^^, ^

thanks i'll make sure to mention it

i'm probably just going to buy shoes while i'm there since they will put me in a specific shoe. and it is a local (well triad area) business so i'd like to support them. i'm just going to use my graduation money. hopefully i can get a decent pair for < $100.

5/19/2010 3:40:43 PM

I've had very good experiences with Asics. I've never done the whole gait measurement and professional fitting thing, but I probably will when I get my next pair of shoes.

5/19/2010 4:04:50 PM

I prefer Asics. The Gel Cumulus (mild overpronator) runs about 90-100.

They can be had for ~80 at the site below, but you might as well support your local shop on the first pair if they're going to do the analysis for you.

http://www.rnjsports.com/shop/home.php

5/19/2010 4:22:28 PM

I'll throw in a good review for Asics as well. Never had a bad pair. Coughed up $texas$ for their volleyball shoes for several season. But their running and athletic shoes are great as well, very comfortable and light. And they have some cute new ones too. The last pair I purchased ran like $94, but they have been well worth it!

5/19/2010 4:57:00 PM

^^^^ you can definitely get a good pair for under $100. you should be very up front about your budget; any good running store should recognize that not everyone is super hardcore, and they know that part of building repeat business and cultivating serious runners is encouraging beginners and making running approachable. they should not be snooty about pricing and should be able to recommend a quality shoe that meets your needs at any price point, as long as you make it clear what your price point is.

[Edited on May 19, 2010 at 5:15 PM. Reason : ]

5/19/2010 5:15:15 PM

well i didn't really have a price point. i mean i did - around $100 didn't wanna go over.

i tried on a pair of asics which felt AWESOME but he like gave me like 6 shoes that i should be looking at (based on my feet, arches, how i plant my foot - i forget the words he used) i think there were like 2 asics, an adidas, a brooks and 2 nikes in the group all around $80-$100 which was what i was expecting (i just didn't want like $140 shoes). i LOVED the way the asics felt but he recommended i try on several brands since this was my first pair of serious shoes. once i tried on the nikes i was hooked. they felt just as great as the asics but SUPER light. not that the asics felt heavy but they DID compared to the nikes. so i ended up with a pair of nikes and i got 20% off of everything ton so i got a pair of nike running shorts too (that match my shoes ahahaha) and because i'm doing team in training i get 10% off every time i go to the store (even sale stuff). so as i collect running things (next will be a fuel belt) i'm gonna def buy from there.

here are the shoes i got - nike women's zoom structure triax+ 13, but mine are RED not hot pink. though i kinda wish they had the hot pink where i was lol. mine are silver and red and i love them!

5/19/2010 11:37:31 PM

Looks good.

FYI, you don't need a fuel belt.

5/20/2010 8:21:55 AM

^seconded. Every long distance run will have aid stations every mile with water/gatorade/oranges/bananas/etc. Some of the nicer ones even have gels and stuff. The fuel belt is just gonna weigh you down unnecessarily.

5/20/2010 9:10:41 AM

oh. but they look so dorky/cool.

but yea. i have a few of the gels to try but i'm kinda freaked out about them do you guys like them?

i also heard of this other thing...chomps or something? like gummy bears. i dunno. i have several of the gels that i got as free samples but they kinda weird me out. i guess i'll just try them.

5/20/2010 2:18:17 PM

Um... how far are you running?

No offense, but you shouldn't need gels or water breaks or anything unless you're running farther than like 5-8km at a time.

My "normal jog" is 5 km, and I don't drink water until I come inside, and I don't usually eat for awhile.

The only need for "gels" or supplements or anything is for extreme long distances where your body begins to run out of electrolytes, and we're talking marathons and ironmans here.

It sounds like you're excited about running, and that's great, but don't go spending money on expensive gels and supplements unless you need them, and I'm pretty sure that you don't.

For serious middle-distance runs, I generally eat a few hundred calories about an hour or less beforehand, something like a banana. Afterwards I have water and something like a fruit or a bagel (or just go have lunch).

