The runners thread

[Daseal]

I've been doing a kinda different form of cardio. I've been doing interval training on a bike. Pretty good burn. Best way to burn fat quickly.

That said, I used to run in the morning. It gave me tons of energy, it was fantastic. That said, don't cheap out on shoes. Go to somewhere like Pacers, get fitted, and spend some cash on good shoes. Can make a huge difference between enjoying and hating running. Used to run in my New Balance tennis shoes, then got fitted and I could go about 1/3 as far immediately with much less pain.

[MTK]

Interval training is good stuff.

Just did over 2 miles on lunch, feeling pretty good for only being a week into this.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Interval training is good stuff.

Just did over 2 miles on lunch, feeling pretty good for only being a week into this.

You get to work from home and you use your lunch break to run? That's messed up man. Messed up

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Interval training is good stuff.

Just did over 2 miles on lunch, feeling pretty good for only being a week into this.

I work out at lunch to, my gym is .1 mile from work and my house is .2 mile from work. So either place I want to workout is pretty close by.

I find it the best time to do it because A) it gets me out of my cube and B) I am in no rush to shorten my workout because I just have work to go back too.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

This is a great site that helped me SEMI get into running:
How To Not Hate Running | No Meat Athlete

I do my working out at lunch or right after work and I HAVE to do something like basketball or tennis. It really just has to be fun for me and unless I'm outside in a place I haven't been recently, I just don't want to do it after a few times.

[GMScud]

I like to vary my cardio, but I do enjoy running quite a bit. I like intervals on the treadmill. I'll do 4 or 5 miles running at 9mph for two minutes, then fast walking at 4mph for two minutes, and just alternate until I reach my goal.

I just got back from a week's vacation in Siesta Key beach in Florida. I ran 4 miles up and down the beach every day. That was pretty much the end of my Nike Lunarglide Flywires (agree with Saden, really good shoes).

For an anniversary present, the wife took me to a New Balance store to have one of those digital foot analysis tests (and a new pair of running shoes). Pretty cool. Turns out I have a very high arch (somehow I never knew that), and I put a disproportionate amount of pressure on the balls of my feet when I run which explains the occasional shin splints I deal with.

Anyway, I picked up a pair of a New Balance Baddeley 890's. They're sweet. They weigh all of 9 ounces. Got some good inserts as well for extra arch support. They're going to get their first run tomorrow.

[Dirtbag59]

I used to love jogging but eventually I came to the conclusion thats its virtually pointless unless you play an endurance sport like soccer or hockey (no sex doesn't count lol). Plus I look back at pictures from when I use to do more jogging then lifting and cross training and personally jogging made me to skinny.

Not that I'm into getting huge muscles and being one of those guys that lives at the gym but if you exercise mainly to look good or stay healthy then I think we would all be better off with less long distance running. Long distance running tends to age people faster and is more likely to use muscle for fuel.

Sprinting and kettlebells were probably two of the best training methods I came across. Workouts got done faster and the results were exponentially better then jogging. Plus one of the things I always loved about putting an emphasis on building and keeping muscle is how much more forgiving your body is when you eat a little to much or have to miss a couple of days due to work or illness. With jogging I found you had to do it virtually everyday and the more in shape you got, the longer you had to do it to keep the results. With lifting or sprinting you just have to add more weight or reduce the amount of time between sprints. Also adding one or two sprints to a workout is much easier then adding a quarter mile for the same effect.

Then again I ended up with a hernia so maybe the jokes on me.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Last August my buddy and I decided to sign up for a half marathon. I wrestled throughout high school and used to be in very good shape but during college and after I became really sedentary. I had been getting progressively fatter for the past ten years and decided enough was enough, plus I was inspired by some family stuff.

Anyway, I had to train for a month just to be able to start the 12 week training program. At first I could barely run a mile and then when I did it would take me about 12 minutes. On top of running I hit the gym up with more frequency and dieted (really just by cutting calories, portion control, etc). Within a few months it all started coming back to me and the weight started dropping big time.

So in December we ran our half marathon and I really enjoyed. Since then I've run another, and I cut 13 minutes off my first time and I plan to continue with running. I'm down about 50lbs since August and I've basically had to get all new clothes, but I was able to pay for some of those by winning the two Biggest Loser contests we've had at work over the last few months.
Last week I got fitted for new shoes, which was definitely worth the time (like GMScud said) since my old shoes were tearing my feet up. I don't have any plans for another race at this time but I think I'm going to sign up for the Baltimore half in October and, like I said in the sports bucket list, I might try to run the USMC Marathon next fall.

[hooskins]

Earned a 1.0 bumper sticker today. Holla.

[Dirtbag59]

Am I the only one freaked out by these?

[MTK]

Those just aren't right

[ArtMonkDrillz]

I just struggled through a little over 2 miles. I think if I had some water with me I could have gone farther and the run would have been easier. Personally I'd much rather run when its about 40degrees or lower than the 80+ that it was today.

Does anyone actually like running in the heat?

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

I just struggled through a little over 2 miles. I think if I had some water with me I could have gone farther and the run would have been easier. Personally I'd much rather run when its about 40degrees or lower than the 80+ that it was today.

Does anyone actually like running in the heat?

I've always loved it. I guess in part because it takes me back to playing football in high school during the summer where we would practice two or three times a day usually wearing full pads. Also theres a sense of accomplishment when the sun is beating down on you, you're covered in sweat, and yet you still finished your workout.

The only thing I didn't like was the farmers tan.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

I've always loved it. I guess in part because it takes me back to playing football in high school during the summer. Also theres a sense of accomplishment when the sun is beating down on you, you're covered in sweat, and yet you still finished your workout.

The only thing I didn't like was the farmers tan.

Maybe that's it. I was a wrestler, so most of my long distance running experience prior to the last few months was running outside after practice in December/January/February to cut weight.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

I just struggled through a little over 2 miles. I think if I had some water with me I could have gone farther and the run would have been easier. Personally I'd much rather run when its about 40degrees or lower than the 80+ that it was today.

Does anyone actually like running in the heat?

I did 2 miles tonight in the heat and I was seriously hurtin' half way through. Think I need to start bringing along some water too when it's hot like this. Didn't help that I chose to take a path with no shade when I could have taken another route that had a lot less direct sun.