r2i forum

Well for now it is my life in Marathon Training:

I don't like running...I just don't like running....were my pet words if I was told to run to hit a ball while playing tennis. I forced my DH to hit the tennis ball towards me so that i don't have to run after the ball....well the result was he left playing tennis with me and found himself a new partner....well a tennis partner.

But in introspection, I was a runner a school...not a long distance but have some certificates to prove the fact I had achieved some 1st/2nd rank in interschool running competitions...well tht was eons ago.

A runner in me left running when one of knees had a tored ligament and was in cast for some 30 days or so...was not the best time of my life and would not ever want to experience it ever.

But then I love walking. I can walk for hours....did some treks, did rapelling and also attended Mumbai Marathon of 2010 as a spectator. A very inspirational experience of my life and then decided to run for the next marathon of 2011....well as things for me hardly happen as planed...didn't but yes I am doing this in 2012.

Got myself registered and roped in DH too and now the marathon training begins:

Btw: I am not a runner...haven't run for last 20 years, so this training is of a novice.

I am an outdoorsy person. I can't be inside a lot, and then running on threadmill...oh gosh...would put me to sleep. So finding a road in mumbai on which I can run without getting my leg fractured or knocked down by car was a feat by itself.

Finally decided on a service road near our apartment complex...it is relatively less potholed and relatively unpopulated in the morning. Got my running gear ready....shoes..now I am not sure if those are regular kind or running kind but that was what I had as a running gear. Put on an alarm at night....5:00 am!!!
I never heard that alarm...got up at 7:00 am. DH was happily snoring....I threw a fit and he woke up as if an earthquake as happened; mentioned it was already late and that we should do running tomorrow. His words were too tempting and I cave in to the temptation.....well Tomorrow is there and it always comes.

KahloRivera;420919

I don't like running...I just don't like running....

Btw: I am not a runner...

You should look into barefoot running. I used to be the same way.....hated running. Barefoot running has been a revelation for me. Will never ever use "running shoes" ever again. I love my Vibrams! http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/

Oh btw, the VFF's stand really out and will become a talking point and get you a lot of unnecessary attention. But, who cares, now you can run away faster from it all!

Nike makes FIT which are built on the same concept. New Balance also has something similar. But, I don't know if you can source these in India. If not I would try the cheapest tennis shoes that you can find...without any padding...the kind of ones we used to wear with the white PT uniform in school.

Happy Running!

Found the PT shoe.....Jai Google Mata ki!
http://2.imimg.com/data2/MD/SY/MY-2595673/white-pt-shoe-250x250.jpg

MadMax;420943You should look into barefoot running. I used to be the same way.....hated running. Barefoot running has been a revelation for me. Will never ever use "running shoes" ever again. I love my Vibrams! http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/

Are they that good :) ? Not brave enough to go bare foot, but might try these.

rabtag;420960Are they that good :) ? Not brave enough to go bare foot, but might try these.

Yes they are that good. They are mind altering...and that too without any substance abuse! None of the typical aches and pains that you normally associate with "normal running". You might feel a little muscle soreness initially. But, you can tell that this entirely different from the typical running pains. And the amazing human body adapts fast and you become the natural runner that you were born to be! :)

And 'barefoot' is just the concept...you need some kind of protection against the elements while running outdoors. I have started going completely barefoot when I run on the tread mill at home! I'm loving it!

MadMax;420970Yes they are that good. They are mind altering...and that too without any substance abuse! None of the typical aches and pains that you normally associate with "normal running". You might feel a little muscle soreness initially. But, you can tell that this entirely different from the typical running pains. And the amazing human body adapts fast and you become the natural runner that you were born to be! :)

And 'barefoot' is just the concept...you need some kind of protection against the elements while running outdoors. I have started going completely barefoot when I run on the tread mill at home! I'm loving it!

Initial interest came after reading Born to run, and our own ultra runner (B2B) mentioned some where that he is experimenting bare foot. Any suggestion on the specific model to choose, appreciate the input, preferably something that isn't screaming look at me :).

rabtag;420974Initial interest came after reading Born to run, and our own ultra runner (B2B) mentioned some where that he is experimenting bare foot. Any suggestion on the specific model to choose, appreciate the input, preferably something that isn't screaming look at me :).

Born to Run was also my introduction to it! I got the TREKSPORTS in all black! They are ok. My wife got the TREKSPORTS in the wheatish/red color. And I like those better. :)

We went with the TREKSPORTS, coz the sole is little thicker than the other models. And coming from the regular running shoe world, we wanted to play it a little safe with a little more protection. I would highly recommend them.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-TrekSport-Mens.htm

I still remember my apprehension as I prepared to run in them the first time. I was so tense! And you should have seen my glee after finishing the run! I was able to run much faster and that without any pains! I was like......OMG! I cannot believe it! And now I too have a dream of running a marathon some day! And I am someone who couldn't even run the 5K!

Take it easy for the first couple of weeks and you will be a "barefooter" for life! !

MadMax,
Like most kids back in india, I grew up playing on the streets barefoot. Sometimes, we used to leave those hawaii chappals as the marker to start bowling. These days if I ever have to take 2 steps barefoot (outdoors), it is like walking on needles. Not sure what caused the sofening of feet :) I see more barefoot runners these days. Any pointers on the theory behind this? How is this actually better than running shoes? I have been standing on the verge of starting to run for a while now. One of the reasons I do bicycling, and not running is that I am scared of hurting my joints because of the impact from asphalt/pavement. Is one better off starting barefoot, or with running shoes. Also, is it a good idea to run on a football field (grass) instead of asphalt?

If barefoot is one extreme, the other extreme is the running shoe store, where they video record your running, and create 3D thermal image/pressure points of the foot and create an inner sole. I bought a branded running store from a store and started warming up to run. Now I am not sure what extreme direction I should take.

Added later: I did find this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running will read more...

OP,
Best wishes for your marathon!

I used to play barefoot too on streets and also ran barefoot in school. Played dandiya/garba on street this year without sandals/chappals for whole 2 hours. No knee pain or sole hurts. But not sure if I would be able to run barefoot.

My coach advised to run barefoot or with five finger shoes for strengthing the calf muscles just one day during a typical marathon training weekly schedule. That too his advise was to make this an optional part of the cross training day. The idea is regular shoes give you support under heels that running barefoot does not provide. This causes your calf muscles to stretch just a little bit more and that strengthens them. This should help in running a little faster with regular shoes.

IMO, this is good for those who already run a lot faster than an average person and want to further improve their speed. For me, I started running at 13 minute miles pace and in 6 six months I was running at 9 minute miles and I never ran barefoot or with five finger shoes. We had a few people in our group who ran the whole marathon at 7.5 minute miles and these people never ran barefoot. So I am not so sure if it is really required. Moreover, you are risking injuries when running on surfaces that are not perfectly flat.

Running on asphalt should be fine. I ran my entire 6 months training course on asphalt and concrete and never ahad any pains that lasted for more than a few hours. Running slower is what one should do when there is pain. Overtime muscles around your feet and kees should strengthen and pain should go away.

I am not a doctor so this is just from my experience. I have seen few people quit due to persistant pains so your case could be different.