[Edited on May 20, 2010 at 2:28 PM. Reason : ]

5/20/2010 2:24:46 PM

well luckily i didn't spend money on the gels, they were free samples along with a shitload of powerbars and other random stuff like that. i realize they are for hardcore people, i was just saying i might try them just to see what they are like.

and right now you're right, i'm only running 5K at a time. but my mileage increases (for my long runs) each week. so this week i'm going to be doing 4-5miles (for the "long" run). and once i get up to 8-10 i feel like i will probably get thirsty in the middle (not saying that means i need a fuel belt since water fountains exist). i'm just saying i get thirsty. but yes, i agree gatorade or water before and after a 5K is enough. but eventually i'm going to be actually thirsty in the middle and i don't really think there's anything wrong with that since all bodies are different. and i eat oatmeal before runs.

i'm not like an idiot when it comes to exercise. i just haven't ever been a serious runner. but i have been a competitive swimmer my entire life so diet and hydration aren't exactly foreign to me. just fyi.

5/20/2010 2:49:47 PM

On long runs, I would recommend a combination of water or gatorade along with you goos.

I would recommend reading through the FAQ on the GU product page:

http://www.guenergy.com/about_us/faqs#guenergygel01

5/20/2010 3:08:52 PM

^^ I gotcha.

I'm just saying that when most runners get up to the "8-10 miles for a normal jog" range, they just get too lazy to hydrate. Because that would mean you'd have to lug a water bottle around or go find a drinking fountain somewhere, and it's a hassle. You're not running nearly long enough to dehydrate during the run.

Plus, having too much water in your stomach slows you down (as does that heavy weight belt).

5/20/2010 3:17:42 PM

Quote :

"On long runs,"

This is so relative, though. For me, I would consider a "long run" to be anything above 10 miles. Anything shorter and it's just too much of a hassle to lug around water or look for a station. I'm not even running that long to the point at where I'd lose all the water I'd drank during the day.

5/20/2010 3:20:07 PM

if you're training and doing longer runs.. then no no one is supporting that and if you feel like you need a fuel or water belt to be comfortable then do it. like you said, everyone is different!

gels.. ugghh i hated them but then i found out i was eating them wrong. i was trying to "chew" them when you're supposed to just squeeze out a glop and swallow it and maybe chase with some water. i prefer the gummies and beans but when i ride the gels are better bc they don't melt

my favorite flavors are mint chocolate chip & vanilla. if you do end up buying gels, only buy one flavor at a time until you find something you like.

as for water, that will def vary person by person. water gives me energy while it weighs other people down. also on the longer runs, try to drink some gatorade or something during the run. you dont need 3 bottles of it but it does help you go on!

on my rides, we plan our routes to stop at gas stations along the way. it lets us use the restroom, buy snacks, take a break and refuel. you could plan some of your longer runs, once you get there, to stop by a gas station so you can buy a gatorade, take a break and whatnot. figure out what works for you and makes you feel good and do it!

5/20/2010 3:37:33 PM

I'm able to get up into double digits on mileage on my runs now and that sounds like an excellent idea

5/20/2010 3:42:37 PM

^^^, ^^ thanksssss guysssss

yea i am a gatorade fan - i like to drink it before and after a run. usually when i'm running if i'm outside i don't bring any water (so the gas station idea is awesome). if i'm inside at the Y on the track luckily i can bring a water bottle or a gatorade and just set it by the track. but i try to limit my water like God kinda mentioned i don't chug because i hate it sloshing around in my stomach when i run.

i feel like i get more dehydrated swimming actually so i usually drink more in the pool than on a run. well the freaking Y pool is like 85 degrees for the old people so

5/21/2010 5:13:19 PM

kadwackle drinks pool water

5/21/2010 6:04:34 PM

haha i don't drink the pool water i just drink more when i'm swimming than when i'm running. i always bring gatorade or water to the pool.

5/21/2010 11:28:16 PM

Yeah, I usually kill a liter of water during a 45 minute swim, and then another liter or so with food afterward. People don't realize how much you sweat in the pool, especially hot ones like the Y.

I've only really used the gels once, and that was during a sprint triathlon. Even the other day on an 8 mile run I didn't want food, but I did start getting mildly dehydrated and thirsty, I think if I'd had a little more to drink before the run I'd have been ok, but I tend to get the sloshy stomach if I down too much water within 30 minutes of a run so I've just got to time it correctly.

