'll keep that in mind, but I'd rather not take anything. If it turns out
the running will not work for me, I'll stick to the swimming and biking.

I would not run together with people who are much better runners than
me.

I know my friend is a good runner, but another friend will join us too and
for her I have no clue. For the most part we'll have to train by ourselves
anyway, as our working schedules do not allow us to meet daily.

Thanks for the tips!

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180

"Boemsi" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:37:46 +0000, Ignoramus22762 wrote:

my suggestion is to not run if you experience knee pain. At least
without approval from some relevant doctor. I doubt you want to have
artificial knees.

At the moment I don't have pain and haven't had for years. As I just
described in my answer to Jenn, my kneecap is drawn to the outside of my
joint, and under duration stress will wear out the cartilage. In the past
I've had very good results with training the muscles on the upper/inner
sides of my thighs to correct for this.

Would some type of elastic knee brace help keep the kneecap in a better
position? I tried running a few years ago and used one when my knee started
giving me problems. It certainly helped to alleviate the nagging pain and
kept my knee warm in the cold weather, toog

Beverly



Also, taking glucosamine helps with osteoarthritis (deterioraion of
the cartilage in knee joints).

I'll keep that in mind, but I'd rather not take anything. If it turns out
the running will not work for me, I'll stick to the swimming and biking.

I would not run together with people who are much better runners than
me.

I know my friend is a good runner, but another friend will join us too and
for her I have no clue. For the most part we'll have to train by ourselves
anyway, as our working schedules do not allow us to meet daily.

Thanks for the tips!

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180

"Boemsi" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:37:46 +0000, Ignoramus22762 wrote:

my suggestion is to not run if you experience knee pain. At least
without approval from some relevant doctor. I doubt you want to have
artificial knees.

At the moment I don't have pain and haven't had for years. As I just
described in my answer to Jenn, my kneecap is drawn to the outside of my
joint, and under duration stress will wear out the cartilage. In the past
I've had very good results with training the muscles on the upper/inner
sides of my thighs to correct for this.

Would some type of elastic knee brace help keep the kneecap in a better
position? I tried running a few years ago and used one when my knee started
giving me problems. It certainly helped to alleviate the nagging pain and
kept my knee warm in the cold weather, toog

Beverly



Also, taking glucosamine helps with osteoarthritis (deterioraion of
the cartilage in knee joints).

I'll keep that in mind, but I'd rather not take anything. If it turns out
the running will not work for me, I'll stick to the swimming and biking.

I would not run together with people who are much better runners than
me.

I know my friend is a good runner, but another friend will join us too and
for her I have no clue. For the most part we'll have to train by ourselves
anyway, as our working schedules do not allow us to meet daily.

Thanks for the tips!

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 09:55:23 -0400, Beverly wrote:

Would some type of elastic knee brace help keep the kneecap in a better
position? I tried running a few years ago and used one when my knee started
giving me problems. It certainly helped to alleviate the nagging pain and
kept my knee warm in the cold weather, toog

I have used things like that in the past, but without the training they
didn't do much for me. I really need that muscle to be stronger first, if
that's not enough, a brace is certainly an option.

--
-- Boemsi
207 - 193 - 180