5/21/2010 11:38:00 PM

kadwhack, you may consider taking some tylenol before your half marathon. i usually got mine from the first aid station (or you can bring your own obvi) but it helps with some of the pain you may experience from the length of the run. i felt like it made a difference, but something you might consider on race day

5/22/2010 12:07:49 AM

OH WE BACK.

Today was my first day running after several years on hiatus.

My goal was to do a 5K - 1mi run, 1mi walk, 1.2mi run, in <45 minutes. I ended up doing 1mi run, .5mi walk, 1.5mi run, .2mi walk in <40 minutes.

I'm proud especially considering my big toe is broken

5/22/2010 12:33:14 PM

holy shit. my right shit hurts REALLY bad. i mean really bad to walk on. so like a week ago i noticed bruises all up and down my right shit - from just above the base of my leg about 1/2 way up toward the knee (so like a 4 inch or so lengthwise bruise) - just really narrow only RIGHT over the shin bone. it it kinda hurt to run on so i was just like, whatever i'll just swim more this week until the bruises go away. i didn't know WHAT i could have hit my shin on

today i only ran 4 miles and now there are NEW bruises over the old yellow bruises and it seriously hurts like a bitch just to walk around my house. only on the right leg though.

what the fuck is this from and how do i make it stop? i just got new shoes. i did the like gait testing and had someone look at my feet so i'm in the right shoes and my left leg is totally fine - no bruising, my shin doesn't hurt at all. so not only is there bruising that obviously hurts when i touch it, but it hurts to walk around on AND it kinda just aches when i'm sitting here. HALP.

5/28/2010 9:08:41 PM

Sounds like shin splints to me, but you really should go to the doctor to get it checked. Usually the treatment for shin splints is gonna be ice and rest until they heal.

5/28/2010 9:34:17 PM

thanks. yea - that is what i tried to do last time - since the bruises were old i figured it was ok to go but...now its like double bruised and super ouch.

its only on my right one though. and i juuuuuust got new shoes. sigh. i guess i'll maybe go to a doctor. it does hurt even when i'm sitting here - so that seems worth an inquiry just to make sure it is just tibia stress ("shin splints") and not something else causing shin pain. is it possible to overpronate with just one foot? haha. why am i so weirdddd. are there insoles that can help with shin pain?

i just looked up a bunch of stretches that are supposed to help, too which should be a good starting point for preventing shin pain. so i'll try doing those before running in a few days when it stops hurting. right now it hurts to even flex my foot. poor little shin.

but i really wanted to run tomorrow i guess i'll see how it feels in the morning?

[Edited on May 28, 2010 at 10:01 PM. Reason : .]

5/28/2010 10:01:35 PM

Quote :

"bruises all up and down my right shit"

5/28/2010 10:11:28 PM

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

oh god i'm retarded. mind in gutter

5/29/2010 12:04:50 AM

don't run on it, and get it checked; you don't want to end up all pilgrimshoed.

5/29/2010 1:43:18 AM

I ran today! 12 miles

5/29/2010 1:56:40 AM

but i'm supposed to run in the morningggggggggggggggggggggg

but it does hurt to walk on

and i don't want to end up like ben

SIGH STUPID SHIN (maybe SHIT actually does apply here haha)

this is where it is bruised (where the blue is on this pic - bruises all up and down the front of the shin). and it hurts, too. should i just go to my regular doctor? or just get a shin brace thing?



[Edited on May 29, 2010 at 2:36 AM. Reason : .]

5/29/2010 2:24:01 AM

I would not run on it if you're experiencing that much pain.

[Edited on May 29, 2010 at 4:01 AM. Reason : words]

5/29/2010 3:59:34 AM

Quote :

"and i juuuuuust got new shoes. sigh. i guess i'll maybe go to a doctor. it does hurt even when i'm sitting here - so that seems worth an inquiry just to make sure it is just tibia stress ("shin splints") and not something else causing shin pain. is it possible to overpronate with just one foot? haha. why am i so weirdddd. are there insoles that can help with shin pain? "

Sometimes they can be caused by bad shoes (doubtful since you just got new ones), but more often than not, its just a matter of ramping up the mileage too quickly before your bones are prepared to take the beating. Ice/rest/ and taking it slowly should probably do the trick, but I'm no doctor. You definitely don't want to end up like pilgrim's hoes. That shit was nasty.

5/29/2010 2:33:32 PM

i think it has to be the pavement. my other shin is doing it now too. and i have a little bruising on my calves now.

i'm definitely NOT used to running more than 5 miles at a time OR on pavement. soooo i've just been taking 2 days off in between runs which kinda blows but whatever. i have my bike now so hopefully that will help work my legs when i'm not running. i swim too - but that just doesn't seem like it works out my legs much at all. but now i do run, xtrain, xtrain, run. my legs will get used to the pavement/mileage eventually - right? i'm honestly rarely sore after runs. sometimes a little in my quads but my muscles don't really hurt - its just the bruising thing.

i know i'm lame - but new at running for the sake of running so i have no idea what to expect from my body

6/1/2010 4:41:05 PM

Eww, if you're not used to running on pavement and suddenly got new shoes and started doing 5+ miles on pavement, that's probably it. Especially if it's happening to both shins now. Rest it goooood, or you'll keep having problems with it continuously, and you'll always be worried about it. You can get used to running on any surface, but consistency is what's important. If you're thinking about running road races, you should stick to paved surfaces. But for now, let those shins heal completely before taxing them again, and ice them after workouts. Do some swimming, elliptical machine, or cycling to keep your aerobic capabilities up, but stick to something low intensity for a while.

6/1/2010 4:52:56 PM

you definitely need to build up to doing 5+ miles if you haven't been running at all previously

6/1/2010 4:58:45 PM

A good rule of thumb is that you can increase your mileage by about 10% each week when training. But if you're switching to running on pavement for the first time, even if you've been running a while, you probably should tone it down for a few weeks and gradually ramp back up.

6/1/2010 5:26:59 PM

thanks for the advice well when i started a month ago i was just doing 2-3 miles at a time and switching between the road (bc i had horrible shoes) and the rubber track at the y.

so once i got my shoes (about the time i was starting to increase to 4-5 miles) i started running just outside since thats where my 1/2 marathon will take place. so it sounds like the pavement is the culprit but i HAVE been building up gradually - or at least i thought i was?! this week the "long" run is 4 miles on saturday (hah) but in a few weeks it'll go up to 6 and keep going up so i'm just scared cause my legs are apparently not having it.

[Edited on June 1, 2010 at 6:01 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2010 6:01:05 PM

Ok, I don't know if my question is similar to another one that has been answered but I've had shin splints in the past so I know this isn't what it is this time. I used to have no problem running 5k's and 10k's the whole time. But recently I've been doing Lake Johnson and I can easily do the first two miles in any direction. Nothing too fast but about a 8-8:30 mile average.

After about two miles my calf's invariably tighten to the point they feel like they are about to burst. It's super uncomfortable and even though I'm not winded in the least I simply can't run full speed. I have to slow down until the tightness goes away and it generally cuts my runs short.

I guess I could probably use new running shoes but they aren't THAT old and for what it's worth I can play three or four hours of hard basketball straight without ever feeling this using my basketball shoes.

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 12:13 PM. Reason : oh and I haven't read this thread in a while but it's NOT the same thing as ^ no shin splits]

6/2/2010 12:10:58 PM

Did you just pick up running again??

I know I took a nice long break from running (about 6-8 months I guess), and I tried to pick up where I left off, and my calves just weren't having it. Then I fucked up and didn't rest them long enough (once I didn't feel the tightness I tried to run again), and it came back just as quick. But they were definitely some VERY tight cramps. I've had cramps before, and these were the worst.

So I really just had to take about 3 or 4 for weeks off from any running at all. I did some light eliptical after about two weeks and just watched what I ate so I wouldn't get too out of shape. Then I eased back into my running. I've never had to stretch a lot in the past, but I'm being a lot more extensive in my stretching now and haven't had any problems besides an occasional sore calf after a good long run.

6/2/2010 12:19:07 PM

^^I, too, used to have this problem.

Some days my calfs would get too stiff before my heart even started to get tired.

try this:

do a very VERY light stretch before you start (stetch calf for ~5sec) --> run ~3/4 mile around the block first --> STRETCH (real stretching, hold every stretch for 15+sec and don't just do your calfs, do calfs, outside shins, hip flexors, quads, ham) --> continue your run.


after about a week of this you'll probably bring your legs up to par and you'll be able to run for as long as possible without having your legs limit you.

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 12:21 PM. Reason : ]

6/2/2010 12:20:11 PM

I stretch before a run, but probably not as much as I should anymore so I'll definitely try that.

I didn't completely give up running but it has been far more intermittent since Christmas than it has been in years. I'm trying to get back in to it the past few weeks or so but I don't think I've been really overdoing it. Sort of easing back in to it but I can't get over that two mile hump with the calf tightness. It doesn't get to the point of all out cramps but feels right on the edge.

Like ^ you said, my legs get tired far before my heart does. I mean I barely am breathing heavy at the point I need to reign it in.

Thanks!

6/2/2010 12:25:51 PM

sure thing.

the other bit of advice i can give (something that i'm actually trying to improve about my stride) is to swing your knee infront of you to give a better stride. I find myself taking really short strides sometimes where i basically just "pick" at the concrete to move forward, instead of using a full motion to cover ground.

the difference is night & day.

this'll keep you from putting anymore stress on your legs than you need to, and plus you'll be able to go farther with each stride.

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 12:35 PM. Reason : ]

6/2/2010 12:33:57 PM

The last few days I've been starting from the lot on Avent Ferry closest to Tryon (so like 1/3 of a mile from the bridge) and just doing the flat part to the 1.25 mile marker and then back... just trying to work my calfs back in to running shape and it's helped. I actually felt like the 2.5-3 miles was a work out and not just a calf-killer.

And I've also worked on getting a longer stride and that actually puts more work in my quads and away from my calfs so that helped too.

[Edited on June 4, 2010 at 10:58 AM. Reason : x]

6/4/2010 10:57:48 AM

In taking a longer stride, be careful to not become a "heel striker". That is gonna put much more pressure on your knees and although it may clear up your calf issues in the short term, it's going to create many more longterm injuries.

Rather than changing up your natural stride, you might spend more time with a nice slow warmup and stretch session before runs to loosen up the calves. I know some runners who swear by using foam rollers to massage out their muscles pre and post run too.

6/4/2010 11:12:07 AM

i've run off and on for the past 4 years but i;ve been running fairly consistently for the past 8 months or so and I am terrible at it and improving very little. i run 3-4 miles at a time but i run, walk, run, walk, run walk, etc..... my chest ALWAYS feels like it has a balloon in it thats expanding until eventually the balloon is so big I can't get any air into my lungs and I HAVE to stop. what are the odds I have asthma? or am I just a pussy? or you think I am trying to run too fast?

6/4/2010 1:32:11 PM

you need to JOG when you run. not walk. you actually recover faster jogging slowly. also, you're probably running too fast. find an even pace that is challenging but doable and keep it somewhat consistent.

6/4/2010 2:33:58 PM

Quote :

"or am I just a pussy?"

6/4/2010 2:36:16 PM

too mean

6/4/2010 3:31:38 PM

4 miles on Friday evening, first time I've ran in a few weeks. Of course the dog wants to run forever, if it wasn't so damn hot and he wasn't in danger of heatstroke, I'd take him out on the paved trail with my bike for 10-12 miles.

6/6/2010 4:49:40 PM

I just started running 2 weeks ago, for the first time in months. I'm actually trying to get serious about it this time and start running in events regularly. I want to make sure that I'm maximizing my time and avoiding doing permanent damage. I took run conditioning my freshman year but don't remember anything specific other than working out every other day.

Every other day I:
1. Walk .5 miles to Lake Johnson
2. Run/sprint .5 miles
3. Stretch
4. Run/sprint ~1 miles (as far as I can go currently)
5. Walk/Run/Sprint the rest.
6. Walk .5 miles back
7. Stretch out

I work out every other day at the gym. I focus on medium weight, high rep upper body and abs.

I avoid jogging, I just do a brisk walk then start running again. I've made great strides (har har) in curbing my heel-striking.

I keep reading conflicting information on the benefits on jogging and the whole thing with barefoot running has piqued my interest.

Any tips, comments or suggestions would be amazing. I'm also looking for a place to run on grass.

6/6/2010 4:53:54 PM